Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

112 reviews

ninjamuse's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, and Ableism

Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Death, and Chronic illness

Minor: Death of parent and Pedophilia

amandarosetea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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? Yes

4.0

Well written, and you can really feel what’s happening, but it’s also got some really sad parts and the language is almost jarring at times, so the thing I really felt the most throughout was grief.  Good book that inspired reflection and taught me a lot, but also had some really heartbreaking parts and the ending left something to be desired.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Ableism, and Sexual assault

maceface290's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Antisemitism, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Pedophilia

pbruce593's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Rape, Xenophobia, Sexual violence, Violence, Classism, Antisemitism, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Death, Murder, Terminal illness, Racism, Racial slurs, and Pedophilia

haircutshort's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Lots of themes about American communities. The immigration story. Justice. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Antisemitism, Ableism, Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Murder

kaneebli's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Rape, Ableism, Child death, and Antisemitism

Minor: Excrement and Death of parent

carleyf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love how this book opens with a mystery but doesn’t discuss it until the very end. It perfectly dives into everyone’s stories, how they intertwine with those of the community, and how a ripple effect can run its course. This book highlights true injustices for both Black and Jewish communities in a small town and gives them a voice they might not have had at that point in history. It also shows the very real, raw reality of people with any sort of disability at the time and how they were treated. I will recommend this book to everyone. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Ableism, Forced institutionalization, and Racism

gmrickel's review against another edition

challenging slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

2.5 stars for enjoyment. I am very surprised how much I didn't enjoy reading this book! I love a family saga and Booklist's review described this as a "neighborhood saga." I often felt like I was just getting interested in a set of characters and then it would shift to another set. At some point someone described this as a mystery and I disagree with that assessment. Yes, there are certain suspenseful plot points, but the mystery doesn't drive the story. The leisurely pace grated and I wish there had been more women characters. All of the above is completely my preference based on the types of stories I enjoy reading and isn't a comment on McBride storytelling skill (which is immense). From the professional reviews, I was expecting the racism, anti-Semitism, and ableism, but none of them mentioned the sexual violence (rape and assault). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Ableism, Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia

abigailrsimard's review against another edition

challenging inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Racism, and Ableism

Moderate: Violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

fremlo's review against another edition

emotional mysterious sad

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Slow to start, the heaven and earth grocery store creates an in-depth image of community and characters both relatable and deeply human. The ending is perfect and reminds me to always fight for justice and hope for more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Rape, and Child death