#james mcbride

[thefugitivesaint]

'The Good Lord Bird', Episode 2. Ethan Hawke playing John Brown in an adaptation of the 2013 novel by James McBride "about Henry Shackleford, an enslaved person, who unites with John Brown in Brown's abolitionist mission." Some context: the story takes place during the 'Bleeding Kansas' conflict, which was basically a state-level civil war that took place between 1854 to 1860 and was a precursor to the country's Civil War over slavery. ::Brief, slightly unfocused rant begins:: Without getting into a deep dive into American history or the legacy of John Brown, I will say that the contemporary American Rights reactionary measures to erase the knowledge and the teaching of America's history in favor of a truncated—and some might say imaginary—accounting of America's past in order to "protect white children from feeling bad" about the history they've inherited is just another iteration of the very white supremacist philosophy they deny this country was founded on. It also speaks to who they identify and empathize with, consciously or unconsciously, whenever American history is discussed. It never seems to be the abolitionists or people like James Brown who gave their lives to the pursuit of destroying the institution of slavery (and it's certainly never the enslaved themselves). Instead, they choose to center on notions like "guilt" and "fault", often denying that the abomination of institutional slavery has any material relation to how contemporary American society is constituted and that a proper accounting of the legacy of that abomination is unnecessary, even (somehow) "detrimental" (and, even more improbably, a racist act itself aimed against white Americans). I say fuck all that. We all live in the failed echo of Reconstruction, an opportunity in American history that could have re-shaped the country for the better, an opportunity that was squandered and, ultimately, destroyed by the same reactionary forces denouncing how we discuss America's history today (Note: for a recent exploration of this I suggest Heather Cox Richardson's book 'How the South Won the Civil War'). The contemporary American Right's continued assertions that the history of slavery isn't entangled into every aspect of American history—it's founding, it's growth, it's prosperity and how it's politics is conducted—serves to protect the mythology of "American exceptionalism", a myth to which they are committed (they've even revived the notion, introduced by the Columbia historian Ulrich Bonnell Phillips in his 1918 book 'American Negro Slavery' that slavery was "beneficial" to those enslaved and that, "at the time" slavery was "no big deal.") Again, fuck all that. ::Brief, slightly unfocused rant ends:: Whatever flaws John Brown carried with him in life, his moral opposition to slavery and his willingness to act on that belief was commendable. In the words of Frederick Douglass on John Brown, "His zeal in the cause of my race was far greater than mine — it was as the burning sun to my taper light — mine was bounded by time, his stretched away to the boundless shores of eternity. I could live for the slave, but he could die for him."

#The Good Lord Bird #James McBride #ethan hawke #american history #Heather Cox Richardson #bleeding kansas

[heraclito71]

Tienes que elegir entre lo que el mundo espera de ti y lo que tú quieres para ti.

James McBride.

#citas #citas en tumblr #citas en español #james mcbride

[justforbooks]

A murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel.

. . . a charming, smart, heart-blistering and heart-healing novel. In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well.

Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighbourhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. As the story moves back in time to the 1930s and the characters' stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community - heaven and earth - that sustain us.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

#just for books #The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store #james mcbride #book review

[loveboatinsanity]

#james mcbride #the heaven and earth grocery store

[tigger8900]

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

In 1930s America, Chicken Hill was a community of immigrants, with recent Jewish arrivals living and working side-by-side with the Black descendants of slaves taken from Africa a hundred years ago or more. Most residents would agree that the heart of the community was the grocery store run by a Jewish woman named Chona. But when Chona intervenes to protect a deaf black boy from institutionalization, a series of events are set in motion that would lead to the discovery, 40 years into the future, of human remains at the bottom of an abandoned well. The question of whose body it is and how it got down there can only be answered by tracing the actions of the entire community, as they come together in response to crisis.

This was the first book by James McBride that I've ever read, and if the rest of his books are anything like this one, I understand why he's so popular. This is a story that takes its time, circling repeatedly around the same events to examine them from multiple perspectives, before moving swiftly to cinch the plot tightly around the conclusion. But through all of the plot circling I never felt bored with it, because it was fascinating to get to know the community through the eyes of so many different individuals. I wouldn't go so far as to say the pacing is off, but you will need to bring patience for the slow build-up. It pays off in the final quarter of the story, but it's a journey to get there.

