Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

70 reviews

jess_vitale's review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I knew after reading the first chapter that I would enjoy this book. I think it is beautifully written and so interesting to switch perspectives amongst the chapters. The story doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable situations in which you both empathise with a character while wishing they would stop what they're doing or make another decision. There isn't any "right decision" (in my opinion) and the emotions felt very raw and realistic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Abortion, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Rape

readbetweendeelines's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, Rape, and Abortion

jlfields925's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death, Racism, Cancer, Abortion, Death of parent, Rape, and Infidelity

leahthebooklover's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense

3.5

An intimate look at how one marriage is affected by a miscarriage of justice and incarceration. Told from alternating points of view. It was a 4 star read for me until the ending, when all the conflict seemed to resolve a little too conveniently. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, and Confinement

Moderate: Abortion, Cancer, Violence, Death of parent, and Cursing

Minor: Police brutality

moriahleigh's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Violence

Moderate: Cancer, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Grief, Death of parent, and Racism

lay_kone's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Abortion, Racial slurs, and Racism

sar_willow's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Police brutality, Cancer, Rape, Racism, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Abortion

marnash's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Was recommended to me by Hadas when we were at a second hand bookstore in Nottinghill, so decided to give it a go. I was inthralled throughout the whole time reading, albeit my reading being gappy. The last two hours reading the book I was completely enveloped into the plot, couldn't put it down. That being said, at certain points I found the writing mediocre, and sometimes even unauthentic - as in the writing didn't match the character's voice/vibe. But over all a decent read. Found myself tearing up near the end, when everything sort of made it to a peak. It's some heavy topics and makes you question what's moral and what's fair.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Infidelity, Confinement, Rape, and Sexual assault

lauren625's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Abortion

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I should’ve slept, but I needed to finish this book more than I needed to dream. The circumstances probably happen over and over again across the US, mostly to Black men, but the outcome of being released fells less realistic. But that’s where the story pivots, and without it, there wouldn’t be a story to tell.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Grief, Police brutality, Cancer, Confinement, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Racism, and Death of parent