From the Bookshelf of Book of The Month…

Harlem Shuffle (Ray Carney, #1)

Colson Whitehead

Start date: October 1, 2021

Finish date: October 31, 2021

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Nov 04, 2021 Tami rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley, historical-fiction, 2021, netgalley-2021

I was really looking forward to reading a book by Colson Whitehead, but this one just wasn’t the one for me. Set in 1960’s Harlem, the story centers around furniture salesman, Ray Carney and his cousin, who is of questionable character.

Ray is trying to make an honest living, but somehow his cousin manages to get him involved in the shady side of Harlem. Ray is juggling his business and his secrets, trying to keep his family from finding out about his double life.

I had so much trouble getting int ...more

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Jul 28, 2021 Trisha rated it liked it

This was an interesting story, about a man who owns a shop where he sells items that aren't stolen but shouldn't be looked at too quickly. Everything is priced to sell and sell quick. I liked learning about his life and the times he lived in. I found his relationships and his tightrope walk of running a good business but also making enough money to live. I found the story easy to slide in to, as he got cornered in to joining this group that just kept getting shadier and shadier. This was well wr ...more

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Mar 31, 2022 Erica rated it it was ok

Shelves: audiobookslistened, booktubeprize2022

This one got a lot of hype but I struggled with the writing style. There are so many things happening with multiple characters that I struggled to find the main plot or to care about the characters. I never really knew what was going on. Read for the BookTube Prize Octofinals.

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Feb 14, 2022 Jeff rated it liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The Truck, Dorvay, Cool It Baby. The three sections of the book separate Ray Carney’s journey from reactive grifter – “only slightly bent” – to jilted revenge seeker to a protagonist trying to control his destiny. The truck is a great symbol of his father, both as the literal bequest of the truck and money, but also as a reminder of his father. Did the dorvay section of Ray’s life change him or was it simply a transition period?

Constant heat. Each section deals with constant reminders of the he ...more

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