An American Marriage, Mr. Penumbra, and a Classic

March seems to be passing by quickly so I better get on the ball. I’ve been slow to write reviews. Perhaps I’m having a bit of a writer’s block or just procrastinating. Do you ever get this — where the writing doesn’t flow or you just stall completely? Oh it’s dreadful. Meanwhile the big snow piles here are beginning to melt and warmer temps this coming week should make ponds of water all over the place. It’ll be messy for sure. Time for the galoshes. At least I’ll be able to take some photos now; during the cold temps the iPhone would just turn itself off, but now it’ll have no more excuses — and neither will I. So here are my reviews of what I finished recently.

Tayari Jones’s new novel “An American Marriage” has certainly been one of the “It” books this season. It seems to be everywhere from Oprah’s Book Club pick — to various blogs — as well as the New York Times’s book podcast. I decided not to wait for a library copy but went ahead and bought it at a bookstore, which is a rarity for me — a splurge or sorts, but I knew it’d be a good, quick read, and for the most part the book did not disappoint, even with all the hype.

For those who don’t know, it’s a novel about an African American couple that has been married a little over a year when their lives are torn apart when the husband is arrested and convicted in Louisiana of a crime he did not commit. Part of the novel is told in letters between them while the husband is in prison and the rest is about what happens to their marriage when he gets out years later. The whole injustice of it tears at them as well as the loss of their lives together and the uncertainty of how much and long they can endure. Meanwhile parents, in-laws, and old friends and loves come into play.

Oh it’s quite well done. And what I liked about it too is that although the story focuses mainly on their marriage — there’s the underlying subtext of being black in America today — with the disproportionate incarceration rates and the racial injustices that occur. You get a sense of this and feel its ramifications in the story as well as the class tensions that simmer between the characters. The wife is a successful artist (with wealthy parents) who has a line of dolls on the market, while the husband is a textbook sales rep (with small-town folks) who loses everything when he’s imprisoned.

The story picks up as it goes along. And you feel from each of the characters’ perspectives: the husband (Roy), the wife (Celestial) and her close neighborhood friend Andre. All of them get damaged and share some blame. And none of them are without faults and you might not even like them, but you see the personal toll the situation takes on them. I was impressed by the author — her well-crafted novel is mainly a romantic drama but is infused with a bit more too.

Next up, I finished the audiobook of Robin Sloan’s 2012 debut novel “Mr. Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore.” Oh I know so many readers loved this rollicking, fun tale and I so wanted to too, but somewhere along the line I got a bit derailed. It’s true I liked the start of it — about this hole in the wall bookstore in San Francisco and this geeky programmer Clay who takes a job there working nights and discovers it’s not a typical bookstore but has some sort of secret book club going on … where the books are part of some vast code, a code the book borrowers have been trying to crack for centuries.

Okay, okay I was in on this, but then the storyline veers off into techno as Clay and a motley crew of geeks he assembles tries to break the code using computers — and a bit of madcap adventure ensues with a nerdy heist, gadgets and a secret society.

It’s not that I minded the madcap part of it — I enjoyed much of that, but I guess I didn’t care enough about breaking the code and solving the mystery part of the plot. Some of it might have gone whizzing by me, or else I got Googled out along the way. It’s too bad because I quite liked the author’s quirky second novel — “Sourdough” — last year, though he’s known for Mr. Penumbra’s tale more.

He’s an author who definitely likes secret societies and underground mysteries and has an amusing sensibility. He likes to geek around with technology too. All of which is cool, but for some reason this story didn’t resonant with me as much as his second novel did — but still Mr. Sloan is quite a quirky, smart author so I’m sure to keep following what he puts out next.

Last up, I also finished the audiobook of Betty Smith’s 1943 classic “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” This was my first time with the novel and why I had never visited it before I can’t tell you — it just didn’t cross my path as a youngster, nor did the 1945 movie of it.

It’s quite a lengthy book and took me weeks of walking miles with my dog to finish it. I feel like I became part of the Nolan family as it chronicles quite closely Francie’s story growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., with her parents Katie and Johnny and her younger brother Neeley over a long period of time — starting when Francie’s young in 1912 to when she leaves for college. Perhaps she seemed a bit to me like a young Laura Ingalls Wilder but of Irish American descent living in Brooklyn, N.Y., instead of on the prairie. Or maybe not?

I liked the coming of age aspects of the book and that it shows a slice of life of what it was like in the first two decades of the 20th century — it’s an interesting social history of those days. The family and Francie face a lot of adversity from poverty and their father’s alcoholism and yet they persevere and find a way to make ends meet time and again. She also doesn’t have friends but makes do with books and her own imagination.

