What readers think of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, plus links to write your own review.

Pennsylvania history shapes the ethnic neighborhoods of today, and books like 'The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store' by James McBride serve as a poignant reminder of their origins. In a state as vast as Pennsylvania, countless stories exist for the telling. This particular narrative is a unique blend of murder mystery, character study, and historical fiction. The personalities may seem overwhelming initially, but you'll soon immerse yourself in their world.

The story's core lies in the characters, primarily a human skeleton unearthed on a dig and a mysterious deaf boy. McBride takes a bold step by revealing these key elements early, but it pays off. The author's ambition is evident as he introduces new, unique threads, and part of the joy is in deciphering how they all intertwine. You'll find yourself deeply captivated by these characters, their complexity drawing you in and keeping you engaged in their journey.

Exceptional writing is when the expected unfolds, yet you find yourself hanging on to every word. Dodo, our deaf character, faces a harsh sentence for a crime he didn't commit, a twist that keeps you on the edge of your seat. As various other threads unravel, with chapter titles that only make sense in retrospect, the intrigue deepens. It's like a puzzle, and you're hooked, eagerly anticipating the next piece, your excitement growing with each page turn. The narrative keeps you engaged and guessing, making it a compelling read.

The many characters add to the plot because you must determine who will become more significant. There are a ton of subplots, but the fate of Dodo remains in the forefront of your mind. I could see Hollywood taking a stab at having a talented actor try to communicate like he does. Pennsylvanian history never sounded so complete.

This book by James McBride is a masterpiece of genius, a story about the bonds of community, the grace of diversity, and the blessings of caring for one another.

That said, it is not an easy book to read, especially in the beginning. There are a lot of characters. There is a lot of action. And it's easy to get confused to the point of giving up. Don't! It is so worth plowing through that bit of literary chaos until the novel becomes a joy to read. And face it, literary chaos is James McBride's signature!

The cast of characters is long and disparate—from wealthy to poor, from Jewish to Black, from disabled to able-bodied, from conniving to innocent, from prejudiced to clueless, from old to young. When taken together, they form a community—a poor one named Chicken Hill, which is part of Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

This is the gist of the primary story, which takes place primarily in the 1920s and 1930s: Moshe Ludlow, a young Jew with ambitions to own a musical theater hall, marries Chona, a beautiful young woman who walks with a distinct limp that was caused by polio. Chona's father started the local shul, and her parents own the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. Chona takes over the store, which never makes a profit because she gives away groceries for free to those in need. Everyone loves Chona. She and Moshe can't have children, and eventually they take in a 12-year-old Black orphan nicknamed Dodo, who is deaf. Dodo would do anything for Chona. When the authorities are searching for him to forcibly remove him and place him in a horrific institution for the feeble-minded, Chona and Moshe—and the rest of the community of Chicken Hill, especially Nate Timblin, a Black janitor at Moshe's theater—hide Dodo to keep him safe. One day something horrific happens to Chona, and when Dodo tries to rescue her, he gets caught up in the authorities' net.

Meanwhile, the novel is filled to the brim with many (many!) other stories of the motley crew of people living in Chicken Hill—stories that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. There are humorous stories, tender stories, heartbreaking stories, uplifting stories, frightening stories, and confounding stories. They are all stories about life, how we get along with each other and how we don't get along. And in the end, they merge in a brilliantly creative way that is guaranteed to make you smile or tear up—or both.

Bonus: Do take the time to read the acknowledgements at the end. McBride explains the inspiration for the novel, and it is poignant, affectionate, and superb.

While there certainly is a cast of characters in this novel, McBride masterfully brings their souls alive to the reader with limited words. While primarily a tale of the struggles faced by the Jewish and Black communities in rural pre-war Pennsylvania, there are lovable Italians, Germans and Whites peppered throughout the tale. Love, human dignity and pride are the pervasive themes. Have tissue near for the ending. I particularly enjoyed the strong, tough as nails female characters.