Anthony Ray Hinton

"A powerful, revealing story of hope, love, justice, and the power of reading by a man who spent thirty years on death row for a crime he didn't commit"--

How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row (Oprah's Book Club Summer 2018 Selection)

The Sun Does Shine

Lara Love Hardin

A powerful, revealing story of hope, love, justice, and the power of reading by a man who spent thirty years on death row for a crime he didn't commit. "An amazing and heartwarming story, it restores our faith in the inherent goodness of humanity." - Archbishop Desmond Tutu In 1985, Anthony Ray Hinton was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in Alabama. Stunned, confused, and only twenty-nine years old, Hinton knew that it was a case of mistaken identity and believed that the truth would prove his innocence and ultimately set him free. But with no money and a different system of justice for a poor black man in the South, Hinton was sentenced to death by electrocution. He spent his first three years on Death Row at Holman State Prison in agonizing silence--full of despair and anger toward all those who had sent an innocent man to his death. But as Hinton realized and accepted his fate, he resolved not only to survive, but find a way to live on Death Row. For the next twenty-seven years he was a beacon--transforming not only his own spirit, but those of his fellow inmates, fifty-four of whom were executed mere feet from his cell. With the help of civil rights attorney and bestselling author of Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson, Hinton won his release in 2015. With a foreword by Stevenson, The Sun Does Shine is an extraordinary testament to the power of hope sustained through the darkest times. Destined to be a classic memoir of wrongful imprisonment and freedom won, Hinton's memoir tells his dramatic thirty-year journey and shows how you can take away a man's freedom, but you can't take away his imagination, humor, or joy.

chloe rae

“There’s no sadder place to be in this world than a place where there’s no hope.”

This book destroyed me. I literally cried throughout the entire book because I am just so PISSED and enraged and distraught over what happened to this innocent man. This man spent almost 30 years on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Watching him try to prove his basically undeniable innocence to people and a justice system that didn't care was beyond infuriating. The pain he suffered and endured is unfathomable and yet, he remains so hopeful and earnest. What an incredible, remarkable human being. The death penalty was something I never really thought about before reading this and now I can't stop thinking about it. This book should be read by everyone. It perfectly details how bias, racist, and unfair our justice system is. Anthony Ray Hinton deserves the world.
Also, Bryan Stevenson? A SUPERHERO. WHAT A MAN. I need to read his book right now.

Erika

Alexa M

"The death penalty is broken, and you are either part of the death squad or banging on the bars. Choose." 

wow. Anthony's story is just so powerful. i already did not support the death penalty but this just really drilled that home for me. this was incredible and highlights how our justice system is so seriously fucked. there is a blurb on this book calling it "heartwarming" and i wholeheartedly disagree. this is heartBREAKING how an innocent man can practically rot in a cell awaiting his murder for YEARS simply because a racist judge wanted another notch on his capital murder belt. this is not inspiring this should be eye opening to how corrupt and unjust the system really is. Anthony himself is an inspiration, yes, but the point is, he shouldn't have had to be. anyways, this is a must read imo!!!

Ivy X

4.5 - book club with grad school friends
This was an eye-opening read about the justice system and whether the death penalty is humane or not. The story highlights how there is room for error for individuals like Ray and room for rehabilitation for many of the other prisoners. 

 Quotes: 
- Despair was a choice. Hatred was a choice. Anger was a choice. I still had choices and that knowledge rocked me. I may not have had as many as Lester had, but I still had some choices. I could choose to give up or to hang on. Hope was a choice. Faith was a choice. And more than anything else, love was a choice. Compassion was a choice. 
- "I like how you think people are all a certain way, but then you find out their stories, their histories, and you see how they got to be that way. Yes, maybe the father is an ass, but he's had some loss and it seems like the more you know of their story, the more you kind of forgive them for what they do, you know? It's kind of like that here, right? We all got a story that led to another story and led to some choices and big mistakes. All these characters make mistakes, you know? Nobody is living this life perfect." 
- "Everybody feels something different when they read the same thing. You just have to see what made people feel something and then talk about that," she'd said. 
- I knew he had watched men he cared about die. I had watched the same. There are no words for how that scars you. There are no words for how every death kills a little piece of you off. Your soul dies a little, your mind cracks a bit, your heart pounds and bleeds as a piece of it tears off. A mind, and a heart, and a soul could only take so much. 
- I had made noise for a lot of men as they faced their own deaths. 
-There was no New Year's celebration on death row, and 2014 came in like a quiet thief in the night. What could we celebrate, really - another year of being alive or another year of being closer to death? How did free men celebrate a new year? I didn't know, and I couldn't remember.
-Death row taught me that it all matters. How we live matters. Do we choose love or do we choose hate? Do we help or do we harm? Because there's no way to know the exact second your life changes forever. You can only begin to know that moment by looking in the rearview mirror. And trust me when I tell you that you never, ever see it coming.

Emily

Let me be clear about why I'm giving this book 4 stars. If I were someone who rated my books objectively and by how much literary merit it deserves, this would almost definitely get 5 stars. However, I rate my books based on my enjoyment of them. Sure, sometimes I take objective quality into account, but oftentimes my enjoyment of the book does not match this. 

The two main reasons why I sometimes felt as though reading this book was like a chore were that I read this book for school, and also because I have already read Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. This book is in no way the same story as Stevenson's but the themes and ideas are incredibly similar, and reading this so soon after made it feel a bit repetitive. And, while I am aware that it's almost insensitive to say that about an issue that deserves infinite attention, I just have to be honest about how my enjoyment was affected while reading. 

While I did not necessarily agree with every single idea that Hinton presents in this book, I appreciated how consistent he kept his arguments and how honest he was. He revealed thoughts that he had that could really put him in a bad position if he was arguing against someone. I admired his bravery for including all of these thoughts.

