This is one of those eloquently written novels that will allow you to live the era, walk the walk, talk the talk. It breathes life into a Harlem of the past, a place and time that defined America's big city living from a minority’s point of view. The characters are vivid, truly colorful, to a laugh-out-loud degree. The setting is so tangible I could imagine the heat, the smells, the noise. This gives the reader a voyeuristic view into a life we would otherwise know absolutely nothing about. The plot is so believable; a man is trying to do good for his family but in order to really cash in he’s gonna have to be a bit interpretive with the law. He is participating in something illegal, but his intentions are good so in his view, it is somewhat legal. The humor, the feelings, the energy of the city keeps this book moving. Some sections slowed down a bit, but it wasn’t long before I was laughing out loud again.
Sincere thanks to Doubleday for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date was September 14, 2021.

Colson Whitehead can craft a story! The 1950s/1960s Harlem is so vivid--practically a character itself! And speaking of characters...Whitehead's characters practically jump off the page, they're so realistic! I especially enjoyed the drama and struggles of Ray Carney being caught between two worlds. I would love to see Harlem Shuffle made into a TV series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Ray Carney owns a Furniture story in the late 1950’s. He would say he is an honest business man, happily married with two children. Life is good. Except Carney is slightly bent when it comes to being crooked. He is always in for a side gig. Perhaps a few TV’s come his way to sell at his store, a man’s got to do what a man got to do to get by. His father was a hustler and Carney strives for a different life, yet he always feels the pull to make some fast money.

If trouble is going to happen, you can be pretty certain his cousin, Freddie is involved. Carney has some restraint though, but “Freddie’s common sense tended to fall out of a hole in his pocket-he never carried it long”. Seeing the larger picture and planning are not exactly Freddie’s strong points.

So, prepare yourself for a ride that is a fast and riveting crime story. I liked entering this world of the underbelly of life on 125th Street in Harlem. You will meet Miami Joe, Chink, Pepper, Arthur, Zippo and Linus. Colson Whitehead is a talented writer and has a way of pulling you into a story and through all the obvious twists and turns, there is another element, an underbelly itself of sorts, that floats just below the surface. This seems to be about the next big thing, a heist is going to take place and all the crocked and the hustlers want in. So, it’s entertaining yes, but all the while we start to understand Carney more.

He is helping someone in a bad jam and Pepper is there to help. So, Elizabeth invites him for supper. “It was a Wednesday night, family supper, both sides of him at the table, the straight and the crooked, breaking bed” Carney has broken bread this way his whole life. It’s about the hustle, the easy money, but it’s also about family. Freddie is his cousin, someone by his side since they were boys raising themselves and he can’t forget this. His wife is a good woman and is raising a beautiful family with him.

The story is set in the background of the early sixties. White Cops kill a black boy and it just never seems to change. This also is of course not just about black thugs, hustlers, numbers runners, and robbers contained in Harlem. It encompasses the entire city. While some are protesting for change and civil rights, many know talk is not what is important, money is. So, the small time hustlers mingle with mobsters, rich men that come from old money, men who run the diamond district, cops on the take, all robbers and thieves; some in small ways, others in big ways. It is laid bare, this is a corrupt city, and if the asking price is right and money is to be made, that is what really calls the shots. Some have it easier then others, and getting by in 1960’s Harlem is not really as much fun as it used to be. Carney looks around and sees there are no pension plans for retired safecrackers, for heisters, and hustlers.

Sometimes, you just have that ambition and no where really to channel it, but you strive for more because you just might make it to a pretty street that is quiet and peaceful, so much so that the city seems not even to be there at all.

Riveting Story that makes an Excellent Book.

Thank you NetGalley, Colson Whitehead, and Doubleday Books for giving me a copy of this book.

I was so excited for this title, as I have read 4 of Whitehead’s previous books and enjoyed them all. I especially like how he defies labels by traveling easily between genres. I read about 30 pages of this and then never had any desire to pick it back up. I don’t know if it’s me or the book, but because it’s Whitehead I certainly intend to try again another time.

I’m only including a star rating because I am required to do so to submit my review on NetGalley.

Colson Whitehead is an extraordinary writer. His writing in HARLEM SHUFFLE is of the same caliber that we’ve come to expect from him, but this story is so different from his past couple of books. This just goes to show the breadth of his creativity and storytelling. The sense of time and place is strong in this novel, and I enjoyed the escapades of the heist and crime world. It did get a little long winded for me, and I would have enjoyed a tighter plot.

Great book! So different from the other two Pulitzer Prize books from Whitehead. I loved the 60's schematics and characters. This was all about life on the fringes of crime and the heists behind them. Rich or poor, neither is immune from the temptations of the dollar. Whitehead is the master of character development and the perfect pace of storywriting. I can't wait for the movie, although the writing was so good I feel I have already vividly seen it.

