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jenhilg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
karenleagermain's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store was on my radar, but I bumped it to the top of my pile as it was the book pick for a book club that I moderate. This story was incredible and impossible to predict. I don't want to give anything away, but know that it is not an easy read and may be very triggering for some readers. I was listening to the audio book, sitting in the middle seat on a flight, and ugly crying. The story absolutely wrecked me.
One thing that I'd like to note is that I can't think of another book where a severely disabled character gets to be a hero. I loved this aspect of the story.
One thing that I'd like to note is that I can't think of another book where a severely disabled character gets to be a hero. I loved this aspect of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
The story is intense and difficult for many reasons, but specifically there are multiple incidences of sexual assault, one towards a woman who is experiencing a medical emergency and the other is towards a twelve year old boy in an asylum. Both are absolutely horrific and explained in detail.minhha_reads's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
melannedavis's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
adrenallynn's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Listened through but was never really hooked myself.
jtrump91's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
bhnmt61's review against another edition
5.0
This is a long, complicated, beautifully told story of the intertwined lives of a group of Jewish immigrants and black people living on Chicken Hill outside Pottstown, Pennsylvania. It’s a meandering, heart-rending story about the every day lives of people you come to love and care about. It also sometimes seems to take one step forward for every two steps back into someone’s back story. Is there maybe a little too much meandering? I thought so. I also thought that the 20-page soliloquy by a character we don’t even meet until 2/3 of the way through was a slog.
But even with those negatives, this is still an amazing book. It’s not as good as Deacon King Kong, which might be my favorite book of the last ten years, but it’s still better than ninety percent of what I’ve read recently. It’s like sitting and listening to a storyteller spin a bunch of old yarns that take a long time to come together. Maybe the meandering is the point. It’s a good book.
But even with those negatives, this is still an amazing book. It’s not as good as Deacon King Kong, which might be my favorite book of the last ten years, but it’s still better than ninety percent of what I’ve read recently. It’s like sitting and listening to a storyteller spin a bunch of old yarns that take a long time to come together. Maybe the meandering is the point. It’s a good book.
meaglovesbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Rape
ishadesh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
morandareads's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75