"Harlem Shuffle" by Colson Whitehead is a brilliant work of historical fiction set in 1960s Harlem. Whitehead skillfully weaves together elements of crime, family drama, and social commentary, creating a vivid and immersive portrayal of the era. The novel's charismatic protagonist, Ray Carney, navigates a web of corruption and change, making for a gripping and thought-provoking read.

Harlem Shuffle

Colson Whitehead

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately it just didn’t happen. I loved the sense of place and time & think that that aspect worked really well. However I didn’t care for any of the characters so much and the plot just seemed to wander all over the place, losing me & my interest along the way. I don’t like to give bad reviews (especially to talented writers) but I really can’t give more than 3 stars for this. Sorry.

This book is written very well but the plot is lacking. The characters were underdeveloped. The story felt very boring. I couldn’t connect to the characters or the story

Harlem Shuffle is a crime novel by Colson Whitehead, set in Harlem in the 1960s. It tells the story of Ray Carney, a furniture salesman who is also involved in a small-time criminal operation. Ray is trying to live a straight life, but he is constantly being pulled back into the criminal world by his family and friends. Ray is a complex and sympathetic character. He is a hard worker and a good family man, but he is also capable of violence and deception. He is caught between two worlds, the world of legitimate business and the world of crime, and he is struggling to find his place in the world.

Harlem Shuffle is a well-written and suspenseful novel that explores the themes of family, loyalty, and the American Dream.

I adore the work of Colson Whitehead. The way he tells stories is so smooth and the technique is not easy to reference.

This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future!

i really liked the underground railroad and nickel boys and i was intruiged by the concept of this one, heists, new york, family. i really really tried to get into this one, inc listening to some of the audiobook, and i just couldnt do it

Sorry for the delay in giving feedback, I enjoyed this book and its spirit, I also feel it would be good to see this as a movie, the characters and story came to life for me. The author has a great way of describing his vision.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead is a crime novel set in 1960s Harlem, focusing on the life of Ray Carney, a furniture dealer who gets involved in a series of heists. The writing is stylish, and the attention to detail in recreating the era is impressive. However, the plot is somewhat slow-paced and lacks the depth and complexity found in Whitehead's previous works. Additionally, some of the characters, including Ray, feel underdeveloped and their motivations are unclear. Overall, while Harlem Shuffle is an entertaining read, it falls short of the high expectations set by the author's previous works.

I received a copy of the book by NetGalley but the opinions in this review are my own.

Set in New York of the 1960s Harlem Shuffle is the story of Ray Carney, a furniture store owner. It depicts the struggles of Ray to succeed and portrays a place rife with crime.

I had really wanted to read it when it came out because of The Underground Railroad and then time ran out. I was at times a bit bored while reading it as the plot was not the most exciting to me. I have nothing against the writing style as he's a great writer but it's not my favourite read of the year.

This ended being not quite my bag- but hey- Colton Whitehead- so was very pleased to receive this arc. The time period was not one I was particularly interested in though and I found the story pretty meandering. It was a struggle to empathise with most of the characters.

I tried with this book a number of times and tried listening to the audiobook but it just couldn't keep me captivated. It just isn't the book for me unfortunately.

Colson Whitehead impresses again with this cleverly written story about Ray Carnegie in 1960’s Harlem. Trying to build a better life for himself and his family, Ray resists being drawn into the gangster culture that surrounds him and tries to maintain a legitimate job selling furniture, but temptation is always around the corner. Wonderfully well drawn characters make this a treat to read. Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Moving, powerful and thought provoking. Its a tough read in places but overall I would definitely recommend.

I wanted to love this as much as I loved Whitehead’s previous 2 books, but the genre just wasn’t for me. The writing was sparky and pulled me in, but I just didn’t care enough about the characters, and didn’t enjoy the heist plot/genre enough. Some will love this, but for those, like me, who previously read The Underground Railroad, this is very different. It is perhaps more similar to The Nickel Boys, but unfortunately just wasn’t for me.

Well written study of a black man trying to build a better life for his family than he had and make a living away from his father's criminal past. Set in 1950s/60s Harlem where businesses have to pay the police for protection and racism is barely concealed, His marriage to a white woman further highlights racial tensions and disparities, with riots forming part of the background to the story.

I love everything Colson Whitehead writes it seems. And each new book of his is as different from its predecessor as that was from the last. There are few connections between Harlem Shuffle and The Nickel Boys, except for the humanity and brilliant writing.

The writing in Harlem Shuffle is awe inspiring. My personal favourite bit is how the main character — who is a furniture salesman trying to rise above the criminal habits of his father — walks into every situation and sees the furniture first. The horror of the violence he witnesses barely registers, but the sofas! I just love it.

I listened to the Nickel Boys on audio while I was in hospital being induced for my wee girl's arrival. Looking back it wasn't the most cheerful choice for the occasion but the writing was great so I was very excited to get an ARC of Harlem Shuffle.

This book is very different to the Nickel Boys and very entertaining. I loved the family aspects of the story and the scene was set beautifully. I felt transported to Harlem on the 60s. I highly recommend reading this book.

A grifter trying to make good in 1960s Harlem finds himself torn between his new life and his past. This is a superbly plotted and written story from a master writer

A superb story and brilliantly written book! Not quite as amazing as Underground Railroad but great nonetheless.