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booknerd_therapist 's review for:
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
by James McBride
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Oh my goodness. If you've ever read a book that ripped your heart out and made you examine it.... this is that kind of book.
Admittedly, it was off to a slow start. I had a tough time getting into it, because the author meticulously goes into every character's back story. But without that, there is no story. So it's necessary, and if you want to experience the full beauty of this book, you need to truly understand the characters.
This book isn't just about being black. It's not just about being Jewish. It's not just about racism and antisemitism and surviving those things. It's not just about the horrific abuse disabled children experienced a century ago. Those things are omnipresent.... but they are a backdrop. They are a backdrop for the real story: Friendship, love, resilience, family, hope.
If you are hoping for a plot-driven story, this is not it. This is unapologetically character driven.
Admittedly, it was off to a slow start. I had a tough time getting into it, because the author meticulously goes into every character's back story. But without that, there is no story. So it's necessary, and if you want to experience the full beauty of this book, you need to truly understand the characters.
This book isn't just about being black. It's not just about being Jewish. It's not just about racism and antisemitism and surviving those things. It's not just about the horrific abuse disabled children experienced a century ago. Those things are omnipresent.... but they are a backdrop. They are a backdrop for the real story: Friendship, love, resilience, family, hope.
If you are hoping for a plot-driven story, this is not it. This is unapologetically character driven.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Chronic illness, Death, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Antisemitism, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Murder, Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Excrement