Have you read any other works by Tayari Jones, and if so, how does this novel compare?
Created: 04/09/19
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melanieb, you and I are on the same page here. I am currently reading Silver Sparrow - moved to do so as a result of my involvement with An American Marriage. I am only half way through and struggling. The plot is not as engaging as I expected from reading a summary, and characters, at least as far as I have read are much less interesting. It seems as though this book needs serious editing - it could be half as long. Part of me wants to quit and move on to something more engaging, but I am just still curious enough to see if some twist near the end will suddenly tie it together and make it an important read. I want to know if editing or writing is the problem.
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This is my second answer to this question and I considered editing my first response, but I decided simply to add this new response. I have finished Jones work entitled Silver Sparrow. I liked it at conclusion better than I did half way through, but I do not believe it is the book that An American Marriage is. Silver Sparrow is about a situation that apparently occurs oftentimes within the black culture. An American Marriage is about marriages - regardless of culture or color. At least that is my take. Silver Sparrow has strong women in it, and that is, in large part, a focus of the novel. I do not see Celestial as a strong woman. I will end my comparison of the two with those comments, but I will add that Silver Sparrow could/would have been a strong work of fiction if it had been edited more carefully - much of the plot could be eliminated or at least tightened and the effect would remain the same for this reader.
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I read the Silver Sparrow when it first came out and I think that it addressed the issue of multiple "wives" that is stereotypical of Black men. the premise that the girls would meet was unique but I don't think that the book was as well developed as An american Marriage. it gave me much to consider though and I believe that it is worth reading and discussing
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