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The Book of Harlan
Bernice L. McFadden has been named the Go On Girl! Book Club's 2018 Author of the Year
WINNER of the 2017 American Book Award
WINNER of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work (Fiction)
2017 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award Nominee (Fiction)!
A Washington Post Notable Book of 2016
"McFadden uses the experiences of her own ancestors as loose inspiration for the life of Harlan, whom she portrays from his childhood in Harlem through imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp and his struggles afterward to put his life back together."--Library Journal
"Simply miraculous...As her saga becomes ever more spellbinding, so does the reader's astonishment at the magic she creates. This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of The Book of Harlan is the restorative force that is music."--Washington Post
"Bernice L. McFadden took me on a melodious literary journey through time and place in her masterpiece, The Book of Harlan. It's complex, real, and raw...McFadden intricately and purposefully weaves history as a backdrop in her fiction. The Book of Harlan brilliantly explores questions about agency, purpose, freedom, and survival."--Literary Hub, one of Nicole Dennis-Benn's 26 Books From the Last Decade that More People Should Read
"McFadden's writing breaks the heart--and then heals it again. The perspective of a black man in a concentration camp is unique and harrowing and this is a riveting, worthwhile read."--Toronto Star
"The Book of Harlan is an incredible read. Bernice McFadden...has created an amazing novel that speaks to lesser known aspects of the African-American experience and illuminates the human heart and spirit. Her spare prose is rich in details that convey deep emotions and draw the reader in. This fictional narrative of Harlan Elliot's life is firmly grounded amidst real people and places--prime historical fiction, and the best book I have read this year."--Historical Novels Review, Editors' Choice
"McFadden packs a powerful punch with tight prose and short chapters that bear witness to key events in early twentieth-century both World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Great Migration. Partly set in the Jim Crow South, the novel succeeds in showing the prevalence of racism all across the country--whether implemented through institutionalized mechanisms or otherwise. Playing with themes of divine justice and the suffering of the righteous, McFadden presents a remarkably crisp portrait of one average man's extraordinary bravery in the face of pure evil."--Booklist, Starred review
The Book of Harlan opens with the courtship of Harlan's parents and his 1917 birth in Macon, Georgia. After his prominent minister grandfather dies, Harlan and his parents move to Harlem, where he eventually becomes a professional musician. When Harlan and his best friend, trumpeter Lizard Robbins, are invited to perform at a popular cabaret in the Parisian enclave of Montmartre--affectionately referred to as "The Harlem of Paris" by black American musicians--Harlan jumps at the opportunity, convincing Lizard to joi
WINNER of the 2017 American Book Award
WINNER of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work (Fiction)
2017 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award Nominee (Fiction)!
A Washington Post Notable Book of 2016
"McFadden uses the experiences of her own ancestors as loose inspiration for the life of Harlan, whom she portrays from his childhood in Harlem through imprisonment in a Nazi concentration camp and his struggles afterward to put his life back together."--Library Journal
"Simply miraculous...As her saga becomes ever more spellbinding, so does the reader's astonishment at the magic she creates. This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of The Book of Harlan is the restorative force that is music."--Washington Post
"Bernice L. McFadden took me on a melodious literary journey through time and place in her masterpiece, The Book of Harlan. It's complex, real, and raw...McFadden intricately and purposefully weaves history as a backdrop in her fiction. The Book of Harlan brilliantly explores questions about agency, purpose, freedom, and survival."--Literary Hub, one of Nicole Dennis-Benn's 26 Books From the Last Decade that More People Should Read
"McFadden's writing breaks the heart--and then heals it again. The perspective of a black man in a concentration camp is unique and harrowing and this is a riveting, worthwhile read."--Toronto Star
"The Book of Harlan is an incredible read. Bernice McFadden...has created an amazing novel that speaks to lesser known aspects of the African-American experience and illuminates the human heart and spirit. Her spare prose is rich in details that convey deep emotions and draw the reader in. This fictional narrative of Harlan Elliot's life is firmly grounded amidst real people and places--prime historical fiction, and the best book I have read this year."--Historical Novels Review, Editors' Choice
"McFadden packs a powerful punch with tight prose and short chapters that bear witness to key events in early twentieth-century both World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Great Migration. Partly set in the Jim Crow South, the novel succeeds in showing the prevalence of racism all across the country--whether implemented through institutionalized mechanisms or otherwise. Playing with themes of divine justice and the suffering of the righteous, McFadden presents a remarkably crisp portrait of one average man's extraordinary bravery in the face of pure evil."--Booklist, Starred review
The Book of Harlan opens with the courtship of Harlan's parents and his 1917 birth in Macon, Georgia. After his prominent minister grandfather dies, Harlan and his parents move to Harlem, where he eventually becomes a professional musician. When Harlan and his best friend, trumpeter Lizard Robbins, are invited to perform at a popular cabaret in the Parisian enclave of Montmartre--affectionately referred to as "The Harlem of Paris" by black American musicians--Harlan jumps at the opportunity, convincing Lizard to joi
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2016
336 people are currently reading
7716 people want to read
About the author
Bernice L. McFadden
21 books2,249 followersBERNICE L. McFADDEN is the author of ten critically acclaimed novels including Praise Song for the Butterflies (Long listed for the 2019 Women's Prize in Fiction ) The Book of Harlan (winner of a 2017 American Book Award and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Fiction) Sugar, Loving Donovan, Nowhere Is a Place, The Warmest December, Gathering of Waters (a New York Times Editors’ Choice and one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012) and Glorious . She is a four-time Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist, as well as the recipient of four awards from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA).
