This somehow was my first Colson Whitehead novel and I really enjoyed his style of writing. He is very descriptive and well researched. I loved reading about old time Harlem, New York. The characters were vivid and I could see it all playing out in my head. I really look forward to reading more of Colson’s work!

Protagonist Ray Carney is furniture salesman in 1960s Harlem, working to provide for his family. On the outside, he seems like an upstanding, honest businessman, although he does occasionally sell the odd item dropped off by his cousin Freddie. When Freddie ropes Ray into a heist that goes wrong, Ray finds himself entangled with some of Harlem’s more questionable characters. Can he save himself, his cousin, and his finances without shattering his reputation?

I really like the tone that Whitehead strikes with this novel. It very much suits the hijinx-filled plot of this book, while leaving room for some of the more serious themes of social power and race and ambiguous moral ground. It’s fun to see a writer with such literary prestige to venture into more “fun” territory, without forgoing some of the topics that earned him such acclaim.

Harlem Shuffle is an entertaining romp, with heists and nail biting situations, but there are also more weighty considerations that factor in the role of race, education, war, and poverty.

Carney tries to live in stark contrast to the example of his disreputable father, but he learns it can be difficult to stay on the straight path when those around you are crooked. However, he feels like he can navigate a world slightly bent, but not quite crooked.

Whitehead's skillful manipulation of language is again on frequent display, with tight insights and clever situations. He has opted to teach by entertaining, leading readers to reflect on the dynamics at play.

(I received a digital ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

[#partner @doubledaybooks @netgalley]

📚B IS FOR BOOK REVIEW📚

📔Title: Harlem Shuffle
🖋Author: Colson Whitehead
🗓Pub Date: 09.14.21 (Happy pub day!🎉)

🗂Genre:
Crime, historical fiction, literary fiction

📖Plot:
Ray Carney, son of a crook, seems committed to living only a slightly crooked life himself. It is the 1960s and he is the proud owner of a furniture store in Harlem, a legitimate (if not incredibly well-paying) business by which he supports his family. As opportunities to make a little extra cash present themselves, however, how much is Ray willing to bend the rules of the law and his own morals?

‼️Trigger Warning:
Violence/murder, drug use/overdose, police murder of an innocent child

🗝Themes:
Duality of man, racism, colorism, classism/power, ethics/morals/values, family, life in NYC/Harlem

💭Thoughts:
If Colson Whitehead wrote a new version of the phone book, I’d read it. Just saying! What fascinates me about his writing is that each novel takes on something new, and HARLEM SHUFFLE is no exception. I’m not usually much for crime novels, but Whitehead does something different here. Not just a fun romp filled with heists, he divides the book into 3 sections which read almost like 3 different stories, set across 5 years. And underlying the capers in each section you’ll find slick, atmospheric prose; sharp social commentary; and carefully crafted characters. Albeit a bit repetitive in parts, you won’t want to miss this one. Especially since he’s already working on the sequel (something he’s never done before)!

🗣Recommended for those who like:
Chester Himes, Ann Petry, Patricia Highsmith, Richard Stark

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!