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

dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

This was a gift from a friend, and I’m so grateful for it because I don’t think I would have picked it up myself. This ambitious novel follows a few Jewish and Black families living in the Chicken Hill neighborhood of Pottstown, PA in the 1930s, with each chapter focused on different characters (in a large cast!) with different storylines that slowly but surely start to overlap and merge until an excellent climax that ties up all loose ends in a satisfying way. It took me a bit to read because I would only read it at home but I really enjoyed every reading session. There are so many lovable characters and excellent commentary on American society and what it means to be a neighbor. 

I love the happy ending but I did really hate the mental institution chapters - there are only two but it’s a big content warning, as  those were really hard to read.


I would recommend!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings