Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

66 reviews

tiamia1084's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Excrement, and Death of parent

lsinfield's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism

maddamreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

3.5

Definitely not what I initially expected going into the book. I expected a murder mystery and got an intricate weaving of lives of Black, Jewish, and immigrant communities. The build is slow, and I almost DNFed a lot. The intense world building starts to pay off towards the middle of the book. I learned a lot about Jewish and Black communities, culture, and music of the 1920s and 30s. It is obvious that this was created with immense care. That being said, it was a bit too slow for me and just interesting enough to keep me in. I did not connect with all of the characters, but some of them I loved. Overall middle of the road book for me. Should definitely be an AP high school required reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Death

betzine's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful inspiring 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

5.0

This one is a slow burn, but it’s an exquisitely crafted novel that comes together in a deeply moving, satisfying conclusion. James McBride has a gift for capturing America’s complex beauty— largely by depicting its profound ugliness with unabashed frankness. This is a novel that will stay with me forever.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment

bcvogel90's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

Minor: Pedophilia and Murder

lavaly_1's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious relaxing sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Infertility, Racial slurs, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Murder

amandalachelle's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

yulecogs's review against another edition

slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Cultural appropriation, and Alcohol

everamplify's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, and Cultural appropriation

pbruce593's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Antisemitism, Murder, and Classism