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throwback682's review against another edition
I had to stop reading this book when I got to the part where Dodo meets the Son of Man. : It’s implied that he’s a pedophile. I tried to find out online whether it goes any further than that / if there’s a child rape scene / how graphic it is. but I wasn’t able to find the information so I just had to stop.
My impressions of the first 70% of the audiobook were
- that the narrator is really talented and voices many different characters distinctly and well.
- there are a ton of characters and it’s hard to keep everyone straight. There was constantly a new person entering and their backstory being told. The book was really trying to do a lot. It felt like how I tell stories when I don’t have my ADHD meds.
- but many of the characters were very compelling and I do want to know how it ends
My impressions of the first 70% of the audiobook were
- that the narrator is really talented and voices many different characters distinctly and well.
- there are a ton of characters and it’s hard to keep everyone straight. There was constantly a new person entering and their backstory being told. The book was really trying to do a lot. It felt like how I tell stories when I don’t have my ADHD meds.
- but many of the characters were very compelling and I do want to know how it ends
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Ableism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Confinement
Moderate: Pedophilia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Sexual violence
mraddd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Excrement, Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Grief, Body horror, Racism, Rape, and Xenophobia
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This book reminds me of sitting around a campfire with people telling stories. At times, I was captivated by the storytelling, and at other times, I was so confused. It is very heavy a character driven novel, with detailed storytelling. The audio has a single narrator, yet there are multiple narrators, so you have to really be listening to understand who is telling the story at that time.
My favorite part of the story was that of a 12 year old black deaf boy, named Dodo, who witnesses an attempted rape and when he makes a scene, is put into an institution. The Heaven and Earth Grocery store is owned by his Jewish adopted family. Much of the book contemplates how black and Jewish people are treated by the community, and how groups of the community join together to protect what is right.
I like this summary better than the one on Goodreads:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/james-mcbride/the-heaven-earth-grocery-store/
Loved the Barnes and Noble interview: https://youtu.be/SlCKKv_xnv4
“… a good woman’s heart can hold secrets better than any vault.” Ch 15
“.. in America, what a man does to live often has nothing to do with how he lives.” Ch 9
My favorite part of the story was that of a 12 year old black deaf boy, named Dodo, who witnesses an attempted rape and when he makes a scene, is put into an institution. The Heaven and Earth Grocery store is owned by his Jewish adopted family. Much of the book contemplates how black and Jewish people are treated by the community, and how groups of the community join together to protect what is right.
I like this summary better than the one on Goodreads:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/james-mcbride/the-heaven-earth-grocery-store/
Loved the Barnes and Noble interview: https://youtu.be/SlCKKv_xnv4
“… a good woman’s heart can hold secrets better than any vault.” Ch 15
“.. in America, what a man does to live often has nothing to do with how he lives.” Ch 9
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Rape, and Sexual assault
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