Reviews - The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

12.5k reviews for:

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

James McBride

3.9 AVERAGE

ch3rith's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is my first McBride. At times, I was heavily invested, but more often than not, the book felt like it dragged a bit, and that led to a lot of confusion and having to reread sections to try to piece things back together. The wide cast of characters didn't have to be as big as it was; some of them felt less important than others, and the people I wanted to actually learn more about (Son of Man, Nate, Paper) didn't get as much time spent on them as I'd like. It was solid enough that I'd read another McBride before entirely writing him off, but this book didn't rock my world or anything.

kimberlyn25's review against another edition

3.0

challenging mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

gamobley's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional 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

mhill7723's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 13%

i couldn’t do it. For a book that touts itself as Black centered in the first 50 pages we never got there. It was actually pretty bad and I realized this author was the same one who did Deacon King Kong that in my book groups it was no reviewed well. We read this one for a book club and most of the ladies did not finish the book…

smclawler's review against another edition

5.0

Hands down, The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store is one of the most memorable books I've read in a very long time. It has character development, plot, theme, cultural and historical perspectives. There are many characters, with their backstories drawing in more characters. The same can be said of the plot points, with me wondering if and how they will all come together. Rest assured, they do. Characters have distinctive voices reflecting their demographic--European Jewish, African American, and the racist Whites, who want everyone to think their ancestors were on the Mayflower. LOL--I grew up in CT, and that was definitely a "thing". The term Connecticut Yankee did not include my immigrant great grandparents, their children, grandchildren, etc. . I have read some books that are so heavy on theme that the plot, characters, even the title, are immemorable and lost in the background. Not the case with The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store! The process and roadblocks encountered by immigrants and enslaved people as they navigated assimilation into the US white society, and the profound sense of community, are etched in my consciousness. Such is the quality of author James McBride's writing. I recommend this timeless book to all who appreciate historical fiction with strong characters and theme.