Reviews

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

katakarin's review against another edition

reflective tense fast-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? Yes

5.0

beclupton's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-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

2.25

kirstiejayhawk's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

actingnerd101's review against another edition

funny mysterious fast-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

3.25

nravindr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

nielstav's review against another edition

mysterious reflective sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.25

thedarkerbrother's review against another edition

tense 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

mcloonejack's review against another edition

4.0

It’s Colson Whitehead writing about 1960s Harlem, of course it’s amazing.

I haven’t read much Whitehead (the only other one of his book’s I’ve read is Zone One, which I loved) but it’s readily apparent why he’s so beloved, even if this isn’t either of his two more prestigious novels. He writes with such a deft, confident hand. One of his most impressive abilities is making it *feel* hot (though maybe that was just because I was reading this during a heat wave), but not by telling you it’s hot. But not even necessarily by showing you it’s hot, either. It just… exudes being hot. Who am I to try and explain how?

The story itself was engaging, if nothing particular special plot-wise. The characters, however, were really strongly built through anecdotes and asides.

And of course, as an avowed heist movie fan, I’ll love any heist book.

ballycumbering's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

I loved the way the story unfolds along with the historical events of the city. Experiencing the changes within and to characters as the city also changes around them.

ejulin's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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