It's worth mentioning that, despite the dark elements in the story — and there are many — this book has a sharp sense of humor. It has to, because if we'd had to read through all of that heavy, grim subject matter without the tension breaking with a chuckle now and again, it would have been too much. That said, the dark parts are incredibly dark. Aside from the obvious racism and white supremacy present throughout, there's some not-so-obvious content, so I encourage readers to check warnings. Despite the negative attitudes expressed by many of the characters, I found the various groups depicted — Black people, Jewish people, and people with disabilities — to be treated with respect by the author.

Despite all the good, there were a few things I wasn't a huge fan of. First, there were some dangling plot elements that seemed to be set up and then forgotten about. For example, there was an ominous deal made out of the half of the note that Fatty dropped, but it ultimately seemed like it didn't matter. And there was also a recurring character who seemed to be set up for a big role in the events, but ultimately he re-entered the plot just before the climax kicked off only to chill off-screen. Don't get me wrong, the matter of who wound up down the well and why was answered in a completely satisfactory manner. But I got the vibe that some additional clarifying scenes had been cut, leaving me with lingering questions about some of the background action.

The other thing that stuck out to me were the occasional preachy asides, where McBride nudges aside the fourth wall to speak directly to the reader on some matter or another. I can't decide if I thought they added to or detracted from the narration. As much as I feel like the story's message should stand on its own without needing to be explained to the reader, I do realize that sometimes we have to hammer the point a bit more obviously to make sure it lands. So I'm conflicted on this.

Ultimately, this was a very good book that deserves every best-of spot it's been landing itself on. I went into it expecting a book about a combined Jewish and Black community standing up against white supremacy, but found a story about the power of community to come together when it matters to take care of each other, regardless of ethnicity or ability.

#books #book review #the heaven & earth grocery store #the heaven and earth grocery store #james mcbride #historical fiction #i do post book reviews on this blog i swear #gonna get back to it starting with the books that are due back first

[memoriesfrombooks]

I want to love The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride based on the fact that it is a story of marginalized immigrant communities coming together to care and protect and create a combined, bound community. Too many characters, too many subplots, and a story about a time and place that does not come alive in vivid color means I enjoy the book, but unfortunately I do not love it. 

#book #fiction #book review #netgalley #bookreview #book blog #historical fiction #bookclub #book club #pennsylvania #the heaven and earth grocery store #james mcbride

[kammartinez]

#james mcbride #books #writing #the heaven and earth grocery store

[kamreadsandrecs]

#james mcbride #books #writing #the heaven and earth grocery store

[bookcoversonly]

Title: The Good Lord Bird | Author: James McBride | Publisher: Riverhead Books (2013)

#books #The Good Lord Bird #James McBride

[thequeensthrone]

Book Review -- Kill 'Em and Leave

Title: Kill ‘Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul Author: James McBride Pages: 256 Rating: 4.75/5 This was not a book on my ever-growing list of books to read. I would not call myself a James Brown fan. I know him, of course. I bet most of my generation can name a few songs. In a soundtrack of the Black experience, he’s got to be there with his howls, his grunts, his…

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#book review #Home Page #james brown #james mcbride

[kaikubad-alig]

10 Must-read Autobiography Ever

A list of 10 #mustread #autobiography ever.

“The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X: Written by Alex Haley (1965) This autobiography tells the story of Malcolm X’s life, from his childhood in Lansing, Michigan, to his time as a leader in the Nation of Islam, to his assassination in 1965. The book provides a unique perspective on the Civil Rights Movement and is considered one of the most important works of African-American…

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#alex haley #anne frank #autobiography #autobiography of martin luther king #Benjamin franklin #Benjamin franklin autobiography #diary of a young girl #elie wiesel #gandhi #henry adams #james mcbride #long walk #malcolm x #maya angelou #mlk juniro #must read #night #reading #reading book #slavomir rawicz #the color of water #top ten books

[syruckusnow]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/23/books/booksupdate/james-mcbride-heaven-and-earth-grocery-store.html

#books #James McBride

[loveboatinsanity]

#james mcbride

[booksofdelight]

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: Book Review

Read our review for The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride!

