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An American Marriage


A masterpiece of storytelling, and a 2018 Oprah's Book Club Selection.
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Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

Created: 04/09/19

Replies: 11

Posted Apr. 09, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?


Posted Apr. 14, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
peggyt

Join Date: 08/10/17

Posts: 215

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

I don’t know about identifying with but I loved Big Roy because he was just such a good and loving person. Andre comes in second but I really felt empathy for them both.


Posted Apr. 14, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
melanieb

Join Date: 08/30/14

Posts: 265

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

I identified most with Celestial’s dad. He seemed to be the most grounded and accepting of his own contradictions. He related to Roy in a way that was authentic and nonjudgmental and I like that he was big on Celestial supporting Roy while he was in jail.


Posted Apr. 15, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
SusanC.

Join Date: 03/25/13

Posts: 46

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

I loved Roy's Dad Big Roy and Roy's Mom. I also loved Celestial's Father. I was not able to identify with them but they were certainly the most mature people in the room. Celestial was just a spoiled little rich girl. The doll concept was interesting in that she was following a "childish" whim to the end - and I really loved the visual of the dolls. Can't wait to see what Oprah does with those dolls - borderline "Twilight Zone" for your older members


Posted Apr. 17, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marilynj

Join Date: 08/07/11

Posts: 54

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

In another reply I spoke about the characters not being well developed, kind of flat, and said I really liked best Big Roy. I'm sticking with that, although I can't say that I "identified" with him. He was kind and loving and a wonderful father. I also very much liked Davina. She too was loving and unselfish, and she was spirited with an attitude. I loved her character. It was flawed just a little, yes, but she did indeed add to this novel with her colorful personality.


Posted Apr. 18, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ruthiea

Join Date: 02/03/14

Posts: 271

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

I did not identify with any one character, I felt they each had interesting strengths and failings. I expected to identify with Celestial but I felt like she was too flighty for me, much too high strung. I most admired Bog Roy and Davina for their honesty and belief in their own viewpoints. They were both strong and vulnerable.


Posted Apr. 18, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
susiej

Join Date: 10/15/14

Posts: 363

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

At different points in the novel I identified most with different characters: Celestial, Andre, and Roy. I found parts of their experiences and characters to be part of my own life experience. Often even their thoughts mimicked some I have had at different points in my life. The entire evolution of their lives and marriage, their individual growth and various support systems - all of this gave me much to identify with. And all of it was presented so realistically, so honestly. I believe this must be true for many who have read the book and that is why it has been so well and widely received.


Posted Apr. 18, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
reene

Join Date: 02/18/15

Posts: 497

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

I can't say I identified with any one character. They were all so well developed that at different points in the novel, I felt I better understood each of the characters. Initially I expected to connect with Celestial, being another female, but that changed as I learned more and more about the characters. I really admired Big Roy, for his caring and honesty.


Posted Apr. 18, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
nancyn

Join Date: 05/12/16

Posts: 27

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

I admired Big Roy as he was such a loving father and husband. Wish I could state that I identify with him because I would like to be that kind of parent. And I would wish to identify with Aunt Sylvia as she was the one who nurtured Celestial after her first abortion and helped her out of the depression that followed. She was not judgmental, just reassuring. And I loved her spunk at the Thanksgiving dinner when she reprimanded Celestial's father for his berating words to his daughter. She reminded them that they should be giving thanks to Banks for his labor in behalf of Roy. Way to go, Sylvia!


Posted Apr. 20, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Carey Ann

Join Date: 08/22/17

Posts: 3

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

I don’t identify with any of the characters individually but I loved many parts of the dialogue. I thought of Walter’s saying,” Six or twelve,”...” That’s your fate as a black man. Carried by six or judged by twelve.” How true this statement seems to be in these times, when by cell phone we see innocent young black men gunned down even before they can be wrongly judged by a bias twelve and put in prison. I also Celestial statement, “I married him for a reason,” she said,”You can never really unloved somebody.Maybe it changes shape,but it’s there.” This is the real story of marriage the world over!


Posted Apr. 20, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
SD Reader

Join Date: 02/10/16

Posts: 16

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

I don't know if I identify with any of the characters specifically, but they all felt familiar to me and they all felt real and lovable. I could understand the choices each one made and could relate to their feelings and reactions. Andre was the one I had the hardest time relating to, mostly because he didn't feel honest to me. I always felt like he was holding back his true feelings.


Posted May. 15, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lilliantpr

Join Date: 01/23/12

Posts: 42

RE: Is there one character that you identified the most with? If so, which one, and why?

Even though Uncle Banks was a secondary character, he seemed like a very sweet man to me. He had faith in himself as a lawyer, faith that one day he will set Roy free. I think he had more faith than Celestial. He was persistent, supportive to Roy and a very close friend to Celestial's family. In the end, he worked a miracle!

I identified myself with Uncle Banks in the sense that I'm always saying that HOPE should be the last thing you lose in life and he more or less told that to Roy in one of his letters: "There is hope. Do not give up."


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