For some reason, I stopped listening half way through this book and then picked it up again at least a month later. By that time I'd also listened to Secret Sister, Tayari Jones's more recent book. It was interesting to be able to compare the two, and without doubt, An American Marriage was definitely my favourite.
Celestial and Roy are a coloured couple living in the American South. They have done well for themselves; Roy is an up-coming executive, while Celeste is embarking on a successful career, crafting speciality dolls. They are blissfully happy together, until one fateful night, when Roy is blamed for a crime that he didn't commit. This has an understandably devastating effect on their marriage and the book investigates the outcome as it unfolds.
Misrepresentation of justice can happen to anyone, but it's more likely if you're black. In a flash, a law abiding, well educated man can find himself wrongly accused and living in a prison cell. It's an earth shattering event and there's not a thing he can do.
My book club chose this several months ago; none of the riots and pulling down of statues had even begun, but it's easy to see why the current movement has swept through society and why change is needed.
An excellent book, well worth reading. Well narrated by Sean Crisden and Eisa Davis.
3