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mugsandmanuscripts 's review for:
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
by James McBride
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-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
Love, hate, racism, antisemitism, redemption, justice, community, and corruption are all major themes of this winding novel. There are a lot of characters (possibly a few too many), but the story is well-developed, and the language and writing are beautiful. Through all these characters and their backstories, McBride weaves together a vibrant picture of a community in a small town called Pottstown in 1930s Pennsylvania—a community consisting of Jewish immigrants, Black residents, an entitled racist Klan member, and others.
As the son of a Black man and a Polish immigrant/Jewish mother, McBride is uniquely positioned to examine the interplay of antisemitism and racism, and I'm so glad he wrote this book. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store doesn't shy away from the hard things; intra-racial discrimination and community factions based on race and religion are front and center throughout. A lot of it is ugly, but McBride also explores how the integrity and love of one person can change a community. Justice is not portrayed as perfect, nor does redemption come cheap in this story—nor should they. McBride manages to write a story that offers hope without glossing over the worst of humanity or resorting to superficial takeaways or cheesy plot devices.
Minor criticism—I feel like I can't give it 5 full stars because it does start slowly, and the list of characters does feel a little unwieldy at times. Normally I'd knock a whole star off for these, but once the novel got going, I didn't want to put it down, and by the end, I was definitely teary, which is a testament to the power of the story.
One more note (just my $0.02): I would disagree with those who say there are a lot of side plots; there are a ton of backstories, but they aren't side plots. The backstories are a deliberate literary device McBride uses to give depth and dimension to the community.
As the son of a Black man and a Polish immigrant/Jewish mother, McBride is uniquely positioned to examine the interplay of antisemitism and racism, and I'm so glad he wrote this book. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store doesn't shy away from the hard things; intra-racial discrimination and community factions based on race and religion are front and center throughout. A lot of it is ugly, but McBride also explores how the integrity and love of one person can change a community. Justice is not portrayed as perfect, nor does redemption come cheap in this story—nor should they. McBride manages to write a story that offers hope without glossing over the worst of humanity or resorting to superficial takeaways or cheesy plot devices.
Minor criticism—I feel like I can't give it 5 full stars because it does start slowly, and the list of characters does feel a little unwieldy at times. Normally I'd knock a whole star off for these, but once the novel got going, I didn't want to put it down, and by the end, I was definitely teary, which is a testament to the power of the story.
One more note (just my $0.02): I would disagree with those who say there are a lot of side plots; there are a ton of backstories, but they aren't side plots. The backstories are a deliberate literary device McBride uses to give depth and dimension to the community.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Antisemitism
Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Death of parent
Minor: Infertility, Excrement, Murder