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A review by okiecozyreader
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This book reminds me of sitting around a campfire with people telling stories. At times, I was captivated by the storytelling, and at other times, I was so confused. It is very heavy a character driven novel, with detailed storytelling. The audio has a single narrator, yet there are multiple narrators, so you have to really be listening to understand who is telling the story at that time.
My favorite part of the story was that of a 12 year old black deaf boy, named Dodo, who witnesses an attempted rape and when he makes a scene, is put into an institution. The Heaven and Earth Grocery store is owned by his Jewish adopted family. Much of the book contemplates how black and Jewish people are treated by the community, and how groups of the community join together to protect what is right.
I like this summary better than the one on Goodreads:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/james-mcbride/the-heaven-earth-grocery-store/
Loved the Barnes and Noble interview: https://youtu.be/SlCKKv_xnv4
“… a good woman’s heart can hold secrets better than any vault.” Ch 15
“.. in America, what a man does to live often has nothing to do with how he lives.” Ch 9
My favorite part of the story was that of a 12 year old black deaf boy, named Dodo, who witnesses an attempted rape and when he makes a scene, is put into an institution. The Heaven and Earth Grocery store is owned by his Jewish adopted family. Much of the book contemplates how black and Jewish people are treated by the community, and how groups of the community join together to protect what is right.
I like this summary better than the one on Goodreads:
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/james-mcbride/the-heaven-earth-grocery-store/
Loved the Barnes and Noble interview: https://youtu.be/SlCKKv_xnv4
“… a good woman’s heart can hold secrets better than any vault.” Ch 15
“.. in America, what a man does to live often has nothing to do with how he lives.” Ch 9
Content Warnings
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Rape, and Sexual assault