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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
tense
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
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
You can pick any random Whitehead sentence, and it’s a masterclass in teaching writing. This crime fiction just isn’t my thing like The Underground Railroad or The Nickel Boys (which is a perfect book). But Whitehead remains one of my favorite living novelists.
adventurous
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
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)
It was a joy to see all the familiar faces from Harlem Shuffle again, and to meet a new group of eclectic characters. However, what I loved in particular was what made the first book in the saga such a delight - the way it so deeply immersed me within a past Harlem and a past New York. This time around, instead of the city in the 1960’s roaring to life through Colson’s words, it was the troublesome 70s that was vividly painted in my mind - a city on edge, a city that is seemingly falling apart at the seams, a city whose neighborhoods are bursting into flames - but like the core characters of the book, despite the chaos and the deterioration, is still resiliently going, despite the uncertainty that lies ahead in abundance.
Whitehead could comfortably conclude here and leave it as a solid two-part series. Frankly though, I’m hoping that he’ll be able to transport us to 80’s Harlem within the next few years.
It was a joy to see all the familiar faces from Harlem Shuffle again, and to meet a new group of eclectic characters. However, what I loved in particular was what made the first book in the saga such a delight - the way it so deeply immersed me within a past Harlem and a past New York. This time around, instead of the city in the 1960’s roaring to life through Colson’s words, it was the troublesome 70s that was vividly painted in my mind - a city on edge, a city that is seemingly falling apart at the seams, a city whose neighborhoods are bursting into flames - but like the core characters of the book, despite the chaos and the deterioration, is still resiliently going, despite the uncertainty that lies ahead in abundance.
Whitehead could comfortably conclude here and leave it as a solid two-part series. Frankly though, I’m hoping that he’ll be able to transport us to 80’s Harlem within the next few years.
With “Crook Manifesto” Colson Whitehead has created a top contender in the crime series genre. Crook Manifesto extends Ray Carney’s crime sage into a new decade and expands conversations on a myriad of themes. It repeats a lot of the same motifs you would expect of the genre but separates itself by taking on complex socio-economic issues head on. This time through 1970’s New York Grift
Whitehead pays particular attention to racism of every flavor. From one perspective he analyzes the obvious and ever changing oppression of Black America by others. From another he exposes the colorism and class divides coming from within the culture. Bigotry is a character of its own. Especially, in how it impacts the lives of our characters like an invisible hand from the shadows. Whitehead challenges you to think of what the fortunes of the city and characters would be if bigotry and greed were not ever present forces.
New York itself works as more than just a setting. Whitehead simultaneously is telling a story about New York as an oft neglected family member dying a slow death. Whitehead discusses its ugly underbelly, beautiful possibilities, and everything in between. Whitehead’s descriptive powers in setting the time and place of our story are best illustrated in how he talks about the furniture, clothing, and crime trends of 1970’s New York. All make the setting more tactile and serve as indicators of the progress of time and changes in cultural mores throughout the course of the story.
What also stood out to me was the way Whitehead used the theme of fire as an antagonistic element in the story. It’s deadly effects clearly and painfully on full display. The impact of fire is also expressed as a resetting agent. Burning down one legacy to make space for a different version of New York; indifferent to both the innocent and guilty it takes down in its path. It’s fitting that fire sets up the elegant cliff hanger of an ending that we get. I can’t wait to read the next entry in the series.
Whitehead pays particular attention to racism of every flavor. From one perspective he analyzes the obvious and ever changing oppression of Black America by others. From another he exposes the colorism and class divides coming from within the culture. Bigotry is a character of its own. Especially, in how it impacts the lives of our characters like an invisible hand from the shadows. Whitehead challenges you to think of what the fortunes of the city and characters would be if bigotry and greed were not ever present forces.
New York itself works as more than just a setting. Whitehead simultaneously is telling a story about New York as an oft neglected family member dying a slow death. Whitehead discusses its ugly underbelly, beautiful possibilities, and everything in between. Whitehead’s descriptive powers in setting the time and place of our story are best illustrated in how he talks about the furniture, clothing, and crime trends of 1970’s New York. All make the setting more tactile and serve as indicators of the progress of time and changes in cultural mores throughout the course of the story.
What also stood out to me was the way Whitehead used the theme of fire as an antagonistic element in the story. It’s deadly effects clearly and painfully on full display. The impact of fire is also expressed as a resetting agent. Burning down one legacy to make space for a different version of New York; indifferent to both the innocent and guilty it takes down in its path. It’s fitting that fire sets up the elegant cliff hanger of an ending that we get. I can’t wait to read the next entry in the series.