It seems Francie learns quite a bit along the way, which is admirable, along with her love of her family and its extended members. (Thanks Aunt Sissy for being unconventional.) The telling is at times sentimental but their lives aren’t easy. I probably would’ve liked it more if I had read it in my youth — as it captures a young person’s mind-set and coming of age quite well and the struggles of a family.

What about you — have you read these novels and if so, what did you think?

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30 Responses to An American Marriage, Mr. Penumbra, and a Classic

  1. Judy Krueger says:

    I have not read An American Marriage yet but it is high on my TBR list for recent novels. I loved Mr Penumbra though I can see the sense in what you say. I will have to read Sourdough if you liked it better!
    A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is one of those novels I read first when I was quite young. I loved it so much I have reread it twice and it never pales for me.
    Happy Thaw Days!
    As far as writing up reviews go, I suffer from procrastinating on that all the time, especially when I am reading as much as I am right now. I can’t seem to get the pile down below six books I need to write up. I try to do one a day but just get weary of the sound of my own voice.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Judy, yeah sometimes the chunk of info to write in reviews sort of stumps me before I start. The synopsis is not my fav part but still seems key. Your writing on reviews seems to flow well so I wouldn’t guess you have that problem. I hope you enjoy An American Marriage though it deals with some tough issues.

  2. Brian Joseph says:

    I also run into writers block when blogging. It does not happen so much with writing commentary on books that I read. I like to write blog topics about bookish topics not related to finished books. I am having a major block now.

    I have heard a lot about An American Marriage. Based on your commentary and what I have heard, it sounds extraordinary. I would like to give it a try. It does sound disturbing. Stories about such injustice usually really bother me.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Brian, sorry about your writer’s block — I get them too, ugh! Nice to know others have the same blogging problems. I think I was more bitter about the injustice in An American Marriage than the characters were. They seemed to accept the wrong but I was livid. Hmm. You might like the book.

  3. I’ve read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and loved it – it was a fast read for me even though it was long. I’m going to suggest An American Marriage for my book club.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Kathy, I think there might be quite a bit to talk about with a Book Club about An American Marriage. Plenty of issues in it. Glad you liked the Betty Smith book. I’m glad I read it because it’s certainly a touchstone for 20th century popular lit. Now I’m aware of it!

  4. Sarah says:

    I finished the audio of An Amercian Marriage not long ago and it is excellent. The narration highlights how well the dialogue is written. The characters seem very real and their story is heartbreaking (although Roy can be quite funny, too). It would be an excellent book club choice. I am now reading the non-fictional Just Mercy by Bryan Stephenson who has worked for decades to free the wrongfully convicted. Very powerful; the stories are so wrenching you can barely believe they are real. It’s going to earn a rare ‘5’ rating from me on Good Reads. But now I need a lighter book….;-)

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi – I saw that you had finished Tayari’s book on Goodreads & I’m glad you liked it; helps me confirm my own thoughts about it. The dialogue was quite excellent. I think I better pick up a copy of Just Mercy from the library; thanks for the tip. I will look for it; I’ve heard others talk about it as well. I probably need to brace myself for the stories in it.

  5. Doesn’t it feel great to get caught up on reviews? Today I did a few for next week and am so happy to get them off my plate. Glad you liked An American Marriage. It’s one book worthy of much of its hype. I’m with you on Mr. Penumbra. I read it when it first came out and didn’t much care for it which is why I had little desire to read Sourdough, but perhaps I should reconsider that one. I think I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn years and years ago, but maybe it was the movie I’m thinking of. In any case I applaud you for taking on an American classic. Happy reading!

    • Susan Wright says:

      Thanks Susie, it is nice to be caught up on reviews, like unloading everything. Glad you liked Tayari’s novel and felt the same about Penumbra. In a way, Sourdough is quite similar to Penumbra (it also has a bit of a secret society) and has some madcap to it, so it might not be for you — but I enjoyed the story a bit more. I will stop by your site to see what you’re reading next. Cheers.

  6. I loved A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I read it 15 or so years ago. An audio reread would be wonderful! Glad to hear An American Marriage lived up to the hype… I haven’t had much reading time lately, but I do plan to get to it soon. Not sure if you’ve read Just Mercy, but it might be the perfect follow-up.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Thanks JoAnn: yes I should read Just Mercy. I’ll look for it at the library. I’m sure it’ll be a heartbreaker. I was much more bitter about the injustice in An American Marriage than the characters seemed to be at first. I just couldn’t accept it. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was quite an audio — I feels like I became one of the Nolans! LOL. It’s lengthy and I was prepared that it would cover Francie’s entire life story.

