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ethansreadingcorner 's review for:
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store
by James McBride
So. Good.
This novel contains all kind of commentary on racism, xenophobia, immigration, the false claim of the "American dream," ableism, and so much more.
This book reads like Midaq Alley and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; just about each chapter delves into a different character's life, and it has the feel of books I've read that were written and published some 60 years ago.
There are a lot of characters, but the author provides context so often that it's never difficult to keep track of who is who. And I love all the characters. I love the way each one is portrayed. How we seewhat Doc Roberts thinks of the immigrants entering the community, the guilt Chona feels when she realises what she's put her husband through, all of Dodo's anguish and fear. I love that, though Bernice is shy and mostly closed-off, she does what she can without hesitation to protect Dodo. I love that Paper is initially presented to the reader as a gossiper and a woman that breaks a man's heart every month, and later on the reader sees that she is also resourceful and kind. Addie and Nate, though we don't see much of their relationship until maybe halfway through the book, have a strong bond. Nate has a past, and Addie only cares for who she sees in him right then. Chona is... well, she's kind and does what is right and is not afraid to speak out on what is wrong. She kept her store open even though it was costing her and Moshe money, because it served children and adults who couldn't afford groceries. Moshe seems to lead a stressful life tbh, but he has so much love for his wife.
In this novel, we see a community come together to achieve a common goal: saving a boy who the state thinks should be sent to an asylum, because he's deaf and "possibly dumb."
McBride does an excellent job of making readers feel and care for his characters. There are novels that keep one entertained with their action, and there are novels that keep readers hooked because the characters are so well explored and the prose is just that captivating. All that goes on - all the action that goes on - in this novel could've probably been written in 100 pages or less. And I'm so glad it wasn't. The reader is provided with so much context that it feels like they are a part of the story.
That being said, I did feel like something was missing from the ending. Maybe that it was kind of rushed?
I can overlook that, though, because this is such a captivating, thought-provoking read.
This novel contains all kind of commentary on racism, xenophobia, immigration, the false claim of the "American dream," ableism, and so much more.
This book reads like Midaq Alley and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; just about each chapter delves into a different character's life, and it has the feel of books I've read that were written and published some 60 years ago.
There are a lot of characters, but the author provides context so often that it's never difficult to keep track of who is who. And I love all the characters. I love the way each one is portrayed. How we see
In this novel, we see a community come together to achieve a common goal: saving a boy who the state thinks should be sent to an asylum, because he's deaf and "possibly dumb."
McBride does an excellent job of making readers feel and care for his characters. There are novels that keep one entertained with their action, and there are novels that keep readers hooked because the characters are so well explored and the prose is just that captivating. All that goes on - all the action that goes on - in this novel could've probably been written in 100 pages or less. And I'm so glad it wasn't. The reader is provided with so much context that it feels like they are a part of the story.
That being said, I did feel like something was missing from the ending. Maybe that it was kind of rushed?
I can overlook that, though, because this is such a captivating, thought-provoking read.