Colson Whitehead's Novel "Harlem Shuffle" - An Exciting Tale of Life in Harlem

Lucy: I liked this book a lot. Whitehead's writing is exquisite and the complex plot of this story serves as his vehicle to tell a deeper story--one of NYC in the late 1950's and early 60's when things were beginning to change. I had relatives who were cops in Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant in those days (50'-60's) and this account rings true. It is also a story about what has changed but more importantly about what has never really changed in this city and beyond. The characters were well developed and I found myself rooting for this criminal furniture salesman (it's all about degree, right?) The culture of crime has its own "good guys" in literature. I have read other books by Whitehead and they were excellent. This one, though, had me staying up late into the night reading it.

United States on Sep 29, 2023

S.Margaret: Literate polished page turner crime novel set in Harlem New York, set in 1960 s

United Kingdom on Sep 13, 2023

SMUDGER SMITH: A really top class author, part one of trilogy and I can't wait for part two.

United Kingdom on Sep 04, 2023

Bhamdo: What can I say? Whitehead brings us Ray Carney a character who you can't help but root for . As he navigates Harlem, walking that narrow path between straight and crooked. He has built the life he has aspired for. And yet there is Freddie his cousin. Freddie is living the crimes life. He is a small time never do well. Their bond is strong bonded as lonely little boys left on their own for too many hours. Freddie seems stuck in that carefree mischief. A Harlan Peter Pan when drags Roy over to the crooked side on occasion. Love, loyalty, the everyday hustle of living in a segregated New York where everything is on display, but too much of it is out of reach. A Harlem where racist abusive cops are a way of life. As is payouts for protection, and small time crooks showing up at the backdoor with gently used goods to be sold. a get read.

United States on Sep 04, 2023

sraff: Colson Whitehead never disappoints: his books are savagely funny and you find yourself drawn into the world he weaves and the characters he creates.

United Kingdom on Aug 29, 2023

Client d'Amazon: Franchement, j’ai trouvé ce livre génial. L’ambiance y est décrite comme si on y était. J’ai beaucoup aimé le ton utilisé pour écrire l’histoire entre humour noir et fausse sagesse. L’histoire d’un homme propre aux mains sales, mais tout dans la dignité ! Je devrais dire les histoires, car ce livre est écrit en plusieurs sketchs mais avec les mêmes personnages. Du moins ceux qui restent….À découvrir !

France on Aug 20, 2023

Shud49: Carney wants success, honest success. But these are hard times to achieve that. Freddie doesn’t help. Carney has been helping him out of tight spots for years.

A good book. Felt it was bumpy in spots.

United States on Aug 16, 2023

Christianne Pask: Overall this story turned out as expected. No big surprises yet some good characters. Ray Carney and his life toils with misshapen relationships.

United Kingdom on Jun 26, 2023

thx1138: Having lived on 121 St and 1st Ave in the mid-70's, I saw the aftermath of the late 60's and early 70's downward spiral of a section of the city that is central to this story. The neighborhood in the 70's was greatly degraded, burned out in sections, with brick rubble here and there. The sections of the city that remained in the 70's were recalled vividly by this novel. The narrative is gripping, the plots moves with great timing, it is interspersed with historical (period elements) of pop culture and the development of the city - all of which create an environment for an intriguing story. The characters are classic in the sense of the great American writers - John Steinbeck comes to mind. A high work of art from a real American voice. Thank your Mr. Whitehead.

United States on May 05, 2023

Timothy Haugh: Before this, I’d read two novels by Mr. Whitehead: Nickel Boys and The Underground Railroad. Both of these are very good novels filled with great characters and powerful moments; however, I wouldn’t rank them among the great novels. My main complaint with both is weaknesses in plotting. In essence, the author gets in the way of the story. What he is trying to accomplish in these novels interferes with good storytelling.

I know a number of readers who enjoyed this novel less than the other two I’ve mentioned. Perhaps they missed the excesses that make episodes of those books so memorable. I, on the other hand, find this to be the best novel Mr. Whitehead has written so far. Other than having to hear Mick Jagger’s brassy voice in my head every time I think of the title of this novel thanks to the Stones’ song of the same name, I have few complaints about this novel and much praise. It is simply a well-told story without anything getting in the way of that.

The novel takes place over a handful of years in the late fifties/early sixties. Mr. Whitehead is an absolute master of character which makes it no surprise that Carney, our protagonist, is full of depths....

United States on Feb 21, 2022