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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I liked it! I don’t know if I have read anything like it - can’t compare it to anything
I can see how listening to his other books was confusing because each chapter is a whole new plot point / character. Definitely get a better experience physically reading it.
I can see how listening to his other books was confusing because each chapter is a whole new plot point / character. Definitely get a better experience physically reading it.
I wanted to love this more than I did, and I'm probably giving it a 3.5 when maybe it should be a 3.25 or even 3. The themes are rich, the writing often beautiful, but the story meanders, the cast is overwhelming, and many plotlines go nowhere. I struggled to stay emotionally connected.
The early sections shine (Moshe and Chona are the heart of the book), but it loses focus midway and never fully regains it. A solid, ambitious book that didn’t quite land for me. Maybe it was the format (I listened to the audiobook), or maybe it was the hype, which set me up to expect something moving, cohesive, and even joyful. What I found instead was a sprawling, at times unwieldy novel filled with colorful characters and powerful themes, but lacking in emotional focus and narrative momentum.
The early sections shine (Moshe and Chona are the heart of the book), but it loses focus midway and never fully regains it. A solid, ambitious book that didn’t quite land for me. Maybe it was the format (I listened to the audiobook), or maybe it was the hype, which set me up to expect something moving, cohesive, and even joyful. What I found instead was a sprawling, at times unwieldy novel filled with colorful characters and powerful themes, but lacking in emotional focus and narrative momentum.
The author, James McBride can write, no doubt about that, and I will likely look to read more of his works. There are moments of brilliance, especially early on with Moshe and Chona, who were vibrant, memorable, and full of heart. But as the story progressed, I found myself lost in a sea of side characters and backstories that felt more like detours than enrichments. Every time I wanted to sink into a scene or relationship (romantic or just friendship dynamic, like Addie and Nate? Nate and Moshe?), I was whisked away to another character, another anecdote. Some of these stories added texture, sure, but many just made the plot feel diluted and hard to follow.
The more serious content, especially the storyline involving Dodo and the abuse at the institution, is harrowing and important, but I wasn’t prepared, as it felt jarring within the context of a book often described as “warm” or “like a hug." (Compared to say, A Little Life that will definitely be in my next 5-10 books and is upfront "trauma porn.)
And while the setting and themes — a racially and culturally interwoven Pennsylvania neighborhood in the early 20th century — are deeply compelling, the book’s execution didn’t always serve them well. There are tonal shifts (some jarringly modern, even meta), moments of unnecessary repetition, and a central plot that often felt sidelined. The 21st century "meta-narration" just felt bizarre, including a weird foreshadowing on gun violence and the rich staying rich. I also got distracted when Chona passes which should very much be a poignant moment, but then there's a diatribe on cell phone addiction (but... the events in the story are mostly the 1930s, and the opening was 1972? Why did we jump timelines?)? I also felt certain things were being repeated unnecessarily? Could have done without those dissonant, distracting interjections. The bones of the story I do think I really like, though.
Nearing the end, I had fewer than 50 pages left and still didn’t feel pulled toward the end. When I finished the book, I was left feeling like not a lot had happened across the nearly 400 pages? I think this could have been edited down.
And while the setting and themes — a racially and culturally interwoven Pennsylvania neighborhood in the early 20th century — are deeply compelling, the book’s execution didn’t always serve them well. There are tonal shifts (some jarringly modern, even meta), moments of unnecessary repetition, and a central plot that often felt sidelined. The 21st century "meta-narration" just felt bizarre, including a weird foreshadowing on gun violence and the rich staying rich. I also got distracted when Chona passes which should very much be a poignant moment, but then there's a diatribe on cell phone addiction (but... the events in the story are mostly the 1930s, and the opening was 1972? Why did we jump timelines?)? I also felt certain things were being repeated unnecessarily? Could have done without those dissonant, distracting interjections. The bones of the story I do think I really like, though.
Nearing the end, I had fewer than 50 pages left and still didn’t feel pulled toward the end. When I finished the book, I was left feeling like not a lot had happened across the nearly 400 pages? I think this could have been edited down.
That said, I do respect what McBride was trying to do here. His intention to honor overlooked communities and explore how solidarity can bloom among the marginalized is timely and necessary. I just didn’t feel fully satisfied
I have mixed reviews on this book. After two restarts and putting it on my DNF list, I gave the audiobook a shot, which finally redeemed the book. The core of this novel is 4 star but it’s such a slow start with so many slow plot lines that 3 ⭐️’s feels generous. The character development is enjoyable for most characters, however, it was difficult to follow so many characters without knowing how they all connect for a large part of the book.
I really think I did myself a disservice by listening to this book instead of reading it. There were a lot of characters that had their own little subplots that didn’t really resolve and it was hard to keep track from just listening to the book. I also completely forgot that the whole beginning of the book was them finding a skeleton in the future and wondering where it came from - you find out who that is, but I personally didn’t even remember it being at the beginning of the book because it’s not brought up again after you know who it is.
With that being said, this book is really about community, and I think that the characters and all their personalities meshed into this own little world that I wanted to hear more about.
With that being said, this book is really about community, and I think that the characters and all their personalities meshed into this own little world that I wanted to hear more about.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is something of a true mosaic. James McBride expertly winds his readers through context and texture that, if rushing, one might not consider to be important only to arrive at the threshold of a perfect folktale.
His writing style is slower and more challenging than I have read before but once I finished I realized it was the perfect speed for me to grasp the weight of the story without being fed by a heavy hand.
Each character has their own life that is entirely different than the last, all weaving and intersecting in random beautiful purposeful ways.
Although this book does not deliver an outright bow on all the storylines, the natural momentum you are left with is forward marching towards a hopeful and love filled future.
Love love love it
His writing style is slower and more challenging than I have read before but once I finished I realized it was the perfect speed for me to grasp the weight of the story without being fed by a heavy hand.
Each character has their own life that is entirely different than the last, all weaving and intersecting in random beautiful purposeful ways.
Although this book does not deliver an outright bow on all the storylines, the natural momentum you are left with is forward marching towards a hopeful and love filled future.
Love love love it
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
The main portion of this story is set in the 1920s and 30s in Pennsylvania. It's the saga of the lives, struggles, successes and failures of Jewish people and black families in a community.
There are a lot of characters and much time is devoted to the back stories of all of these individuals. And while it is a worthwhile story, at times it felt tedious.
.
"Americans cared about money. And power. And government. Jews had none of those things; their job was to tread lightly in the land of milk and honey and be thankful that they were free to walk the land without getting their duffs kicked, or worse."
.
"...a future in which devices that fit in one's pocket and went zip, zap, and zilch delivered a danger far more seductive and powerful than any hot dog, a device that children of the future would clamor for and become addicted to, a device that fed them their oppression disguised as free thought."
.
"The difference was that the white man in the South spoke his hatred in clear, clean, concise terms, whereas the white man in the new country hid his hatred behind stories of wisdom and bravado, with false smiles of sincerity and stories of Jesus Christ..."
There are a lot of characters and much time is devoted to the back stories of all of these individuals. And while it is a worthwhile story, at times it felt tedious.
.
"Americans cared about money. And power. And government. Jews had none of those things; their job was to tread lightly in the land of milk and honey and be thankful that they were free to walk the land without getting their duffs kicked, or worse."
.
"...a future in which devices that fit in one's pocket and went zip, zap, and zilch delivered a danger far more seductive and powerful than any hot dog, a device that children of the future would clamor for and become addicted to, a device that fed them their oppression disguised as free thought."
.
"The difference was that the white man in the South spoke his hatred in clear, clean, concise terms, whereas the white man in the new country hid his hatred behind stories of wisdom and bravado, with false smiles of sincerity and stories of Jesus Christ..."
This book was an absolute slog to get through. Maybe it was that I didn’t really know most of the Jewish and/or black cultural references, maybe it was the rambling nature of the storyteller. There was a backstory on everyone and all of their relatives, and so much of it was irrelevant to the story at hand.
It was well written, just not at all my style. Too much backstory and not enough forward momentum of the plot. The story finally did pick up near the end, but the only reason I didn’t abandon it outright was because it ended up on the NYT best books of the century. Otherwise I would have walked away after 150 pages when the story still hadn’t progressed in any meaningful way.
It was well written, just not at all my style. Too much backstory and not enough forward momentum of the plot. The story finally did pick up near the end, but the only reason I didn’t abandon it outright was because it ended up on the NYT best books of the century. Otherwise I would have walked away after 150 pages when the story still hadn’t progressed in any meaningful way.
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed getting sucked into this community, and that it included a very meaningful heist .