Last week, the Blydyn Square Book Club read The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. One of our members, Laurie Meyer, offered to write a review covering her own impressions as well as what our group thought. Here’s Laurie’s review:
My husband’s cousin raved about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store and suggested that I read it. Since I love historical fiction and this was a nominee for Goodreads’ 2023 Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction, I suggested it as the next read to my Blydyn Square Book Club group (https://blydynsquarebooks.
The book starts in 1972 in a dilapidated neighborhood in Pottstown, PA, known as Chicken Hill. A skeleton is found in a dried-up well with the only clue being a mezuzah next to the remains (A mezuzah is a small, rolled or folded parchment scroll contained in metal that holds specific verses from the Torah and is attached to the doorposts of Jewish homes.) The story then regresses to 1936 to this same neighborhood where immigrant Jews and black people, who have escaped from the South, live harmoniously. While this reader prepared for some intrigue, the mystery of the skeleton was not addressed again until the end of the book. Instead the author, Mr. McBride, introduced character after character, most having nothing to do with the beginning of his story.
McBride’s writing was easy to read. The premise that people of different races, nationalities, and religions can peacefully coexist was relevant. The story, however, left much to be desired. There were so many characters and tangents that it was hard to decipher the plot of the story. Fewer characters, more developed, and most of the middle deleted would have made this book better.
Our group was impressed with James McBride’s accomplishments. He’s written and published several books, is a former staff writer for The Washington Post, People Magazine and The Boston Globe, and his work has appeared in The New York Times and Rolling Stone. In addition, he is a songwriter, accomplished saxophonist, and jazz musician. The man is dedicated and talented.
Our group did not like this book. We found it unfocused and convoluted. The book, however, received over 166,000 Goodreads reviews with an overall 4.04 rating. Obviously, there were plenty who found this book endearing. To each his own.
You can find more from Laurie, including more reviews and book club information, on Write to Reality on Facebook.
