A review by hollyd19
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Reading McBride's acclaimed new novel felt a bit like sitting fireside with a bunch of neighborhood elders who are recounting long-ago stories with dramatic flair and blurry edges between truth and folklore. 

Set in the Chicken Hill neighborhood of Pottstown, Pennsylvania in the 1920s, the story centers on a predominantly Black community with a good contingent of Jewish residents. From the jump, readers are introduced to a decades-old mystery, resurfacing when a skeleton is discovered during construction in the '70s. 

The book unspools the series of events leading up to the foreshadowed demise, alongside the stories of the neighborhood and how it has evolved over time with complex relationships and demographic shifts. 

A unique and powerful part of McBride's novel is the variety of perspectives offered as the tale is told. He introduces a cacophony of opinions, values, prejudices, complicities, loyalties, and histories that lend robust richness to the residents of Chicken Hill. There is a crime, yes, but there is a lot more to it than just a simple case of whodunit. Ultimately, the story emphasizes mutuality coupled with luck to bring justice and redemption, often in unconventional ways. 

The first few chapters were a little tough to get into for me, but once I found my groove I felt very invested in the story, and fascinated by McBride's style. This might be a good pick for you if you enjoy literary fiction with historical elements and light suspense.