A review by nairijan
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

emotional 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

4.0

An incredibly expansive historical novel! McBride excels at creating a setting that is very much alive and nuanced as his characters. Shifting character points of view from chapter to chapter allowed such a wonderful depth to not just the primary characters but the secondary ones as well while simultaneously seeing how each character could interact with others in a combinatorial fashion. McBride also honors his historical topic well, illuminating the different struggles among Black and Jewish populations in 1930s Pennsylvania. My one gripe is some of his sweeping narrative regarding an unknown future of technology and attention-leeching phones that the characters would lament knowing. I felt it to be more of a reflection of the author's luddite views than a necessity to include in this rich novel. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings