A review by kyra_c_c
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

4.0

Started with a bang and I loved it instantly. Whitehead's style really grabs you, with acute observations one minute and a wry chuckle the next. I expected the heist to be the whole novel so I was surprised when it was over quite quickly, but it was a catalyst for the rest of the events in the book. Definitely as reviews have said, "a love letter to Harlem" - a place I know nothing about now or in the 60s: it was very enjoyable to read the rich descriptions of the city and its people. I love Ray and his attempts to walk a line between straight and crooked and all the interweaving of his childhood without flashbacks- great solid writing. I felt it lost some momentum towards the end and it took me a while to finish, hence 4 stars.