Lisa’s review of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store > Likes and Comments

Hi Lisa!

Are you enjoying this read? This book is sitting on my reading table and I can't wait to get to it. Deacon King Kong was a book I really enjoyed. I also picked up McBride's book of short stories 5 Carat Soul.

As always, enjoy your reading!

Cheryl wrote: "Hi Lisa!

Are you enjoying this read? This book is sitting on my reading table and I can't wait to get to it. Deacon King Kong was a book I really enjoyed. I also picked up McBride's book of short ..."

Thanks, Cheryl. I just started reading it, and am liking it so far. Stay tuned.
I loved Deacon King Kong and The Color of Water (non-fiction/memoir). I liked The Good Lord Bird a lot.

Terrific review, Lisa. Glad you enjoyed it so much. An author I have yet to read.

Thanks for your review, Lisa. As it turns out, one of my book clubs has chosen it for our October read, so I just bought a copy today and will launch into it as my bedtime reading. (I enjoyed "Deacon King Kong" on many levels, which is the only MacBride I've read so far. Should I expect something very different or along the lines?)

I love this review, Lisa. I have a positive but imperfect relationship with McBride's work. I love his imagination and his positivity, but he can lean a little too hard into the feelgood for me personally (and I mean that, it is not a judgement on quality, more a statement on me as a reader and what works for me.) I have had Deacon King Kong sitting om my shelf in lovely and eye-catching hardcover form for a long time (my sister handed it down to me and she read it right when it came out) but I do have this on my Libby list and I am sure I will get to it. Sometimes even I like to see the world without cynicism. Sounds like next time I have one of those moods this is one to reach for.

This is on my list, Lisa, and your lovely review is definitely encouraging!

Excellent review, Lisa!

Great review. You inspired me to add this to my TBR.

Antoinette wrote: "Terrific review, Lisa. Glad you enjoyed it so much. An author I have yet to read."

Antoinette, if you like memoirs and want to sample McBride, I suggest starting with The Color of Water. This gave me some background which helps me better understand his fiction. And it's not necessary to enjoy his storytelling.

Fran wrote: "Thanks for your review, Lisa. As it turns out, one of my book clubs has chosen it for our October read, so I just bought a copy today and will launch into it as my bedtime reading. (I enjoyed "Deac..."

Fran, this one doesn't have the underlying anger that runs through DKK, there's more sadness, and it's route is a bit more circuitous. McBride's trademark humor is definitely here which makes this read go down smoothly.

Bonnie G. wrote: "I love this review, Lisa. I have a positive but imperfect relationship with McBride's work. I love his imagination and his positivity, but he can lean a little too hard into the feelgood for me per..."

Bonnie, if you have time for a book, pick up that copy of DKK. There's plenty of humor in it, and it's got a little more of that edge that I think will work better for you.

Yes save this one for when you are in the right mood. McBride doesn't ignore the bad; it's there. He just doesn't dwell on it, and he writes past it so it doesn't interfere with his storytelling.

Barbara K. wrote: "This is on my list, Lisa, and your lovely review is definitely encouraging!"

Thank you, Barbara. I hope you enjoy this one too. Have you read any of his other work?

Karen wrote: "Excellent review, Lisa!"

Thanks Karen. I'm getting ready to go back to read your review now that I've finished this one.

Linda wrote: "Great review. You inspired me to add this to my TBR."

Linda, I appreciate your kind words. Have you read any of McBride's work?

Carol wrote: "Fantastic review, Lisa ❤️!!!! I have this one on my TBR already but your review makes me even more excited to read it."

Thanks, Carol. I'll look forward to your review when you get to this one.

Lisa wrote: "Fran wrote: "Thanks for your review, Lisa. As it turns out, one of my book clubs has chosen it for our October read, so I just bought a copy today and will launch into it as my bedtime reading. (I ..."

Thanks, Lisa. I'm already enjoying the book tremendously. (An interesting comparison with "Tom Lake" comes to mind, which may seem odd; of course I have to hold onto my thoughts until I ready more. But so far, the comparison is definitely in favor of this book!)

Fran wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Fran wrote: "Thanks for your review, Lisa. As it turns out, one of my book clubs has chosen it for our October read, so I just bought a copy today and will launch into it as my bedtime..."

I'm glad you're enjoying this one. Looking forward to seeing your thoughts when you finish reading it.

Wonderful review, Lisa! I have this on my radar, as I've been seeing it quite a bit at the library since it came in. I'm very interested in reading The Color of Water first, however. Then I'll go from there! :)

An informative and compelling review, Lisa. This novel sounds like a perceptive social commentary of what life is like for folks who live on the margins of American society.

Candi wrote: "Wonderful review, Lisa! I have this on my radar, as I've been seeing it quite a bit at the library since it came in. I'm very interested in reading The Color of Water first, however. Then I'll go f..."

Candi, I think that's a great place to start with McBride's work. I know you'll get to it eventually. We have that ongoing issue of so many books and so little time.

Laysee wrote: "An informative and compelling review, Lisa. This novel sounds like a perceptive social commentary of what life is like for folks who live on the margins of American society."