McFadden has also penned five novels under the pseudonym: Geneva Holliday
She is a visiting assistant professor of creative writing at Tulane University in New Orleans. She is at work on her sixteenth novel.
McFadden has also penned five novels under the pseudonym: Geneva Holliday
She is a visiting assistant professor of creative writing at Tulane University in New Orleans. She is at work on her sixteenth novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 547 reviews
July 24, 2016
I give 3.8 stars to The Book of Harlan, Bernice McFadden's newest book which details the life of her grandfather Harlan McFadden. I completed this book that read quickly over the course of a day. McFadden shares the ups and downs of Harlan's life and shares what it meant to be African American in the first half of the 20th century. Here is Harlan's story.
Harlan was born on December 24, 1917 to Sam and Chappo McFadden (depicted in this book as Sam and Emma Elliot). The Elliots determined to make a better life for themselves followed the great migration north and eventually settled in Harlem. During their nomadic existence, Harlan stayed at the home of Emma's parents, leading to hatred toward his own parents. Whereas many may feel that Emma did not want her son, I gather here that she left him in her parents' stable care while she sought out a better life for him.
The Elliots soon became mainstays in Harlem's life. Emma hosted memorable house parties, earning the acquaintance of a who's who in African American society, including the great Louis Armstrong. Harlan desired a life like Armstrong for himself and became a sought after guitarist. Alongside his new friend Lizard, the duo formed their own band, and rose to prominence within Harlem's circles. Meanwhile, Harlan found love in the form of Gwendolyn Gill, an immigrant from Barbados, who eventually becomes the mother of his children. This is the one section where McFadden does not tie up loose ends, accounting for a half star deduction in my rating. Next, Emma's closest friend the singer Lucille Hegamin arranges for the band to tour in France, altering Harlan's existence.
It was not safe to be negro in France in 1940. Soon after their band's arrival at the Montmarte, Harlan and Lizard are captured by the Nazis and spend the duration of the war in Buchenwald concentration camp. Miraculously, Harlan survives whereas Lizard does not. He returns home withdrawn and having nightmares of the camps. Soon after the Elliots leave Harlem, hoping to put Harlan's nightmares behind him.
In the last third of the book, McFadden touches on race relations in the United States over a thirty year period. I found this part to be fascinating because we generally just get a few sentence overview in history books. Harlan becomes an archetype for the black struggle and we see through his trials and tribulations where our country has come in terms of race relations over the course of the twentieth century and beyond.
I found the Book of Harlan to be an engaging and quick read. I was captivated by Harlan's story and read through quickly to find out what happened to him. This is a labor of love as I found out that Harlan is Bernice McFadden's grandfather. She changed some dates and names, but otherwise gave us an intimate look into the life of her grandfather. A powerful read which I rate 3.8, I recommend Harlan's story to all.
Harlan was born on December 24, 1917 to Sam and Chappo McFadden (depicted in this book as Sam and Emma Elliot). The Elliots determined to make a better life for themselves followed the great migration north and eventually settled in Harlem. During their nomadic existence, Harlan stayed at the home of Emma's parents, leading to hatred toward his own parents. Whereas many may feel that Emma did not want her son, I gather here that she left him in her parents' stable care while she sought out a better life for him.
The Elliots soon became mainstays in Harlem's life. Emma hosted memorable house parties, earning the acquaintance of a who's who in African American society, including the great Louis Armstrong. Harlan desired a life like Armstrong for himself and became a sought after guitarist. Alongside his new friend Lizard, the duo formed their own band, and rose to prominence within Harlem's circles. Meanwhile, Harlan found love in the form of Gwendolyn Gill, an immigrant from Barbados, who eventually becomes the mother of his children. This is the one section where McFadden does not tie up loose ends, accounting for a half star deduction in my rating. Next, Emma's closest friend the singer Lucille Hegamin arranges for the band to tour in France, altering Harlan's existence.
It was not safe to be negro in France in 1940. Soon after their band's arrival at the Montmarte, Harlan and Lizard are captured by the Nazis and spend the duration of the war in Buchenwald concentration camp. Miraculously, Harlan survives whereas Lizard does not. He returns home withdrawn and having nightmares of the camps. Soon after the Elliots leave Harlem, hoping to put Harlan's nightmares behind him.
In the last third of the book, McFadden touches on race relations in the United States over a thirty year period. I found this part to be fascinating because we generally just get a few sentence overview in history books. Harlan becomes an archetype for the black struggle and we see through his trials and tribulations where our country has come in terms of race relations over the course of the twentieth century and beyond.
I found the Book of Harlan to be an engaging and quick read. I was captivated by Harlan's story and read through quickly to find out what happened to him. This is a labor of love as I found out that Harlan is Bernice McFadden's grandfather. She changed some dates and names, but otherwise gave us an intimate look into the life of her grandfather. A powerful read which I rate 3.8, I recommend Harlan's story to all.
