Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

39 reviews

knkoch's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious reflective fast-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

4.5

Colson Whitehead is very talented. Every book of his I’ve read has felt important, but never the same. While The Nickel Boys and The Underground Railroad are essential, they’re also heavy; Harlem Shuffle felt zippy and exciting, almost like a crime or heist caper. Almost. Because it’s still set in Harlem in the 1960s, and its characters are very much entrenched in the context of that time: institutional racism, corruption, civil rights protests, and gradual, gradual change, through grit as much as through hustle. 

Every character is handled so carefully, both in their virtues and flaws. Whitehead manages to convey so much of their backstory and personal philosophy without it ever feeling clunky or expositional. He handled time jumps and background more gracefully and seamlessly than anything I’ve read recently. I suppose I just have to read everything he’s written now and savor his expertise. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Murder, and Gun violence

Moderate: Racial slurs and Drug use

Minor: Police brutality

ynna's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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: Death and Murder

Moderate: Drug use

rmgilchrist's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Drug use, Death of parent, Hate crime, Racism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Murder, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence

agnesg's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny hopeful informative mysterious 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Drug abuse, Murder, Drug use, and Gun violence

keeganrb's review against another edition

adventurous tense 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Racial slurs, Drug abuse, and Racism

Minor: Abandonment and Police brutality

graceesford's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Death

Moderate: Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Addiction, Blood, and Violence

skudiklier's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.75

This book was really engaging and interesting! It almost felt like it had a couple different stories inside it, but in a way that completely worked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Racism, Murder, Gun violence, Classism, Racial slurs, and Death

Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, and Homophobia

Minor: Drug use, Suicide, and Drug abuse

bjerz's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Violence, Murder, Racism, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Racial slurs

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Gun violence, Hate crime, Murder, and Police brutality

Moderate: Death of parent and Forced institutionalization

elenatamsen's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Classism, Drug use, Murder, Racism, Violence, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Gun violence, and Police brutality

Minor: Abandonment, Blood, and Death of parent