I picked this up knowing it was going to be character driven. However, even character driven books need some sort of plot. I listened to the first third of the book, and other than the collapsed building, there was nothing connecting all of these characters. And little happening.

Now, I think this will be enjoyed by those familiar with the setting. I grew up in the suburban Midwest, so I severely lack that connection. I worked in Detroit for years, but Detroit is nothing like Harlem. Downtown is flourishing of late, but is made up of commuters. There just aren't dense, diverse, mixed use neighborhoods. Detroit has a pretty low population density.

So, as I am listening, I was not connected with the book. Not the characters, not the setting, and definitely not the plot. I opted not to finish.

I did enjoy Robb Moreira's narration.