June 26, 2017
4.5 stars!! I had to take off half a point because of the ending which, without giving away anything, is contrary to what actually happened to an important Nazi figure. I don't care for revisionist history unless it's in a speculative work. Although, in retrospect, it could have just been the protagonist's reality.
Bernice McFadden has written an epic novel about African-American life from the early 1900s to 1973. Apparently the novel is partly biographical, the main character being based on her paternal grandfather. It is not clear whether Harlan Elliott, the main character, based on real-life Harold Isaac McFadden, was actually a prisoner in Buchenwald concentration camp or not, but that was the main reason I picked the book up because I, too, wrote a novel about blacks in Germany during the pre-Holocaust Nazi regime.
This is a rarely told, unique story, so its inclusion just added intrigue to an intriguing character. The imprisonment is just a small part of Harlan's life and the book expands the entire breadth of his existence, from before his birth to his ultimate coup de grace on the last page.
I loved how Harlan and his family interacted with actual historic figures like jazz and blues musicians Louis Armstrong and Lucille Hegamin, Eugene Bullard, the first black fighter pilot, and John Smith, a cab driver whose arrest ignited a 5-day riot in Newark, New Jersey.
It was also interesting to discover the concept of "reverse racial passing" where whites, mainly Jewish people, pretended to be black, especially if they were jazz musicians.
I enjoyed the entire book as it was very readable, incorporated lots of historical context and had vivid characterization. I could actually see these characters in my mind's eye. I enjoy all of Bernice McFadden's books, but this one is one of my favorites.
Bernice McFadden has written an epic novel about African-American life from the early 1900s to 1973. Apparently the novel is partly biographical, the main character being based on her paternal grandfather. It is not clear whether Harlan Elliott, the main character, based on real-life Harold Isaac McFadden, was actually a prisoner in Buchenwald concentration camp or not, but that was the main reason I picked the book up because I, too, wrote a novel about blacks in Germany during the pre-Holocaust Nazi regime.
This is a rarely told, unique story, so its inclusion just added intrigue to an intriguing character. The imprisonment is just a small part of Harlan's life and the book expands the entire breadth of his existence, from before his birth to his ultimate coup de grace on the last page.
I loved how Harlan and his family interacted with actual historic figures like jazz and blues musicians Louis Armstrong and Lucille Hegamin, Eugene Bullard, the first black fighter pilot, and John Smith, a cab driver whose arrest ignited a 5-day riot in Newark, New Jersey.
It was also interesting to discover the concept of "reverse racial passing" where whites, mainly Jewish people, pretended to be black, especially if they were jazz musicians.
I enjoyed the entire book as it was very readable, incorporated lots of historical context and had vivid characterization. I could actually see these characters in my mind's eye. I enjoy all of Bernice McFadden's books, but this one is one of my favorites.
February 9, 2017
I enjoyed reading this book very much. I loved it. There is so much to love in these pages, and so much attention to history. There is a loving attention to characters and their foibles that I found very endearing. I cared a lot about these people. The story resolved itself in an ending that, although completely implausible, was entirely satisfying. It was that kind of story--a story where I loved the characters and wanted good things to happen to them. The book is much more about heart than head, but I just let it in, and let it be what it was, and let Bernice McFadden tell me her story the way she wanted to tell it. I was richly rewarded.
The pace is breathless. I felt like Alice Through the Looking Glass getting pulled along by the Red Queen. Huge shifts in the story can take place in a sentence, or in half a sentence. Characters come and go and their stories are full of happenings and then they leave the stage. It's not a 'minimal' style so much as it is what I would call an "intensely compressed" style. This marriage of a simple semantic style with a global, historic, epic story was new to me. I thought it was a very effective way to tell this story, though, in which the history of the 20th century, in particular of African American social history, becomes the stage that these characters play across.
This is my first novel by McFadden and I'm very glad to have many more left to read.
The pace is breathless. I felt like Alice Through the Looking Glass getting pulled along by the Red Queen. Huge shifts in the story can take place in a sentence, or in half a sentence. Characters come and go and their stories are full of happenings and then they leave the stage. It's not a 'minimal' style so much as it is what I would call an "intensely compressed" style. This marriage of a simple semantic style with a global, historic, epic story was new to me. I thought it was a very effective way to tell this story, though, in which the history of the 20th century, in particular of African American social history, becomes the stage that these characters play across.
This is my first novel by McFadden and I'm very glad to have many more left to read.
November 14, 2020
[3.4] This book follows Harlan's story from the early 1900s before his birth, to the mid 1970s and touches on a plethora of historical figures and events. I like McFadden's writing style, but never connected to Harlan - perhaps because of her whirlwind approach. I read that she based the book on her grandfather. That makes sense. Harlan never felt real to me - perhaps he was too protected by the author's memories to fill out into a complex character. I will read more by McFadden.
September 12, 2018
Although The Book of Harlan is about the life and experiences of Harlan, there are many other vignettes throughout the book that focus on the lives of other characters. I am very thankful for that because the other stories are what actually saved the overall story for me. I did not like Harlan at all. He was a selfish, misogynistic, womanizer who was careless with his words and actions. His selfishness extended to his parents, friends, and lovers alike. I did feel sorry for Harlan, because he survived one of the world's greatest horrors, yet I still just couldn't bring myself to like him as a man. He was spoiled by a mother who herself was pretty selfish, so part of the blame for Harlan's deficit in character lays firmly at the feet of his parents. Harlan's father worked hard and loved his family, but he wasn't the strong person in their family. Harlan's mother got her way in all things which was a problem from the beginning of their marriage straight through to Harlan's young adulthood.
