Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?

[Anonymous]

Warning: spoilers ahead

OK. People, I found this book really confusing. Way too many different characters to keep track of. Anyone else? I was listening to it most of the time so maybe not having the visual material contributed to that.

And I have a question… What happened to Monkey Pants? It said only his finger was left in the morning. Does that mean literally what it sounds like?

[Anonymous]

I started it, liked it, but have not finished it. I also thought Deacon King Kong was brilliant, and also haven't finished it.

So, yes, I found also it confusing.

The Good Lord Bird is one of my all-time favorite books, though, so I want to finish the other two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started it, liked it, but have not finished it. I also thought Deacon King Kong was brilliant, and also haven't finished it.

So, yes, I found also it confusing.

The Good Lord Bird is one of my all-time favorite books, though, so I want to finish the other two.

Deacon King Kong is by far the best of the three in my opinion.

Heaven & Earth didn't do much for me.

[Anonymous]

Loved Good Lord Bird and highly recommend the audio version. However, I can't get into Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Warning: spoilers ahead

OK. People, I found this book really confusing. Way too many different characters to keep track of. Anyone else? I was listening to it most of the time so maybe not having the visual material contributed to that.

And I have a question… What happened to Monkey Pants? It said only his finger was left in the morning. Does that mean literally what it sounds like?

I believe Monkey Pants died. It’s been awhile since I read this.

[Anonymous]

I just adored this book. I can’t say enough good things about it.

[Anonymous]

This book SUCKED. It needed editing so bad. Jumbled, disjointed, the ending was so rushed. I cannot explain how much I hated it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started it, liked it, but have not finished it. I also thought Deacon King Kong was brilliant, and also haven't finished it.

So, yes, I found also it confusing.

The Good Lord Bird is one of my all-time favorite books, though, so I want to finish the other two.

Deacon King Kong is by far the best of the three in my opinion.

Heaven & Earth didn't do much for me.

Agree. I loved Deacon King Kong. Was so excited for Heaven & Earth Grocery Store and I just found it kind of meh.

[Anonymous]

Monkey Pants died.

This book was A LOT. I actually liked it better once I went and listened to some interviews with the author. It gave me an explanation for what he was trying to achieve in it. And his personal connection to the material.

At one point he said that for a long time he avoided writing Jewish characters because the Jews would complain. I am Jewish and found certain things not very believable, but can appreciate a goodwill effort...

What he wanted was to create a community, to show how deeply everyone was interconnected. But for people who are used to following a main character, there wasn't enough to hold on to. That's my sense, anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just adored this book. I can’t say enough good things about it.

Could you say a few to help some of us understand why people like it so much?
I waited and waited for it to become available from our library and finally decided to buy it so I could read it. The description of the story sounded interesting....but after reading the book, I find it misleading. I don't get all the brouhaha about this book. Please enlighten me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This book SUCKED. It needed editing so bad. Jumbled, disjointed, the ending was so rushed. I cannot explain how much I hated it.

Me too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Monkey Pants died.

This book was A LOT. I actually liked it better once I went and listened to some interviews with the author. It gave me an explanation for what he was trying to achieve in it. And his personal connection to the material.

At one point he said that for a long time he avoided writing Jewish characters because the Jews would complain. I am Jewish and found certain things not very believable, but can appreciate a goodwill effort...

What he wanted was to create a community, to show how deeply everyone was interconnected. But for people who are used to following a main character, there wasn't enough to hold on to. That's my sense, anyway.

This is why I say he needed a stronger editor. I can almost see what he was trying to do but it did not work. It felt like I was reading a messy draft. The storylines didn’t intersect in ways that made sense. The ending was confusing. When I went back and read the prologue it did match the tone of the rest of the book. The “mazel tov, honey” like still irks me because it is so out of place and hokey. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

*it DIDN’T match the tone of the rest of the book

[Anonymous]

I’m only on the first chapter and don’t like it so far. deciding if I should bother finishing it for my book club next week.

[Anonymous]

I liked it more as it went on, but thought the ending was rushed. And I didn't really understand the plot or the characters--like I literally didn't understand the issue with the water system. Maybe I just don't have the mental images of the topography/infrastructure I would need?