I was completely caught off guard by how gripping this book was. This was the most amazing book I've read. the writing is impeccable! It is imaginative and solid. It is both clear and complex. It is both happy and sad. It is the hope we see and long for. I walked past this book several times, and it kept calling my name. I'm so glad God led me to this book and I feel blessed to be one of the many who enjoyed it. I'm humbled and thankful for James McBride.

Your reviews are so smart and insightful. I just finished the book for a book club, and your review solidified my understanding of the book, (and a part that I had actually forgotten about that was crucial to the plot). Thanks for taking the time to read and review this book. I am looking forward to more of your videos.

The king is back!

This really is one of the most outstanding of new novels this year, and I saw him speak in my local big Indie bookstore and he was an amazing, engaging empathetic person who you just want to sit at his feet and listen to his stories and thoughts all day. If you get a chance to see him in person go!

@RickMacDonnell

7 ай бұрын

I looooove watching him speak. Such a good guy, and always so smart.

I am enthralled with this book. Particularly since I live near and worked in Pottstown, PA. I can vividly visualize the setting. Pennhurst is real. It is now closed but the horrors of it have been a topic of conversation in the area for years. Heaven and Earth Grocery Store is a very good read. It gives me insight into the culture of the area back in the 1930s and how far we've advanced since that time. I highly recommend this book and suggested it for my two book clubs. They readily agreed to read it.

Brilliant book, was totally immersed in it, learned so much, and was humbled by the compassion to human beings and the respect to Jewish tradition 🌼🌞

Thanks for giving such a great review of this book. I had a terrible time with this read. I started it on audio which soon became too complicated for that format. I went to the print after a few weeks (it was on hold in all my libraries.). I did not reach for it as it meandered so much. but I kept on for the characters and found the last 50 pages and especially the acknowledgements to be so powerful. I'm sure I missed a lot in the sporadic reading yet I'm looking to read Demon King Kong soon. Great, great video Rick--thanks again

@RickMacDonnell

7 ай бұрын

I find it SO difficult to find fiction books that work well for me via audiobook. Takes a special narrator, and type of narrative, for me to enjoy it as much as reading. So I totally get why this would be trickier for you on audio. So glad you stuck with it, though, and you felt the payoff was worth it.

@Ihearbooks

7 ай бұрын

I read a lot on audio often with the book at hand. As I age. I am now 74 I find it the best way to enjoy and follow books, especially longer ones. I am finding some books that just do not work well on audio alone. My feeling is that focusing gets more difficult with aging but I won't give up on reading which has been the joy of my life@@RickMacDonnell

I have to read this. So glad to see you back❤️.

Oh I’ve been so interested in this book, it sounds amazing. I’ll read it after North Woods (my hold finally came in, haha). Loving this change and also all your thoughts about optimism and being the positive change in the world. So glad you’re back friend!!

Great job on starting this new video series; Live the sound of this recommendation.

I just read my first McBride recently and I'm excited to read more of his work! I read five caret soul, his short story collection. I thought it has a lot of hopefulness in many of the stories but without shying away from difficult topics and dark truths.

Rick, love the concept for the new series. And you’re making me want to pick up H&EGS.

Thanks, Rick. I just started H&E grocery store. I enjoyed your introduction to the book.

Great video .. thank you. McBride is in my top tier of authors.

This wasn't on my radar tbh, but I will definitely read based on your review. I could do with a little optimism right now!

Adding to my TBR, thanks for the recommendation. 🙂

great analysis Rick. Thank you

Good job, Rick! You just added a stop by my independent bookstore to my plans for today. This book seems to have the dosis of optimism that I need right now. Thank you. It’s good to have you back ❤

@RickMacDonnell

7 ай бұрын

Let me know how it works out 👍🏻

@KriRama

6 ай бұрын

Great review! ❤️❤️ I just finished this book & loved it so much that I can’t wait to dive into another McBride novel!

@RickMacDonnell

6 ай бұрын

@@KriRama Thanks so much for letting me know 😊 So happy to hear that you loved it. Would recommend Deacon King Kong for you next. Enjoy!

@KriRama

6 ай бұрын

@@RickMacDonnell yes! Exactly the one I was going for! 😁

Love the new review format. Makes me want to do videos again.

@RickMacDonnell

7 ай бұрын

It’s definitely reinvigorated me! Perhaps think of a tweak for yourself that might spark something. Although taking breaks feels so nice too.

This was my second McBride book. Throughly enjoyed Deacon King Kong and more recently The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. Great review!

@RickMacDonnell

6 ай бұрын

Thanks so much 😊 Really appreciate!

Just finished it- great one!!!

@RickMacDonnell

6 ай бұрын

Fantastic!

It was one of the best books I read in December. I 😍 loved it. I was imagining it as a movie and trying to cast it in my head. 🍀👋☘️📖📕🇮🇪📚

@Family-fs1fd

Ай бұрын

I believe Stephen Spielberg will be making either a series or movie based off the book.

Hey, Thanks for the review. A bit disappointed that you believe that "there are some among us who just don't deserve redemption." I disagree. I believe that EVERYONE deserves redemption. You don't have to be a part of everyone's journey to redemption; it might be too much of an ask for you, but we all deserve it just by virtue of existing. I think the world is a much better place when we don't just dispose of or lock away people we think are antisocial or defective.

@RickMacDonnell

6 ай бұрын

I look at it this way: some people have done things so vile that they don’t deserve forgiveness. But it’s completely within someone’s rights to offer up forgiveness to that person.

@pearluvafrica

6 ай бұрын

@@RickMacDonnell I make a distinction between forgiveness and redemption. For me forgiveness is about letting go of resentment, not swallowing poison in the hopes that the person you are upset with will be harmed. Redemption is restoration to wholeness; it requires restorative justice type work. I was referring to redemption on a societal level. I wouldn't tell people that they _need_ to forgive someone who directly offended them, but I would _recommend_ it for their own sanity. Also, forgiving does not mean you get involved in a personal relationship or make yourself vulnerable to someone who caused you harm/hurt in the past.

Oh you said Mark Twain and I went 😬

@RickMacDonnell

7 ай бұрын

Jill stops watching at 0:09

@TheBookBully

7 ай бұрын

@@RickMacDonnell "Brother, this is not for me" *goes back to cat memes*

@RickMacDonnell

7 ай бұрын

Respect

Sorry, the ending completely let me down. There was so much that could have been cut out. The ending deserved more than to be told in epilogue form. I didn’t like that. Kind of ruined it for me