Today, we will be reviewing The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. Keep reading for our review of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store and see if it lived up to the hype! The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store Summary Moshe and Chona Ludlow live in Pottstown in the 1920s and the 1930s. They own the local theater that has a dance hall and a grocery store named The Heaven & Earth Grocery…

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#2023 #Barack Obama #Blog #blogging #book #Book Recommendations #book review #Book Reviews #books #books to read #Fiction #James McBride #literature #news #novel #reading #writing

[elenichr]

Year of Lists

January Books

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride (ToB Read) *3/5 - there's an ease in the storytelling, it gives you time to luxuriate in the plot. I loved the back-and-forth, the exploration of the past and of characters who were not central to the main goings-on, but just like in life, you can trace their influence through time. Despite the writing talent, and the much promising setup and characters, I had trouble connecting to this novel; most of my joy in reading this came from the observation of McBride's craft in putting this together.

Folklorn by Angela Mi Young Hur *3.2/5 - for a minute there I really thought this would be the great Korean novel I've been looking for. Firstly: one for the great covers list. The marrying of science and folklore/superstition/oral inter-generational storytelling: chef's kiss. I wish it amounted to more than it actually did. The novel opens in dreamy language, otherworldly imagery, beautiful, beautiful world-building. It unfortunately loses its coherence and promise about 30% in. It fizzles into a concept that begs for a better storyline to hold it together. I wish the protagonist's personality amounted to more than self-wallowing in pity and self-othering. There are nuances that could have been explored so deeply; I wanted her to see herself as the wonder I saw her as. Nonetheless, there is magic here, there is familial complexity, and beauty.

Notable quote: “The first generation who come are grateful, certainly. They can endure much, swallow their pride. Their children want more—the freedom not to be grateful, indebted, and beholden.”

The Atlas Complex by Olivie Blake *3/5 - it hasn't even been long since I read this and I can't even remember the plot. Positives: Blake's writing gets better and better, clearly not in the general, book-making sense, but in the pleasant-to-read, I-love-spending-time-with-your-words way. I did enjoy the reading of this, I just don't think this was written because the story was there, but rather, because the trilogy needed to end. I love the characters and I love the illustrations and the elements that make Atlas so exciting: magic, ambition, a sentient, secret, ancient library full of the deepest, darkest knowledge of the world - the dark academia of it all. Better luck with the prequel. We're suckers for it either way.

The Premonition by Banana Yoshimoto *5/5 - a perfect little dream - I LOVE BANANA / Mrs Caliban by Rachel Ingalls *5/5 - superb.

Both of these are 5 stars partially because they're novellas. They're dreamy and otherworldly, tackling their specific subject-matters with dexterity. Mrs Caliban is worth an afternoon, especially for fans of The Shape of Water.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke *4.7/5 - boy oh boy was this a surprise. I don't have much to say, THIS.IS.INCREDIBLE. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, and perhaps wouldn't be mine if it was written by another author. I read this in a day.

The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King (audiobook) *4/5 - this is a reread, first read-through was a physical copy; I'm listening to the series now because I'd missed that world. The narrator for this one is better than the first and his work is only improving. By the end of this one you can tell this is a narrator who truly understands King's writing, with all its humour and intricacies.

The Green Mile by Stephen King *4.7/5 - it's as good as you think it is, as good as everyone says it is. In case it wasn't clear I LOVE STEPHEN KING.

#the heaven and earth grocery store #james mcbride #books #reading #bookblr #book reviews #historical fiction #folklore #magical realism #korean literature #fantasy fiction #atlas #atlas trilogy #olivie blake #angela mi young hur #the premonition #banana yoshimoto #japanese fiction #fiction in translation #mrs caliban #the shape of water #rachel ingalls #piranesi #susanna clarke #literary fiction #stephen king #the dark tower #audiobooks #the green mile #lists

[kammartinez]

#james mcbride #the heaven and earth grocery store #books