The Book of Harlan is written in very short chapters that carries the reader through the story extremely smoothly. I'm not sure if it tricked my mind into consuming the story faster than I normally would or what, but I felt like the story flew by in the best possible way. I was engaged from beginning to end, even while I was busy not liking Harlan. The many lives that orbited around Harlan were interesting and many times tragic. I had a much easier time having empathy for them and hoping that the more inevitable and realistic outcomes wouldn't befall them. There is a plot twist for one of the secondary characters that I didn't see coming and it served as a gut punch when it was revealed. Bravo, Ms. McFadden. That was a horrible but poignant moment in the story.
McFadden's writing style is wonderful and I am happy that I already own three of her other books. I am looking forward to reading them soon. If you aren't familiar with her work, I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Book Of Harlan.
You can find me at:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @MonlatReader
Instagram: @readermonica
Facebook: Monica Reeds
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
The Book of Harlan is written in very short chapters that carries the reader through the story extremely smoothly. I'm not sure if it tricked my mind into consuming the story faster than I normally would or what, but I felt like the story flew by in the best possible way. I was engaged from beginning to end, even while I was busy not liking Harlan. The many lives that orbited around Harlan were interesting and many times tragic. I had a much easier time having empathy for them and hoping that the more inevitable and realistic outcomes wouldn't befall them. There is a plot twist for one of the secondary characters that I didn't see coming and it served as a gut punch when it was revealed. Bravo, Ms. McFadden. That was a horrible but poignant moment in the story.
McFadden's writing style is wonderful and I am happy that I already own three of her other books. I am looking forward to reading them soon. If you aren't familiar with her work, I highly recommend picking up a copy of The Book Of Harlan.
You can find me at:
•(♥).•*Monlatable Book Reviews*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @MonlatReader
Instagram: @readermonica
Facebook: Monica Reeds
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
June 5, 2016
I was over half way through this book before settling in, which makes it hard to rate. The only reason I didn't quit the book is because several of my trusted reviewers gave it 4 and 5 stars. I'm glad I stuck with it because I really started to like it around page 195 and at page 278 I started to love it. Problem with that is the book is only 342 pages.
Even before I started to really enjoy the read, I wasn't oblivious to all the wonderful historical tidbits sprinkled through each chapter. As with any historical fiction novel, what makes this one is the events that the author decided to incorporate. Bernice touches on several topics including: the Great Migration and migrants from the Caribbean to NYC, jazz history from the 1920s, a radio prank broadcast in NY in the 1930s , the changing face of Harlem and parts of New Jersey across decades, blacks in German concentration camps including camps in Namibia, and a 1967 Time Magazine cover highlighting ever-present strife between law enforcement and the black community. Unlike most historical fiction I've read, I felt like I should do a quick Google search on every name that appeared in the text for fear of missing out on a buried gem!
By the time you get to the last page, it's almost like having looked at a timeline. I'd think she wrote a novel around a series of notable world and US events that she remembered from her past, only I know that many of the events occurred before her lifetime. Bernice doesn't hone in on any one historical event but gives substantive leads that allow inquiring minds to find the documented events with no problem.
Holding all of this goodness together is the story of Harlan, a young man turned jazz musician who struggles to get on the right path. His reckless ways leave a trail of unintended consequences for many of the people he encounters.
When I visited Bernice's author website, the quote that appears under her image is,“I write to breath life back into memory.” Well, Bernice, you definitely accomplished that.
Even before I started to really enjoy the read, I wasn't oblivious to all the wonderful historical tidbits sprinkled through each chapter. As with any historical fiction novel, what makes this one is the events that the author decided to incorporate. Bernice touches on several topics including: the Great Migration and migrants from the Caribbean to NYC, jazz history from the 1920s, a radio prank broadcast in NY in the 1930s , the changing face of Harlem and parts of New Jersey across decades, blacks in German concentration camps including camps in Namibia, and a 1967 Time Magazine cover highlighting ever-present strife between law enforcement and the black community. Unlike most historical fiction I've read, I felt like I should do a quick Google search on every name that appeared in the text for fear of missing out on a buried gem!
By the time you get to the last page, it's almost like having looked at a timeline. I'd think she wrote a novel around a series of notable world and US events that she remembered from her past, only I know that many of the events occurred before her lifetime. Bernice doesn't hone in on any one historical event but gives substantive leads that allow inquiring minds to find the documented events with no problem.
Holding all of this goodness together is the story of Harlan, a young man turned jazz musician who struggles to get on the right path. His reckless ways leave a trail of unintended consequences for many of the people he encounters.
When I visited Bernice's author website, the quote that appears under her image is,“I write to breath life back into memory.” Well, Bernice, you definitely accomplished that.
