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  • An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club)

  • A Novel
  • By: Tayari Jones
  • Narrated by: Sean Crisden, Eisa Davis
  • Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (495 ratings)

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An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club) cover art

An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club)

By: Tayari Jones
Narrated by: Sean Crisden,Eisa Davis
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Publisher's Summary

Oprah’s Book Club 2018 Selection

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 12 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. 

This stirring love story is a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control. An American Marriage is a masterpiece of storytelling, an intimate look deep into the souls of people who must reckon with the past while moving forward - with hope and pain - into the future. 

©2018 Tayari Jones (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Critic Reviews

"Narrators Eisa Davis and Sean Crisden skillfully portray Celestial and Roy.... In Part One, the narrators read the couple's letters so intimately that the listener may feel like an intruder.... As every wedding vow is tested, the narrators breathe intensity into Jones's riveting prose." (AudioFile)  

What listeners say about An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club)

Average Customer Ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

This bpok flowed beautifully, I loved the characters especially Big Roy, loved the ending. Delightful & engaging from start to finish

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

This version is very well read and what a captivating story line! A definite must!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not a favourite

Struggled to read this book. Usually read 1 to two books a week but this one took me a month. Once I start a book I won’t go on to another until I have finished the book. This book was painful, the characters were irritating.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful and wonderful

A beautifully written story of terrible injustice and what relationships mean. The writing is superlative and the narration extraordinary. Such a beautiful book that has been brought to life in such a fantastic way.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Misleading title

I thought that a novel with a title l”An American Marriage” wold be more epic. Middle section drags, but the performances are great, I cared about Roy and Celestial because narrators made me care.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Stirs emotions

I wasn’t sure what to think about this story. I didn’t like the main character Roy but the feelings the author portrays are very raw. An excellent book. I couldn’t wait for the start and end of the working day to listen to it on the commute

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not quite what I expected

This is an original narrative that held my attention in parts, but overall was something of a disappointment. The characters had complexity and depth, but I couldn't warm to any of them. The husband's continual whining in the second half was just plain annoying to listen to. Their attitudes I found sexist, which just rubbed me the wrong way too.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Falsetto narration the only disappointment

Loved the story and both narrators were good, but when the male narrator used a high fake voice to represent Celestial it made her sound stupid. Minor quibble, I would recommend highly. I couldn't put it down.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Maria

Beautiful, well paced and deep. Excellent performances by the readers. More than an expose on marriage - it’s the American dream under the microscope

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Loved it. A great story, very well read and fabulous characters and questions posed. Highly recommended!

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