There is just something so special about how Colson Whitehead writes - its as if. you're part of the narrative. This book takes place in the 1960s where "businessman" Ray Carney seems to be caught between two worlds; one where he's a family man, and in the other a crook. A heartfelt well written read

Special thanks to Doubleday and Netgalley for an early copy!

I have only read one other Colson Whitehead novel and had heard he was going in a new direction with this one and really, who cares? Whitehead's writing is so good, I'll read it in any genre.

This novel finds us in 1950s Harlem as Carney tries to straddle the life he wants as a stand-up, legit furniture store owner and the life he has, dealing with stolen goods and trying to keep up with his cousin.

Whitehead does an incredible job of describing New York City, the bustle of the City, and the hustle needed to make it in Harlem. Carney is neither a hero, nor anti-hero, but someone who is just taking life as its handed to him and making the best of it. I found the characters interesting, engaging, and, at times, sorrowful as they don't quite make the mark. I loved the descriptions of Carney's store and the furniture he sold, as well as how he tried to keep his business going after riots. The inclusion of the riots in Harlem as a reaction to police killing an innocent black boy felt both current as well as historical, just putting a fine point on the more things change, the more they stay the same.

All in all, this was a compelling tale of a man making his way and I can't wait to read more from Whitehead, no matter what genre or setting.

Certainly a departure from his previous work but this new Colson Whitehead book is sure to please lovers of historical crime dramas. There’s much to love here.

My primary critique is that the story was at times repetitive, with regards to both theme and plot. I did love every single character and appreciated getting to know them each individually. I also loved the combination of heist and family drama, but I did anticipate more heisting and less contemplating. More on-screen action, or at least planning of the action, would have helped the story feel more "real" and really hammer home the stakes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for providing an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I can choose just one quote that perfectly sums up what this book is about, it’s this one:

“...Freddie sweet-talks him into an ill-advised scheme and the mismatched duo tries to outrun the consequences.”

Colson Whitehead’s newest release, Harlem Shuffle, takes us to the mean streets of Harlem in the 1960s. In the middle of riots, police brutality, and a heroin epidemic, we meet Ray Carney, a furniture store owner just doing what he has to do to support his family. He spends most of his time shuffling used furniture and electronics through his store for a quick dollar. But his money is tight, his wife is expecting, and he desperately wants to move his family to a bigger apartment.

When Carney is approached by his cousin, Freddie, with an outrageous proposal to make some cash, he declines the offer. But somehow, Carney finds himself in the middle of a battle between crooks, cops, drug addicts, and his own troubled past.

Overall, I enjoyed it! Although, I consider myself to be a Colson Whitehead fan so I may be a teeny bit biased. There is a LOT packed into this one. On the surface, it’s about a man trying his best to balance both his good and bad sides, but there are so many other themes explored in the story. Whitehead perfectly illustrates the issues of colorism, racism, classism, corrupt law enforcement, drug use, civil rights, and so much more in this book. It’s good stuff!

The ONE thing I would say got on my nerves about this one...I kept trying to figure out how his wife was oblivious to all that he was doing. He was literally living two different lives, and she didn’t notice or pretended not to notice. I don’t know, her perspective wasn’t discussed. Either way, another excellent novel by Colson Whitehead. I’d definitely recommend reading it!

One of the best young writers of his generation, Colson Whitehead has given us another terrific novel. The unique narrative and in-depth character development. Harlem Shuffle is a bit lighter than pervious novels, but still provides a unique voice. The multi-generational story and the crime/mystery storyline are a refreshing change. However, there is still a social justice storyline to be found.
I continue to be impressed with Whitehead's writing.

I had such high hopes for this book - I have loved previous Colson Whitehead books and the blurb made this seem like a really good read. While I am sure [from the reviews I have read] that this is a great read for some, for me, this just wasn't my jam. I didn't care for the story or the characters and the whole idea of a book about a heist never comes to fruition [<spoiler>yes, the heist is talked about, but that is it - you never actually READ about it and how it all goes south</spoiler>]. I read a review that stated it well - there is a lot of stuff that happens "off-screen" [so to speak] and while you learn things about what has happened or is happening, nothing is fully fleshed out. Add to that the fact that none of the characters are likeable [though Pepper is an interesting character] and because of that [for me], the story [which I also didn't like - a lot of that was because it jumps around a lot, and a lot of it was for personal reasons] falls flat and I just wasn't interested. It took everything I had to finish this book. While I am extremely disappointed, I also realize that not every book is for everyone. Some people will love this book and that is awesome and I am happy for them. I wish I could be one of them, but that was just not to be.

Thank you to NetGalley, Colson Whitehead, and Doubleday Books [who invited me to read this book] for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rich language, vivid descriptions and colourful characters immerse the reader into life on 1960’s Harlem. It is a world where urban blight smacks up against gentrification and change crackles like lightening in the hot summer air. All the characters are well developed and imperfect and likeable. Class and race also clash as do family members.