June 27, 2016
Author: Bernice McFadden
Print Length: 354 pages (Kindle); 400 pages (hardcover)
Publisher: Akashic Books; Reprint edition (April 11, 2016)
Publication Date: April 11, 2016
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." --Frederick Douglass (printed in The Book of Harlan, page 281, Kindle)
There are rare literary moments when a reader is given a gift so magnificent that it defies adequate definition; when Seshat embraces and guides the writer's pen and thoughts, leading them through overgrown, encumbered historical paths toward a promised land -- a place that is quietly pure, emotionally significant, and afforded to few. Fortunate for us, Bernice McFadden has ambled along that path, bathed in the elusive light of wisdom and promise and has stamped down the thorny and entangled frondescence so that the beauty at the end of that path may be embraced. Her hands and mind have indeed been kissed by Seshat.
In The Book of Harlan, Ms. McFadden reveals the holy grail of conflict: a plethora of social, emotional, political, racial, and religious issues, marching into the controversial realm of each without apology. Readers are afforded the fortunate opportunity to commune with a literary presence (Ms. McFadden) endowed with an indescribably beautiful vision.
The myriad of images in The Book of Harlan are vivid, and Ms. McFadden's love of subtle details burst like a floral symphony after a warm spring rain. The colors of each line, page, and chapter are explosively bright, and in her essential and historical brilliance, Ms. McFadden (previously I stated that she is in the class of Walker, Morrison, Angelou, and I must add Kincaid), presents the novel with the eye of a gifted cinematographer. The reader is, as a result, graciously endowed with an indescribable, and lasting emotional connection.
At the start of the book, the reader meets Emma Robinson and the Robinson family. Quickly it becomes obvious that the family has some capital means and their confident, almost arrogant, air belies their acknowledgment of their good fortune:
"The Robinson family traveled the city in a shiny black buggy, pulled by not one horse but two horses." (page 3- Kindle)
Their residence is a house reminiscent of the surreal, quaint country dwellings often planted on several country acres where the loudest sound one hears is the evening's wind. McFadden states that they [the Robinsons] lived among the Black elite of Macon; "the doctors, lawyers, teachers, and ministers, and not a maid or ditch digger among them." (pg. 3)
Emma is the youngest and the only girl. Stereotypic as a teenaged character, she seems to hunger for an existence of greater adventure. This 'hunger' she expresses in silent vividness by her admiration of Lucille, her friend and a jazz / blues singer who is offered a "glamorous" life on the road. Emma's strict upbringing and denial of these raucous endeavors, causes her to long for it more. Emma meets and confirms a mutual attraction with Sam Elliot, a good-looking, quiet and easy-going carpenter from Kentucky, and her life heads in a different and completely unpredictable direction. Sam is smitten and spends every possible moment in pursuit of Emma. His intentions are honest. His love for Emma is real. But, as would be expected, her family is distrusting.
McFadden takes the story along the path of secretive affection and through the chambers of lost virginity. The Robinson family's resolve is tested by Emma's unplanned pregnancy, quick marriage, and decision to move (the first of many) from Macon to DC after the birth of she and Sam's child. It is after the birth of Harlan that the novel truly becomes The Book of Harlan.
The short chapters are like staccato movements; breath, awakening, flow, ebb, pure, constant, short and intentional. Ms. McFadden provides intensity, conflict, resolution, and intrigue; most evidently beginning with the horrific, fiery suicide of Darlene, the sister of Harlan's best friend. Beautifully, Ms. McFadden uses Darlene (who is characteristically flat) as a powerfully appropriate apparition for the events in Harlan's life (my thoughts). In my opinion, she played a vital role in the tribulations of Harlan's life, including throughout his adulthood.
Harlan opts to pursue music and drops out of high school. He joins and performs (poorly) with Lucille's band and is introduced to marijuana, under the promise from fellow musicians that it will make him play better. And it does.... tremendously. This sort of internal conflict from external influences is Ms. McFadden's sweet spot; the place where her glow begins to shine even brighter.
Midway through the novel, Harlan befriends Lizard, a Jewish musician whose Blackish demeanor and period-influenced style grants him the ability to evade inquiries about his ethnicity. Their bond is quick, affectionate, and brotherly, and together they form a band. After finding and flexing their chops in the US, they are offered an opportunity to perform in Paris. War was declared at the time of their travel, and the climate of the book changes, becoming, at that very moment, far greater than the sum of its parts; reflecting tension and chaos, joy and pain, and a level of sorrow so massive that it remains, even in present reality, immeasurable. We feel, deeply, the details of this tension. Ms. McFadden ensures that we do; pummels us with a constant barrage of elation and fear; extracting the elements of each until there is nothing recognizable left, like a conductor building a crescendo from the quiet of piano. In the hush of night, after otherwise tense but ordinary affairs, Harlan and Lizard are accosted, bludgeoned, and abducted by Nazi soldiers. The novel, already very alive, transforms further, raising the reader's blood pressure and leaving them desperately gasping for air and clutching at the rocketing pain in their chest.
Harlan's return to America after several years of unnerving events in Europe presents its own symphony of challenges. The many events experienced by Lizard and Harlan after their abduction, introducing to some and confirming for others the historically excluded conflict that occurred between Nazi soldiers and people of African descent, exceeds my ability to give it the justice it greatly deserves. Ms. McFadden packs the novel with so much of her magic that no review or critique could ever effectively capture its depth. With each word and turn of the page the intensity builds, and the transition and tone of the story, from this point to the very end, epitomizes literary exactness. And it is here that I feel more than compelled to discontinue my summary.There are no short cuts. Yes, this is a must read type of novel.
