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South Solihull

‘The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store' by James McBride

Mixed reactions to this book.  There were a lot of characters to follow and some felt it needed major editing.  It was different from a lot of recent books we've read. and several thought it would make a good film.  It was mostly set in 1920/30s Pennsylvania, about tensions in a mixed Jewish and African-American community.  Quite a gritty rather than an enjoyable read with themes of racial differences and disability.  The plot was slow to get going but gathered momentum in the latter half of the book.