Quite the shift from Colsons other books I’ve read, but I enjoyed it! It wasn’t a “leave you breathless” book like his others, so that I missed, but the story was engaging and exciting. I loved the glimpse into 1950s-1960s NYC.

Loved this latest by Coleson Whitehead so much! In a departure from his usual, sometimes almost mystical work, Harlem Shuffle offers a gritty vision of Harlem in the 60s, a time I remember as one where it turned into a crime ridden, drugged out wasteland. Carney , the main character, walks a line between straight and crooked, drawn in by his cousin Freddie. His moral journey is so well drawn and fascinating. Historical and lyrical and full of detail. This is going to be a huge release! As always thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday for the wonderful opportunity to read and review prior to publication!

Harlem Shuffle is a gloriously delightful novel of mobsters and crooks, elaborate heists and shakedowns, schemers and dreams, and the harsh reality of those who must toe the lines of morality to earn a living.

Harlem Shuffle’s inventive story plays out in a beautifully recreated New York City in the early 1960s. The setting paid ode to the Civil Rights era and elegantly wove in the historical inequality of Blacks and whites of that period.

Harlem Shuffle as its core can loosely be described as a family saga masquerading as a historical crime novel, an amusing morality play, and a human novel about race and power. There is an authenticity to the characters that enhance the plotline and endears the readers.

Ray Carney is the epitome of morally grey and I equate his predicament to having an angel and a devil on each of his shoulders. On the one hand, Ray wants to be a legitimate businessman but on the other is his dire reality where his furniture business is struggling, and his wife is expecting which causes him to agree to the heist of a lifetime.

This is a stark reminder of the duality residing in all of us as individuals and how easily we can sway to each extreme. Harlem Shuffle reminds us that life isn't always a bed of roses and that our decisions impact not only how we live, but who we are.

Harlem Shuffle MADE me want to read it, it simply bewitched me into turning the pages, and I am completely under its spell. I relished the scheming, family drama, double life, and ultimately the heist that had Ray Carney blurring the line between petty theft to major crime.

Harlem Shuffle is my first read by Colson Whitehead and certainly not my last, as it was a spectacularly pleasurable read!

Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This review will be available on my blog from 25-09-2021 here: https://jessicareadsit.wordpress.com/2021/09/25/book-review-harlem-shuffle-by-colson-whitehead/

Colson Whitehead does it again - in another genre, another time period - and it's delicious.
The timeline ranges from 1959 to 1964, showing life in Harlem from Ray Carney’s hard childhood, his in-laws from Striver’s Row, to the riots and the razing of neighborhoods to build the World Trade Center. It’s a relatively lighthearted novel, certainly compared to “The Underground Railroad” and “The Nickel Boys,” Whitehead’s two previous novels, each of which won the Pulitzer Prize. Colson - who I first met by serendipity when his first book, The Intuitionist, wound up on the remainder table. Book after book followed with dips into a variety of genre frames and all hitting the mark. Enthusiastically recommended.

Thank you, Knopf Doubleday, for this review copy on NetGalley! Also, check out the reading guide here: https://tinyurl.com/r7nfspdd.

Harlem Shuffle is unlike Colson Whitehead's previous books. He takes a lyrical approach to describe a historical period that witnessed the simultaneous unity and division of a famous black neighborhood. Harlem is portrayed as a place with optimism and despair but without agency. It hums along as undercurrents of power are apportioned to black people by a network of rich white people. Families try to balance loyalties and obligations, and they are always one breath away from a collapse.

It was initially difficult for me to get into this book due to the fast-paced lyrical nature of it. Thankfully, it wasn't long before became immersed in a fascinating culture that was as exhilarating as it was exhausting. This is more than a simple crime story; it is a story of survival. The hardened criminal trope unravels into a transactional series of business dealings as robberies are perpetrated by the haves as well as the have-nots.

The language, particularly the use of the "n-word," is sure to be a contentious topic of discussion. This book will be banned in schools but secretly checked out or read inside of public libraries. It is a vital piece of literary fiction that demands attention - one that will be dissected and debated until it is read and understood by all.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

It’s New York City, circa 1960, and Ray Carney, an owner, and purveyor of a fine furniture store in Harlem finds he can’t quite distance himself from the crooks in his family and the semi-striving life he is trying to lead. Once his cousin, Freddie, volunteers him to fence items procured from a large heist, Ray finds himself mixed back up in a shadier world of criminals once again.

This novel demonstrates Whitehead’s mastery of both plot (intricate) and character (eternally evolving) as the tale itself unspools flawlessly—and enjoyably.

Central questions include: Can you really escape the influence of family? And, What are the ideals that make a man a good man in a bad situation versus a bad man in a “good” situation?

As a reader, you will enjoy not only the ride through history but also the twisting tale of right and maybe not quite so right. Don’t miss this novel!