  7. Amy Brandon says:

    Adding An American Marriage to my TBR list now. I read Mr Penumbra last December when I saw that you had liked Sourdough. I didn’t love Mr Penumbra so haven’t pursued Sourdough but might now that I know you liked it better. I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn somewhere in my thirties but don’t remember it at all. Ugh. I do tend to be slack about blogging, but the whole reason I started a blog was to help prevent this kind of complete blanking on a book I read.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Amy, yes I too started this blog at first as a way to remember what I had read better. It’s perfect for that. If I can’t recall, I can go back & read my review — but then again I don’t really put the book’s outcome in my reviews — but hopefully whatever I wrote can jog my memory. I was a bit disappointed by Penumbra b/c I wasn’t as invested in the story. I think Sourdough is a bit similar but is a bit better too. Still it is “out there” a bit. Thx for stopping by.

  8. Carmen says:

    I loooved Mr. Penumbra because of its quirkiness and what you call ‘out-there plot’; it seems that seeing the same formula repeated for Sourdough may have played a role in why you didn’t care much for Mr. Penumbra. It was one of the most hilarious books I’ve ever read. An American Marriage sounds like quite a book; it was cited among several publications as one of the books to read this year. It seems that you agree.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Carmen: that seems a very astute observation: perhaps it could’ve been the same formula on both books that might have foiled my loving Penumbra. They are quite similar in their quirky ways. And I thought An American Marriage was quite a good read — though I wouldn’t put it in the same category as a Ralph Ellison or James Baldwin kind of remarkable book about racism or racial injustice, perhaps b/c it seems more subtle. & more about the relationship.

  9. Laila says:

    I’m so glad you liked An American Marriage. I’m on the list for it at the library. I enjoyed Penumbra but I didn’t love it as others did, for the reasons you mentioned. Now that I’ve learned that two bloggers I know liked Sourdough, I think I may have to give it a shot.
    Oh, and yes! I also read much faster than I write review posts, and sometimes I just give up a skip a few reviews. 🙂

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Laila, I’ll be curious what you think of An American Marriage. It’s a pretty quick read. Good to know I’m not the only one that gets bogged down writing reviews!

  10. Ti Reed says:

    I read Mr. Penumbra for book club. It was not much of a book to discuss but it was enjoyable to read.

    I have An American Marriage on my list. Everyone seems to be reading it right now.

    Our weather is a little gloomy at the moment. It has been drizzly. I like it but my hair does not.

    I am not a procrastinator when it comes to writing but blogging about books requires me to READ the books. I do read, all the time, but with multiple books being read at thew same time I am lucky if I write one review a week.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Ti, yeah I am finding less times to read so I need to get on that. Usually I read one at a time, & listen to one too. I head to Redlands next week so I’ll be curious about the weather — seems like still a bit of sprinkles going on in the desert. Wonder if it will continue … Hope all is well in your area.

  11. I’ve been having a tough time writing reviews too… puttering along on several but not getting very far. It’s annoying! An American Marriage is high on my TBR list right now, hoping to get to it soon!

  12. JaneGS says:

    I read Tree in Brooklyn for the first time a few years ago–like you, somehow it eluded me in my youth, and I know I would have loved it then. I still thought it was terrific, and recognize the powerful hold it has on many people who did read it while their brains were still forming.

    • Susan Wright says:

      Yeah Jane: it’s quite a book about the family’s life & Francie. It takes in a lot over a couple decades. I think I would’ve even enjoyed it more if I had read it as a youngster. Interesting you read it recently too.

  13. Michelle says:

    The only one I have not read is Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. The other two are so wonderful. I had read Brooklyn a long time ago and then about five years ago as part of a book club. It did not lose its appeal in any way!

    • Susan Wright says:

      Hi Michelle: Glad to hear you still enjoyed Brooklyn, reading it years later and that it holds up twice. It is a charming story and I felt like I almost became one of the Nolans I was with them so long & because of its intimate storytelling. Thanks for stopping by.

  14. Naomi says:

    I’ve read both the Penumbra and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I liked Penumbra well enough, but now I’m thinking I’ll like Sourdough even more. I loved A Tree Grows on Brooklyn, but I read it maybe in my early thirties?
    I’m glad to hear you liked American Marriage – I’m thinking of reading it sometime. I have to confess that covers with trees on them always appeal to me. 🙂

    • Susan Wright says:

      Yeah Naomi: I think you might like Sourdough — it gets a bit crazy but the premise of the Bread making I enjoyed. American Marriage would be good for your book club group on women & marriages. Lots of food for thought there.

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