BOOK REVIEW: THE SUN DOES SHINE BY ANTHONY RAY HINTON

I N C L U D E S  A F F I L I A T E  L I N K S

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Title: The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row
Author: Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin
Published: 2018
Language: English
Pages: 368
Rating: 5/5

Summary:

In Alabama in 1985, Anthony Ray Hinton was condemned to death for a crime he didn't commit and this is the story how he spent thirty years on death row as an innocent man fighting for his freedom.

Review:

This is an astonishing story, filled with emotion, heartbreak and hope.

I've previously read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and that's what lead me to this book, because Stevenson and his Equal Justice Initiative helped set Hinton free. Just like Just Mercy, this is a powerful story about the death penalty, corruption, poverty, racism and the inequality of the American justice system, this time looking at it from behind bars. 

What strikes me most about this book is the staggering perseverance of Hinton; his kindness, his humor and his hope makes him a force of nature. That obviously doesn't mean that this book is all sunshine; we're also taken to the darkest of places within the human mind and see the barbarity of being locked up, having other people pass by your cell on their way to the death chamber and sitting inside, banging on the doors and making as much noise as possible so the person who is about to be executed know they're not alone. 

I rarely cry when I read books, but girl, let me tell you how I cried when Hinton lost his mom, when he described his incredible best friend who never missed a visitation day for thirty years, how he felt when Stevenson showed an interest in his case and how now, in his freedom, Hinton runs outside whenever it rains just to feel it on his skin. 

Although this is a book about a dark and deeply unjust situation, it's also somehow an inspirational tale; one can't help but feel so much for someone who manages to survive something like this with his humanity intact. It shows us the power of forgiveness, faith and love and it's a book I would highly recommend to everyone. 

You can get this book at The Book Depository (affiliate link)
You can read more about it on Goodreads