Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

41 reviews

purplepenning's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

In 1972, a construction crew finds a skeleton in the bottom of a well in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. But really, that's the end of the story. The real story takes place in the minority community of Chicken Hill in the 1930s, when Black and Jewish neighbors, estranged friends, quiet community protectors, well-intentioned hustlers, crooked public officials, morally diseased doctors, bankrolling mobsters, predatory monsters, and one deaf child intersect to reveal how an extraordinary community of communities came together to support and protect each other.     

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Violence, Chronic illness, Grief, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Classism, Mental illness, Excrement, Confinement, Medical content, and Terminal illness

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Death of parent, and Infertility

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Chronic illness, Ableism, Death of parent, Grief, Racism, Rape, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault

susansdg's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Stunning.
Absolutely changed me.
Challenging yet satisfying, dark yet funny, I don’t feel qualified to use words after seeing how this author uses the English language.
I reread passages as I went even though I read it in a day.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Chronic illness, and Antisemitism

noladawnreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Rape

Minor: Child abuse

squintyfarmer's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, Sexual violence, Racism, Antisemitism, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Excrement, and Forced institutionalization

tigger89's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

4.5

This was the first book by James McBride that I've ever read, and if the rest of his books are anything like this one, I understand why he's so popular. This is a story that takes its time, circling repeatedly around the same events to examine them from multiple perspectives, before moving swiftly to cinch the plot tightly around the conclusion. But through all of the plot circling I never felt bored with it, because it was fascinating to get to know the community through the eyes of so many different individuals. I wouldn't go so far as to say the pacing is off, but you will need to bring patience for the slow build-up. It pays off in the final quarter of the story, but it's a journey to get there.

It's worth mentioning that, despite the dark elements in the story — and there are many — this book has a sharp sense of humor. It has to, because if we'd had to read through all of that heavy, grim subject matter without the tension breaking with a chuckle now and again, it would have been too much. That said, the dark parts are incredibly dark. Aside from the obvious racism and white supremacy present throughout, there's some not-so-obvious content, so I encourage readers to check warnings. Despite the negative attitudes expressed by many of the characters, I found the various groups depicted — Black people, Jewish people, and people with disabilities — to be treated with respect by the author.

Despite all the good, there were a few things I wasn't a huge fan of. First, there were some dangling plot elements that seemed to be set up and then forgotten about. For example, there was an ominous deal made out of the half of the note that Fatty dropped, but it ultimately seemed like it didn't matter. And there was also a recurring character who seemed to be set up for a big role in the events, but ultimately he re-entered the plot just before the climax kicked off only to chill off-screen. Don't get me wrong, the matter of who wound up down the well and why was answered in a completely satisfactory manner. But I got the vibe that some additional clarifying scenes had been cut, leaving me with lingering questions about some of the background action.

The other thing that stuck out to me were the occasional preachy asides, where McBride nudges aside the fourth wall to speak directly to the reader on some matter or another. I can't decide if I thought they added to or detracted from the narration. As much as I feel like the story's message should stand on its own without needing to be explained to the reader, I do realize that sometimes we have to hammer the point a bit more obviously to make sure it lands. So I'm conflicted on this.

Ultimately, this was a very good book that deserves every best-of spot it's been landing itself on. I went into it expecting a book about a combined Jewish and Black community standing up against white supremacy, but found a story about the power of community to come together when it matters to take care of each other, regardless of ethnicity or ability.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Ableism, Antisemitism, Chronic illness, Death, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, Grief, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Death of parent

amhud1030's review

Too slow paced, wasn’t what I expected. I did not like the town doctor and when he crossed a line and took advantage of a woman who was passed out/comatose it was the last straw for me. 

The only reason I kept listening as long is because I really like the narrator. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Religious bigotry, Body shaming, Sexual harassment, Forced institutionalization, Infertility, Racism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexism

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Ableism, Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Confinement

Moderate: Pedophilia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Sexual violence

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad 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? No

4.0

i struggled in the beginning because this started off incredibly slow and you follow quite a few groups of people. but each group’s story was full of heart. i did love the writing, just think the beginning was too slow. i would want to read a whole book about the characters associated with the mental institution alone. please read content warnings!!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Sexual violence, Violence, Antisemitism, Blood, Chronic illness, Classism, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Terminal illness

paulasnotsosecretdiary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Ableism, Chronic illness, Antisemitism, Death, and Confinement