This review/commentary has, for reasons I cannot explain, been the most challenging I have attempted. Perhaps it was the details within the book or my personal admiration for Ms. McFadden's work that made commenting difficult. Perhaps I made the greatest faux pas, by reading the reviews of others and commenting on their comments.
Maybe it was because of this....
I have never written a review by summarization or through extracting too many details from the story, but for reasons unknown I was entranced by a deep need to do so with this book. Perhaps, to me, Harlan is an exceptionally familiar character, reminding me subtly of my grandfather, or uncle, or a distant cousin, or the man down the street. Perhaps I see Harlan within myself; searching, finding, losing, and reborn. Maybe Harlan is many, or perhaps he embodies such layers of complexity that he is no one at all.Whoever he is to you is correct. His facets are many. Bernice McFadden and Seshat made him that way. After reading The (AMAZING) Book of Harlan, I am certain, with absolutely no doubt, that you will agree.
Print Length: 354 pages (Kindle); 400 pages (hardcover)
Publisher: Akashic Books; Reprint edition (April 11, 2016)
Publication Date: April 11, 2016
"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." --Frederick Douglass (printed in The Book of Harlan, page 281, Kindle)
There are rare literary moments when a reader is given a gift so magnificent that it defies adequate definition; when Seshat embraces and guides the writer's pen and thoughts, leading them through overgrown, encumbered historical paths toward a promised land -- a place that is quietly pure, emotionally significant, and afforded to few. Fortunate for us, Bernice McFadden has ambled along that path, bathed in the elusive light of wisdom and promise and has stamped down the thorny and entangled frondescence so that the beauty at the end of that path may be embraced. Her hands and mind have indeed been kissed by Seshat.
In The Book of Harlan, Ms. McFadden reveals the holy grail of conflict: a plethora of social, emotional, political, racial, and religious issues, marching into the controversial realm of each without apology. Readers are afforded the fortunate opportunity to commune with a literary presence (Ms. McFadden) endowed with an indescribably beautiful vision.
The myriad of images in The Book of Harlan are vivid, and Ms. McFadden's love of subtle details burst like a floral symphony after a warm spring rain. The colors of each line, page, and chapter are explosively bright, and in her essential and historical brilliance, Ms. McFadden (previously I stated that she is in the class of Walker, Morrison, Angelou, and I must add Kincaid), presents the novel with the eye of a gifted cinematographer. The reader is, as a result, graciously endowed with an indescribable, and lasting emotional connection.
At the start of the book, the reader meets Emma Robinson and the Robinson family. Quickly it becomes obvious that the family has some capital means and their confident, almost arrogant, air belies their acknowledgment of their good fortune:
"The Robinson family traveled the city in a shiny black buggy, pulled by not one horse but two horses." (page 3- Kindle)
Their residence is a house reminiscent of the surreal, quaint country dwellings often planted on several country acres where the loudest sound one hears is the evening's wind. McFadden states that they [the Robinsons] lived among the Black elite of Macon; "the doctors, lawyers, teachers, and ministers, and not a maid or ditch digger among them." (pg. 3)
Emma is the youngest and the only girl. Stereotypic as a teenaged character, she seems to hunger for an existence of greater adventure. This 'hunger' she expresses in silent vividness by her admiration of Lucille, her friend and a jazz / blues singer who is offered a "glamorous" life on the road. Emma's strict upbringing and denial of these raucous endeavors, causes her to long for it more. Emma meets and confirms a mutual attraction with Sam Elliot, a good-looking, quiet and easy-going carpenter from Kentucky, and her life heads in a different and completely unpredictable direction. Sam is smitten and spends every possible moment in pursuit of Emma. His intentions are honest. His love for Emma is real. But, as would be expected, her family is distrusting.
McFadden takes the story along the path of secretive affection and through the chambers of lost virginity. The Robinson family's resolve is tested by Emma's unplanned pregnancy, quick marriage, and decision to move (the first of many) from Macon to DC after the birth of she and Sam's child. It is after the birth of Harlan that the novel truly becomes The Book of Harlan.
The short chapters are like staccato movements; breath, awakening, flow, ebb, pure, constant, short and intentional. Ms. McFadden provides intensity, conflict, resolution, and intrigue; most evidently beginning with the horrific, fiery suicide of Darlene, the sister of Harlan's best friend. Beautifully, Ms. McFadden uses Darlene (who is characteristically flat) as a powerfully appropriate apparition for the events in Harlan's life (my thoughts). In my opinion, she played a vital role in the tribulations of Harlan's life, including throughout his adulthood.
Harlan opts to pursue music and drops out of high school. He joins and performs (poorly) with Lucille's band and is introduced to marijuana, under the promise from fellow musicians that it will make him play better. And it does.... tremendously. This sort of internal conflict from external influences is Ms. McFadden's sweet spot; the place where her glow begins to shine even brighter.