Overall, Hinton's writing and structure was very impressive, and his story is absolutely heartbreaking but also uplifting. It will not be one that I soon forget, and the same is true for that of Walter MacMillian from Stevenson's book.

OPRAH WINFREY'S BOOK CLUB SUMMER 2018 SELECTION **THE NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER** 'Both (Nelson Mandela and Ray Hinton) emerged from their incarceration with a profound capacity to forgive...The Sun Does Shineis amazing and heartwarming' Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 'This incredibly moving chronicle...is one staggering revelation after another...' Independent Anthony Ray Hinton was poor and black when he was convicted of two murders he hadn't committed. For the next three decades he was trapped in solitary confinement in a tiny cell on death row, having to watch as - one by one - his fellow prisoners were taken past him to the execution room. Eventually his case was taken up by the award-winning lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, who managed to have him exonerated, though it took 15 years for this to happen. Since his release, other high-profile supporters have included Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg and Amal Clooney. How did Hinton cope with the mental and emotional torture of his situation, and emerge full of compassion and forgiveness? The Sun Does Shinethrows light not only on his remarkable personality but also on social deprivation and miscarriages of justice. Ultimately, though, it's a triumphant story of the resilience of the human spirit.

How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row

Makayla Reed

Damn, this book is powerful. Anthony Ray Hinton's story isn't something that you can listen to or read about without shedding quite a few tears. Sadly, his experience happens so often to people of color. I think this is a book that you have to experience for yourself. I cannot tell you anything about this book because it's the power of this book and the faith within the words written that make this story.

As a fan of Bryan Stevenson, I really enjoyed hearing another case that he worked on. Anthony Ray Hinton's story is heartbreaking, but somehow he keeps the faith. Hinton is able to escape into his mind until the day he is finally released. Hinton really opened my eyes to the things that we take for granted because you never know when your life will change forever.

Oprah's Book Club Summer 2018 Selection The Instant New York Times Bestseller A powerful, revealing story of hope, love, justice, and the power of reading by a man who spent thirty years on death row for a crime he didn't commit. “An amazing and heartwarming story, it restores our faith in the inherent goodness of humanity.” —Archbishop Desmond Tutu In 1985, Anthony Ray Hinton was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in Alabama. Stunned, confused, and only twenty–nine years old, Hinton knew that it was a case of mistaken identity and believed that the truth would prove his innocence and ultimately set him free. But with no money and a different system of justice for a poor black man in the South, Hinton was sentenced to death by electrocution. He spent his first three years on Death Row at Holman State Prison in agonizing silence—full of despair and anger toward all those who had sent an innocent man to his death. But as Hinton realized and accepted his fate, he resolved not only to survive, but find a way to live on Death Row. For the next twenty–seven years he was a beacon—transforming not only his own spirit, but those of his fellow inmates, fifty–four of whom were executed mere feet from his cell. With the help of civil rights attorney and bestselling author of Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson, Hinton won his release in 2015. With a foreword by Stevenson, The Sun Does Shine is an extraordinary testament to the power of hope sustained through the darkest times. Destined to be a classic memoir of wrongful imprisonment and freedom won, Hinton’s memoir tells his dramatic thirty–year journey and shows how you can take away a man’s freedom, but you can’t take away his imagination, humor, or joy.

Jess Mingrino

I.m. ruzz

A nearly perfect audio book. Probably the best I've listened to in this format. The story itself was entertaining and somewhat thought provoking as well. It's sad commentary that these things don't shock us in a post making a murder world but they just don't carry that weight anymore. It's more resignation for me. like, yeah, more of this. 

that said, if you have a long car ride it's a good listen.

Natalia 

connor arnette

**THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** ‘A riveting account of the multiple outrages of the criminal justice system of Alabama. A harrowing masterpiece’ Guardian ‘Hinton somehow navigates through his rage and despair to a state of forgiveness and grace’ Independent At 29, Anthony Ray Hinton was charged with robbery and murder, and sentences to death by electrocution. His only crime? To be poor and black. Over the years he watched fellow inmates go to their deaths knowing he would soon follow. Hinton’s incredible story reveals the injustices of the American legal system, but it is also testament to the hope and humanity in us all. ‘You will be swept away in this unbelievable, dramatic true story’ Oprah Winfrey

Jasmine Carson 

Cece Page

Jimmy McKinnon

Beth Seaton

Madeline Adams

jiveen liew

Christin Sharp

Kevin. j Mercil 

Kyle McCormick

Kenny Smyth

Heleah Soulati

OPRAH WINFREY'S BOOK CLUB SUMMER 2018 SELECTION **THE NEW YORK TIMESBESTSELLER** 'Both (Nelson Mandela and Ray Hinton) emerged from their incarceration with a profound capacity to forgive...The Sun Does Shineis amazing and heartwarming' Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 'Hinton is an example to us all of the power of the human spirit to rise above complete injustice. His book will inspire people to never accept the unacceptable.' - Richard Branson The Sun Does Shine is a powerful and compelling true story that brings to life deep, human questions about suffering and redemption. Anthony Ray Hinton was poor and black when he was convicted of two murders he hadn't committed. For the next three decades he was trapped in solitary confinement in a tiny cell on death row, having to watch as - one by one - his fellow prisoners were taken past him to the execution room. Eventually his case was taken up by the award-winning lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, who managed to have him exonerated, though it took 15 years for this to happen. How did Hinton cope with the mental and emotional torture of his situation? The Sun Does Shinethrows light not only on his remarkable personality but also on social deprivation and miscarriages of justice.

The Sun Does Shine How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row (Oprah's Book Club Summer 2018 Selection)

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