Hello beautiful people! Welcome to a new review. For this review, I am getting into Anthony Ray Hinton’s memoir The Sun Does Shine. In the book, Anthony shares his life story in which he spent a shameful number of years on death row for two murders he did not commit. A heartbreaking but heartwarming book, Anthony’s story is an important one, and he uses his experience to help others today.
People of focus in the book:
Anthony Ray Hinton: Anthony is the heart of this memoir, and what an incredible person he is. His honesty throughout the book is what struck me the most. He doesn’t pretend that he wasn’t angry, hurt, or completely broken by what happened to him. Instead, he openly shares the emotional toll of spending nearly thirty years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. Watching him slowly fight to reclaim not only his freedom but also his sense of self is both heartbreaking and deeply inspiring.
Bryan Stevenson: The attorney who ultimately helped Anthony secure his release after years of failed appeals. Bryan’s determination and belief in Anthony become a turning point in the story, and his work shines a light on just how important advocates are for those who have been failed by the justice system.
My Review
I really can’t say enough about how fantastic a read this book was. Anthony’s story shines a light on the experience of hundreds and thousands of men, specifically men of colour, who have been improperly charged with crimes strictly based on the colour of their skin. Getting into the book, it’s clear from the start that the case against him is weak, yet to save face, the justice system would rather charge a man who had nothing to do with the crime, allowing the actual perpetrator to go free, while they grandstand about closing the case. It’s a sick pattern that happens every day, and in our current climate continues to happen far more than is acceptable. I would really recommend checking this book out and listening to Anthony’s voice, as his story is very important and also incredibly interesting. I gave the book a 9/10 rating overall, and if you’re a memoir lover would really enjoy this one.
Anthony Ray Hinton spent nearly thirty years on Alabama’s death row after being wrongfully convicted of two murders he did not commit. Throughout his incarceration, Anthony repeatedly maintained his innocence while facing a justice system that continually ignored evidence that should have cleared his name. With the help of attorney Bryan Stevenson, Anthony was finally released in 2015 after decades of fighting for the freedom that should never have been taken from him. His memoir tells the story not only of surviving death row, but of learning how to live again after spending most of his life imprisoned for someone else’s crime.
This is one of those books that I think everyone should read. It’s heartbreaking, frustrating, inspiring, and honestly made me feel sick to my stomach more than once, but in exactly the way it should.
Anthony’s story is incredibly powerful because it isn’t just about being wrongfully convicted. It’s about what happens when an entire system decides someone is guilty before they’re ever given a fair chance. The book does an excellent job showing how racial injustice and inequality within the justice system shaped every part of Anthony’s case. From the investigation to the trial and the appeals process, it becomes painfully clear how difficult it was for him to receive anything close to a fair trial.
What made me the angriest, though, was the overwhelming feeling that many of the people involved knew he wasn’t guilty. Rather than admitting mistakes or acknowledging the flaws in the investigation, people continued protecting the conviction instead. Reading about evidence being ignored, facts being manipulated, and lives being sacrificed simply to save face was honestly infuriating. It highlights one of the darkest realities of any justice system: that sometimes protecting the institution becomes more important than protecting innocent people.
Anthony’s emotional honesty is also something I appreciated so much. He never pretends that forgiveness came easily or that he somehow rose above everything without pain. He openly talks about his anger, his hurt, and his frustration, and I think that makes his eventual healing so much more meaningful. To present himself as someone who was never bitter would almost diminish what was taken from him. Instead, he allows readers to see how difficult that journey actually was.
One part that especially stayed with me was what happened after his release. You would think finally proving your innocence would mean life suddenly becomes easy, but it doesn’t. Anthony is released into a world he barely recognizes after spending most of his adult life behind bars. Society doesn’t suddenly welcome him with open arms. Instead, he has to learn how to live all over again while carrying decades of trauma that should never have existed in the first place. And yet somehow, he keeps going.
His resilience is honestly remarkable. It would’ve been completely understandable if he had given up long before his release, or if bitterness had consumed him afterward. Instead, he continues building a life, advocating for others, and showing people who he truly is rather than allowing the world’s false perception of him to define him.
That’s what makes this memoir so special. It’s certainly a book about injustice, corruption, and the devastating failures of the legal system, but it’s also a book about hope, perseverance, and the incredible strength of the human spirit.
Anthony’s story is an important reminder that we have a responsibility to hold systems and people accountable, to question injustice, and to remember that every case file represents a real human being whose life can be changed forever by the decisions of others. More than anything, this book left me with an incredible amount of respect for Anthony Ray Hinton. His ability to continue growing, loving, and believing in people after everything he endured is something I don’t think many of us could do. It’s a story that deserves to be read.
I hope you enjoyed this review. Thank you for checking it out!
Baddie Book Reviews 