Midway through the novel, Harlan befriends Lizard, a Jewish musician whose Blackish demeanor and period-influenced style grants him the ability to evade inquiries about his ethnicity. Their bond is quick, affectionate, and brotherly, and together they form a band. After finding and flexing their chops in the US, they are offered an opportunity to perform in Paris. War was declared at the time of their travel, and the climate of the book changes, becoming, at that very moment, far greater than the sum of its parts; reflecting tension and chaos, joy and pain, and a level of sorrow so massive that it remains, even in present reality, immeasurable. We feel, deeply, the details of this tension. Ms. McFadden ensures that we do; pummels us with a constant barrage of elation and fear; extracting the elements of each until there is nothing recognizable left, like a conductor building a crescendo from the quiet of piano. In the hush of night, after otherwise tense but ordinary affairs, Harlan and Lizard are accosted, bludgeoned, and abducted by Nazi soldiers. The novel, already very alive, transforms further, raising the reader's blood pressure and leaving them desperately gasping for air and clutching at the rocketing pain in their chest.
Harlan's return to America after several years of unnerving events in Europe presents its own symphony of challenges. The many events experienced by Lizard and Harlan after their abduction, introducing to some and confirming for others the historically excluded conflict that occurred between Nazi soldiers and people of African descent, exceeds my ability to give it the justice it greatly deserves. Ms. McFadden packs the novel with so much of her magic that no review or critique could ever effectively capture its depth. With each word and turn of the page the intensity builds, and the transition and tone of the story, from this point to the very end, epitomizes literary exactness. And it is here that I feel more than compelled to discontinue my summary.There are no short cuts. Yes, this is a must read type of novel.
This review/commentary has, for reasons I cannot explain, been the most challenging I have attempted. Perhaps it was the details within the book or my personal admiration for Ms. McFadden's work that made commenting difficult. Perhaps I made the greatest faux pas, by reading the reviews of others and commenting on their comments.
Maybe it was because of this....
I have never written a review by summarization or through extracting too many details from the story, but for reasons unknown I was entranced by a deep need to do so with this book. Perhaps, to me, Harlan is an exceptionally familiar character, reminding me subtly of my grandfather, or uncle, or a distant cousin, or the man down the street. Perhaps I see Harlan within myself; searching, finding, losing, and reborn. Maybe Harlan is many, or perhaps he embodies such layers of complexity that he is no one at all.Whoever he is to you is correct. His facets are many. Bernice McFadden and Seshat made him that way. After reading The (AMAZING) Book of Harlan, I am certain, with absolutely no doubt, that you will agree.
May 3, 2016
Here's my video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWX-_...
June 19, 2016
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! To say this is a "must read" is an understatement. Prepare yourself for a magical journey as McFadden catapults you into the life of Harlan. The short and impactful chapters kept me captivated as I devoured each page. McFadden's writing style grabs you instantly and she never lets you go. She exposes life and it's circumstances in a humanly raw magnitude that any reader can relate to.
You are transported back in time and deposited into monumental eras of history. McFadden's prose exquisitely glides the reader through the Great Migration of blacks from the south to the north, the Harlem Renaissance, WWII, the Holocaust, the turbulent Civil Rights Era, the assassinations of JFK and MLK, Jr., ending with the tumultuous 1970s... a continuation of the 1960s.
The beauty and gift of McFadden's writing is that you felt like you were right there in the era. I could hear the jazz bands, feel the sorrow/pain of the prisoners in Buchenwald concentration camp and see the fires from the 60's race riots. To make a reader "feel" is a gift and McFadden handles this gift with grace. I was invested in every character. I cared about characters even after they had exited the story.
As I was approaching the final few chapters I literally closed the book and came back to it a week later. I didn't want the story to end. McFadden doesn't simply write; she gets into your head and heart, stirs your spirit and leaves your soul wanting more!
This quote from the Washington Post beautifully describes the magical Book of Harlan:
"This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of “The Book of Harlan” is the restorative force that is music."
You are transported back in time and deposited into monumental eras of history. McFadden's prose exquisitely glides the reader through the Great Migration of blacks from the south to the north, the Harlem Renaissance, WWII, the Holocaust, the turbulent Civil Rights Era, the assassinations of JFK and MLK, Jr., ending with the tumultuous 1970s... a continuation of the 1960s.
The beauty and gift of McFadden's writing is that you felt like you were right there in the era. I could hear the jazz bands, feel the sorrow/pain of the prisoners in Buchenwald concentration camp and see the fires from the 60's race riots. To make a reader "feel" is a gift and McFadden handles this gift with grace. I was invested in every character. I cared about characters even after they had exited the story.
As I was approaching the final few chapters I literally closed the book and came back to it a week later. I didn't want the story to end. McFadden doesn't simply write; she gets into your head and heart, stirs your spirit and leaves your soul wanting more!
This quote from the Washington Post beautifully describes the magical Book of Harlan:
"This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of “The Book of Harlan” is the restorative force that is music."
January 5, 2019
Σε βάζει να ζήσεις το πρώτο μέρος . Τζαζ, ζωή κ Άγιος ο Θεός κ γουστάρουμε. Μετά την πρώτη περίοδο στο στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης , απλά κόβει λάσπη και το πάει διαδικαστικά σχεδόν μέχρι το τέλος, με ελάχιστες εκλάμψεις.
