Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

7 reviews

alisonvh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-paced

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

5.0

This book is so good, and I’m sure that, the more I think about it, the more I’ll like it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Excrement, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

tctimlin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

5.0

I kept hearing that this book was about the relationship between the Jewish and black communities of Pottstown, but this sprawling novel is so much more.  With as many characters as a Russian novel, some real, most made up, this novel tells stories of history, race, and community.  McBride uses real events like a flood in Pottstown in 1972, and real places like the notorious Pennhurst institution for the mentally ill and the disabled.  But it is his characters who bring life to the story.  Chona, Moshe, Nate, Addie, and Dodo and all the others will stay with me for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Classism

wanderingghost12's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense 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? No

4.0

James McBride is phenomenal at his use of irony and describing people. He creates a colorful cast of characters that are loveable, fearless, and completely human. He shows us the good, the bad, and the ugly very well and keeps us intrigued by their character development. This book was relatively slow at times, so portions were difficult to get through, but the last third of the book was great and so well-written. This book is very dark and portrays a clear and concise image of how America was like for minority groups in the 1930s. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, and Classism

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Excrement, and Religious bigotry

juperson's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

0.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

mal_reads_books's review against another edition

The book was too slow and convoluted to maintain my interest. It had way too many side characters and storylines that didn't seem to go anywhere. Most seemed irrelevant to the main, but barely there, plot. I constantly found myself skimming parts because the story kept meandering. While I heard the story picks up toward the end, I'd already pushed myself enough that I no longer want to continue.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Ableism, Sexual assault, and Antisemitism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Excrement, and Vomit

The author is a boob (and occasional ass) man for sure

booksandabackpack's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, and Police brutality

Minor: Infertility, Excrement, and Alcohol

maceface290's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Antisemitism