The Sun Does Shine

by

Anthony Ray Hinton

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Books and Stories Symbol Analysis

Books and Stories Symbol Icon

In The Sun Does Shine, books contain several layers of symbolic significance. Firstly, books and stories symbolize the power of escapism to ease one’s suffering. During his 28 years on Holman’s death row, Ray constantly fantasizes about meeting the Queen of England or winning the World Series. Spinning these stories in his mind gives him a sense of freedom, allowing him to mentally escape the confines of his prison cell and the bleakness of his life. As time goes on, Ray becomes so invested in these mental stories that time begins to pass far more quickly and effortlessly—which is important for someone who’s wrongly imprisoned on death row for nearly three decades. Besides helping the time pass, these stories also brighten Ray’s mood. He soon decides to start a book club at Holman so that the men can experience their own sense of mental freedom, even if they don’t have physical freedom.

Similarly, books also represent the idea that stories can be liberating for prisoners—and that prisoners deserve to have this kind of mental liberation. When Ray first arrives at Holman’s death row, the only book allowed in the men’s cells is the Bible. After Ray petitions for the men to be able to have a book club, the men are allowed to have two books each, and Ray observes how the books quickly open up a whole new world for the other inmates. When they read Go Tell It on the Mountain, for instance, they are immersed in Harlem in the early 1900s, which distracts them from their own harsh reality. But the books, many of which deal with racism in the American South, also enable them to discuss social and political issues, offering them a voice that they never had before. In this way, the books provide them with agency, education, and entertainment—liberating feelings for those who live in five-by-seven-foot cells.

Books and Stories Quotes in The Sun Does Shine

The The Sun Does Shine quotes below all refer to the symbol of Books and Stories. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Discrimination and the Criminal Justice System Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

Some days, I would go up to Maine to eat lobster drenched in warm butter, and other days, I would go swimming in Key West, Florida. In my mind, I would travel anywhere but into that black, dark pit where every breath was full of float dust that brought coal and rock and dirt into your lungs where it settled in and took root as if to punish you for disturbing it in the first place.

Related Characters: Anthony Ray Hinton (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Sun, Books and Stories
Page Number: 35
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15 Quotes

We were transported, and just as I could travel the world and have tea with the Queen of England, I watched these men be transported in their minds for a small chunk of time. It was a vacation from the row—and everyone was a part of book club, even before the seven of us had our first official meeting.

Related Characters: Anthony Ray Hinton (speaker)
Related Symbols: Books and Stories
Page Number: 189
Explanation and Analysis:

“I’m going to tell the world about how there was men in here that mattered. That cared about each other and the world. That were learning how to look at things differently.”

“You’re going to tell it on the mountain, Ray?” Jesse asked. The other guys laughed.

“I’m going to tell it on every single mountain there is. I’m going to push that boulder right on up and over that giant, and I’m going to stand at the top of that hill, and on the top of every mountain I can find, and I’m going to tell it. I’m going to tell my story, and I’m going to tell your story. Hell, maybe I will even write a book and tell it like that.”

Related Characters: Anthony Ray Hinton (speaker), Jesse Morrison (speaker)
Related Symbols: Books and Stories
Page Number: 197
Explanation and Analysis:
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Books and Stories Symbol Timeline in The Sun Does Shine

The timeline below shows where the symbol Books and Stories appears in The Sun Does Shine. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 12
Suffering, Community, and Support Theme Icon
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
...again—he’s happy to have something to read to occupy his mind, as they can’t have books. (full context)
Chapter 13
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
...face to face with other people. He yells out that he’s going to start a book club and get real books in the jail. He wants to show the other men... (full context)
Chapter 14
Suffering, Community, and Support Theme Icon
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
Ray asks Jones if he can start a book club that would meet once a month in the library. Ray explains that it will... (full context)
Discrimination and the Criminal Justice System Theme Icon
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
...alone—Ray’s mom isn’t feeling well enough to visit. Ray tells them that he’s starting a book club, and Sia gets excited, suggesting a bunch of different books that they can read... (full context)
Chapter 15
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
Only six guys can join Ray in the book club, but every inmate is now allowed to have two books besides the Bible in... (full context)
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
The book club’s first book is James Baldwin’s Go Tell It on the Mountain, and some of... (full context)
The Death Penalty Theme Icon
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
At the first official book club meeting, the guys are uneasy at the change in their routine. They look at... (full context)
Discrimination and the Criminal Justice System Theme Icon
The Death Penalty Theme Icon
Two of the guys in the book club, Baldwin and Horsely, are on death row for a crime they were accused of... (full context)
The Death Penalty Theme Icon
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
...everybody has a story that led them to their mistakes. Agreeing, Ray sees how the books are making everyone think and open their minds, as well as transport them away from... (full context)
Optimism, Faith, and Choice Theme Icon
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
...world about how there are men on death row who mattered—maybe he’ll even write a book about it. A few months later, on March 20, 1992, Larry becomes the first member... (full context)
Chapter 16
Discrimination and the Criminal Justice System Theme Icon
The Death Penalty Theme Icon
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
The book club has now met a few more times, discussing books like Your Blues Ain’t Like... (full context)
Chapter 19
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
...right thing. He prays and goes to bed. When Ray wakes up, he hears a book club discussion going on, which makes him sad. All of the men in the original... (full context)
Optimism, Faith, and Choice Theme Icon
Suffering, Community, and Support Theme Icon
The Power of Stories Theme Icon
After Ray wakes up, coffee, chocolate, cards, books, and candy arrive in his cell. The men give Ray their condolences and sympathy, and... (full context)
Chapter 21
Optimism, Faith, and Choice Theme Icon
...his last Thanksgiving on death row, 37 men have been executed. There are no more book club discussions. Relations between the guards and the inmates grow tense. The guards assure Ray... (full context)