Reviews

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

bookgerm's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.0

discoanddessert's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

lizruest's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

nsperger's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

anneaf's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.25

humbleamble's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Cursing

heidithomas's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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? No

4.25

Loved the character development and particularly the ending

katmindae's review

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

Subjective bits:
I was sooooo bored for the first 50% of the book but I felt like it was building up to something. I flew through the last 20% but I don’t know if it was worth it for me.

Stories where “not much happens” and we just get character studies and a look into lil smalltown life are just not for me.

I felt like the ending climax was focused on the wrong part of the story.

I was a million times more invested in Dodo’s story than making sure Doc got punished. Dodo’s story ending up in the epilogue felt like a lot of buildup for nothing, and I had unanswered questions.

That being said, this definitely feels like a new classic that English teachers will love to pick apart and study . Which is why I was super bored :)

Objective:
I mIGHT have given a better rating after I got invested at the end IF NOT for the way that EVERY SINGLE FEMALE CHARACTER has her boobs described in a very vivid and repetitive way that just felt so gross.

torimariereads's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

taebae_xx's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring medium-paced

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

4.0