Reviews

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

bettylooksatbooks's review against another edition

challenging reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

aleksito's review against another edition

3.0

I had a very hard time paying attention while I read this book, and even when I was paying attention I wasn’t very invested, just slightly interested. Colson Whitehead writes nice sentences though, and Dion Graham’s narration was really nice. So, this experience was not so much like reading a book, and more like having some nice background noise while I did the dishes.

-4 stars for the story, +2 for still providing a good time. Hopefully I’ll someday find a Colson Whitehead book I like.

sophgould's review against another edition

3.0

steam heated summers in harlem with glittering gambits of a man desperately deluding himself into thinking he's honest. tragic and biased narrator

cwhalen1988's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

elissaro's review against another edition

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

sedge's review against another edition

adventurous funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

katreadsalot's review against another edition

4.0

Whitehead has such a gift with language - this was so beautifully written. The pace was a little bit slow for me but Ray Carney was a fascinating character. The audio was excellent.

tayloehlein's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

steve_sanders's review against another edition

3.0

As someone who counts Nickel Boys and Underground Railroad among the 21st century’s finest works of fiction, I was shocked to be so underwhelmed. For a heist story, it’s flat out dull. The sentences are as stellar as we’ve come to expect, but in terms of plot and conflict there’s nothing that hasn’t already been done better by Chester Himes.

brokensinkforaface's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0