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A review by holaspis
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Ray Carney is nothing like his father: a family man through and through and a perfectly legitimate furniture store owner. Well, there are also some second-hand items he sells sometimes, and of course no one can run a business without having some understanding with both sides of the law. And obviously a family man won't turn his back on the cousin who didn't quite go the same way.
To put it short, Ray Carney is one of my favorite POV characters. It's the way he walks into a room and focuses on the furniture. It's in the way he always strives for more, whether it's cruising the streets to pick a new apartment for his growing family, or expanding his store, or applying to the Club Dumas, he is always working for something to make himself proud, as well as build a stable future for his children. And the Harlem I saw through his eyes was so real, vibrant, full of life in all of its imperfect glory of early 60s. He's rarely a central figure, but he's a keen and intelligent observer of everything that happens close to him and on the nation-wide scale.
In the end what kept me from granting this book full 5* was every segment from any other character's POV. I'm glad that the author didn't force a character who doesn't belong in a scene only to have him narrate it, but none of the others were as full of personality.
To put it short, Ray Carney is one of my favorite POV characters. It's the way he walks into a room and focuses on the furniture. It's in the way he always strives for more, whether it's cruising the streets to pick a new apartment for his growing family, or expanding his store, or applying to the Club Dumas, he is always working for something to make himself proud, as well as build a stable future for his children. And the Harlem I saw through his eyes was so real, vibrant, full of life in all of its imperfect glory of early 60s. He's rarely a central figure, but he's a keen and intelligent observer of everything that happens close to him and on the nation-wide scale.
In the end what kept me from granting this book full 5* was every segment from any other character's POV. I'm glad that the author didn't force a character who doesn't belong in a scene only to have him narrate it, but none of the others were as full of personality.