by Tayari Jones
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Just released: February 2018
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Genre: Literary, African American
Hardback: 320
Rating: 5
First sentence(s):
There are two kinds of people in the world, those who leave home and those who don't.
Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.
My two-bits:
Epistolary parts is effective in portraying the characters and in creating a nice variety in writing style in this story.
Nice blend of what a marriage goes through with conflicts that include a spouse in prison, artist life and a love triangle.
* part of Rooster Summer Reading Challenge 2018 (here)
