Anonymous
02/20/2025 11:51
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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?
Anonymous
02/20/2025 11:08
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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
02/20/2025 04:48
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
*it DIDN’T match the tone of the rest of the book
Anonymous
02/20/2025 04:48
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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
02/19/2025 17:42
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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
02/19/2025 17:32
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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
02/19/2025 12:48
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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 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
02/19/2025 12:45
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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
02/19/2025 03:04
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
This book SUCKED. It needed editing so bad. Jumbled, disjointed, the ending was so rushed. I cannot explain how much I hated it.
Anonymous
02/17/2025 22:11
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
I just adored this book. I can’t say enough good things about it.
Anonymous
02/15/2025 15:58
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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
02/15/2025 14:46
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
Loved Good Lord Bird and highly recommend the audio version. However, I can't get into Heaven and Earth Grocery Store.
Anonymous
02/15/2025 13:29
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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
02/15/2025 12:38
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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.
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
02/15/2025 11:24
Subject: Can we talk about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store?
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?
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?