Thanks Laysee. McBride has a talent for conveying his social criticism with humor and wit and all in service to his story.

Terrific review Lisa, the themes covered in this book sound really worthwhile, I like the idea of the author doing this with 'humour and wit' too!

Mark wrote: "Terrific review Lisa, the themes covered in this book sound really worthwhile, I like the idea of the author doing this with 'humour and wit' too!"

This was a fun yet serious read, a good reminder that we can get along if we open our hearts to each other.

You made an excellent presentation of this book, Lisa! It looks like a book fit for our times, as it ticks all the 'right' boxes, thematically.

Violeta wrote: "You made an excellent presentation of this book, Lisa! It looks like a book fit for our times, as it ticks all the 'right' boxes, thematically."

Thank you Violeta. McBride treats a tricky topic in a light manner and manages to pull it off.

I don't listen to audiobooks, but what you said about begging to be heard is so right-on. I kept "hearing" this book even though I was reading it!

switterbug (Betsey) wrote: "I don't listen to audiobooks, but what you said about begging to be heard is so right-on. I kept "hearing" this book even though I was reading it!"

I would love to hear McBride speak. My bet is that he would be vastly entertaining and informative. Maybe some day.

A wonderful review, Lisa. I’ve seen such glowing reviews and now yours. I must add!

Jen CAN wrote: "A wonderful review, Lisa. I’ve seen such glowing reviews and now yours. I must add!"

Jen, I think you will enjoy this one; it is such a great story.

Nice review, Lisa. I have seen several positive reviews for this one and now yours also. I will add this one.

Jeannie wrote: "Nice review, Lisa. I have seen several positive reviews for this one and now yours also. I will add this one."

Jeannie, I hope you will love this one as much as I do. Enjoy!

Superb review again. The characters sounds excellent and obviously key to the story. I agree ‘hope and optimism’ is healthy doses are needed right now 💞

Margaret M - (Semi-hiatus - wrote: "Superb review again. The characters sounds excellent and obviously key to the story. I agree ‘hope and optimism’ is healthy doses are needed right now 💞"

Thank you, Margaret. Wouldn't it be great if we could just even be in the same room and smile at some on on the other side of the divide instead of throwing sand in their faces like a little kid having a tantrum in the sandbox?

So well put, Lisa. It's good to hear you say, and describe a story about people communicating, and people's need for it. I didn't know exactly what this book would say, but I bought it the other month thinking I need to finally read McBride. Looking forward to hope and optimism too. Those traits almost always lift me up.

Ron wrote: "So well put, Lisa. It's good to hear you say, and describe a story about people communicating, and people's need for it. I didn't know exactly what this book would say, but I bought it the other mo..."

Ron, parts of this book will have you laughing, or at least smiling broadly. And I have to love a man with his experiences shedding lightness as he goes.

Lisa,
One of my favorite writers of juvenile fiction is Patricia Polacco. I'm always surprised by her lackluster following on here. She deserves far more attention, and her stories are often centered around mixed neighborhoods similar to the one you've described in your review. I think I'd like this book.

Julie wrote: "Lisa,
One of my favorite writers of juvenile fiction is Patricia Polacco. I'm always surprised by her lackluster following on here. She deserves far more attention, and her stories are often center..."

Julie, I love Polacco too! Baba Yaga and The Keeping Quilt were 2 favorites.

And yes, I think you will like this one.

Lisa, your review perfectly describes this . I loved it - the characters, the story , the hope !

Angela M wrote: "Lisa, your review perfectly describes this . I loved it - the characters, the story , the hope !"

Thank you, Angela. McBride is such a gifted storyteller. I amazed at how he holds all the threads of his story and brings them all together at the end. I also love how much I laugh even though there is so much to be sad about.

You are so right, this story begs to be heard, Lisa. Beautifully stated review! Thank you. ☺️

Karen wrote: "You are so right, this story begs to be heard, Lisa. Beautifully stated review! Thank you. ☺️"

Thank you for your kind words, Karen. I wonder if the difference between reading v. listening could be the difference in our stars.

Great review, Lisa! I have wanted to read this book for the longest time. It looks like it covers important topics. I hope I can actually get around to reading it someday.

Lisa wrote: "Karen wrote: "You are so right, this story begs to be heard, Lisa. Beautifully stated review! Thank you. ☺️"

Thank you for your kind words, Karen. I wonder if the difference between reading v. lis..."

I gave it a 4.5 and rounded it up. I don't see much of a difference in our stars. But I have found that having a book between my hands where I can sit with the pages gives me a sense of intimacy that is different than listening to an audio recording. Sometimes the words pass by quicker than I have a chance to digest them if I am just listening to them vs touching the pages in the book. I don't know...perhaps that could be something to ponder, Lisa? Thank you for this chance for conversation. I love this amongst my GR friends. Perhaps we might consider this.... 😉

Wendy wrote: "Great review, Lisa! I have wanted to read this book for the longest time. It looks like it covers important topics. I hope I can actually get around to reading it someday."

Thank you, Wendy. I, too, hope you get the opportunity to read this one, especially if you enjoy a rollicking good story.