By Betty Lou Roselle
A friend gave me this book for Christmas. My first impression was ‘what a strange name for a book.’ After reading a few chapters, I wish America had more of these stores. James McBride’s novel is perfect for this time in our history.
After watching with alarm the antisemitism that has run amok recently, this story which mostly takes place in the 1930s should be in every high school and college. Prejudice back then against blacks was horrible as it was against the Jewish immigrants as well.
Author James McBride’s heroine Chona is the Jewish proprietress of the store in Chicken Hill located in Pottstown, PA. You will fall in love with her as everyone who meets her does. She is very religious, strong and incredibly kind. Chona being crippled from polio does not deter Moshe Ludlow from falling in love with her on sight and their dedication to each other never wavers. Moshe (owning two theaters) starts making some money from his passion for music. He suggests to Chona they should move away from Chicken Hill but she declines. She has many friends, Jewish and black who depend on her and the grocery store.
McBride’s writing is so rich, you can imagine all the other characters that inhabit Chicken Hill. He does not sugarcoat the evil in some men’s hearts as they persecute those they think are beneath them. He also allows us to appreciate those who rise above it and succeed. Never preaching, he allows his excellent storytelling to affect us.
The story opens in 1972 when a skeleton is found in a well. It appears someone was murdered. The mystery then pivots to the 1930’s and the tale continues.
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store never has a dull moment, it is a glorious ride from start to finish. We are introduced to Moshe’s right hand man Nate, an older black man. Nate is a strong, quiet man who has a past that he left behind when he met his wife Addie. These two are the closest friends that Moshe and Chona have. When they need to hide the twelve-year-old deaf boy Dodo that they’ve been taking care of, they enlist the help of their Jewish friends. Chona along with trusted childhood friend Beatrice make sure the State won’t find him and take him away.
Doc Roberts who has long harbored an infatuation for Chona, visits the grocery. He has been told she is hiding Dodo. From downstairs Dodo knows something’s not right and he comes up to find Doc with his hands all over Chona and pulling her dress up. He plows into the man moving him off her. As Addie enters the store, Dodo takes off running. Of course, Doc Roberts insists that Dodo attacked Chona. All of Chicken Hill knows that’s not true but the police are not going to arrest the Jewish doctor. Along the way you will meet Paper, with her talent of knowing all that goes on in Chicken Hill, Fatty, a black man of many skills and his Italian buddy Big Soap and others of different races who all work together to help save this boy. You will have to read the book to find out what happens next.
James McBride’s compassion and his faith in humanity shines through this book. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC and available at barnesandnoble.com, goodreads.com, amazon.com among others.