Jazz κ μετριότητα όμως αντιφάσκουν, οπότε stick to that
Jazz κ μετριότητα όμως αντιφάσκουν, οπότε stick to that
February 3, 2016
I received this book as an early reviewer copy. I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read it. This is a remarkable story of a man who was born in 1917 - lived through the Roaring 20's, the Great Depression, World War II and the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King. All the tumult that occurs in the world during this time is reflected in the life of Harlan Elliot. Harlan was born in Macon Georgia and spent his early life there with his grandparents. When Harlan's mother and father finally came to claim him he was 14 years old. They moved to Harlem. At that time, in the 20's, Harlem was exciting and very cool. It was teeming with humanity and with music. The black clubs attracted white clientele. They came in droves to listen and to dance to the jazz, blues and swing music. Harlan's parents are right in the midst of this and they have musicians and famous people dropping in to their house all the time. Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie are frequent visitors and Harlan grows up with music in his heart and in his blood. He and his best friend, trumpeter Lizard Robbins play in groups and bands all over Harlem. The life is exciting, but all the pitfalls and dangers are there for these young men - drugs, alcohol, women and fast living. Their band is asked to go to Paris to play in a club there. The time is the early spring of 1940 and Paris is teeming with life. In a few short months though the Nazis invade Paris and start their reign of terror in the City of Light. Both Harlan and Lizard did not get out of France in time and both are incarcerated in the Buchenwald concentration camp. Harlan survives (barely) after 5 long years and is sent back home a broken man. The rest of the book shows Harlan's struggle to return to the land of the living as he feels dead inside after the hardships he endured in Buchenwald. There are many more struggles for Harlan as he tries to find himself and before he finds a measure of peace. Ms McFadden states: "I write to breathe life back into memory", and she does that brilliantly here in The Book of Harlan. A must read, especially for music lovers.
July 25, 2016
To me, the essence of all books is the characters. If you like a character, you find a way to like the book. McFadden does something quite difficult, here. She writes characters that are unlikable, flawed and who act badly, but yet she imbues than with so much humanity that the reader can’t help but root for them.
For most of the book, McFadden does a great job of interweaving historical fact with fiction. For some reason, there was a chapter where McFadden listed a bunch of historical events. There was no tie in to the plot. It was done almost like a poetry reading. That was puzzling, especially considering how skillfully she melded fact and fiction throughout most of the book.
In my opinion, the first 2/3rds of this book were stronger than the last 1/3. In the latter part of the book, McFadden didn’t focus on character development, but relied more on the plot to interest the reader.
Easily, the strongest element of The Book of Harlan is McFadden’s storytelling. McFadden not only paints pictures with her words, but she captures the mood. Her style of writing grabs you. She uses short chapters to shift from point to point quickly and build momentum. She has an eye for the irony and the dry wit of life. I wouldn’t hesitate to read another McFadden novel.
For most of the book, McFadden does a great job of interweaving historical fact with fiction. For some reason, there was a chapter where McFadden listed a bunch of historical events. There was no tie in to the plot. It was done almost like a poetry reading. That was puzzling, especially considering how skillfully she melded fact and fiction throughout most of the book.
In my opinion, the first 2/3rds of this book were stronger than the last 1/3. In the latter part of the book, McFadden didn’t focus on character development, but relied more on the plot to interest the reader.
Easily, the strongest element of The Book of Harlan is McFadden’s storytelling. McFadden not only paints pictures with her words, but she captures the mood. Her style of writing grabs you. She uses short chapters to shift from point to point quickly and build momentum. She has an eye for the irony and the dry wit of life. I wouldn’t hesitate to read another McFadden novel.
April 15, 2017
3.5-4 stars. This was a quick read. I found the author's style to be engaging and the story to be compelling. Bernice McFadden tells a fictionalized version of her grandfather Harlan's life, from his parents' meeting to Harlan's middle age. The author describes Harlem in the years before WWII and Harlan and his family's life there, and how Harlan ended up in France, and most frightening, how he ended up in Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany. Though the author doesn't get into detail of the years of horrors within the camp, she does describe the aftermath, the psychological damage Harlan suffered. It's heartbreaking.
July 27, 2016
This book is based on the author's paternal grandfather. The following is to be found on the author's web site:
The Book of Harlan was inspired by the life of my paternal grandfather; Harold Isaac McFadden (pictured on the cover).
I never personally knew the man and neither did my father. All I had to recreate his life were a birth certificate, census schedules, a few newspaper articles and my imagination.
In many ways, this book is the culmination of twenty years of family history research.
From this information I cannot determine which of the events in the story are fictional and which are factual. There is no author's note at the end of the audiobook offering further clarification.
The end of the book takes an unexpected turn, which of course can be captivating in a book of fiction. Yet this book is supposed to be based on the author’s grandfather, making it important to differentiate fact from fiction. For me too many events were improbable, too coincidental! In the book Harlan is sent to Buchenwald and there he comes in contact with Ilse Koch, the wife of Karl-Otto Koch, the first commandant of Buchenwald. Both husband and wife were convicted Nazi war criminals and their fate is to be found in history books. In this book the author fabricates history when Ilse is said ! Playing with historical events in this manner is unacceptable to me.
Even before the dramatic ending, I struggled. I wasn’t convinced the story could be true. My only explanation was then that fact can be more surprising than fiction, but now having completed the book and having seen how the author altered historical events I believe nothing! I am only left with questions.
The audiobook narration by Robin Miles was very good. Her narrations are always exemplary.
The Book of Harlan was inspired by the life of my paternal grandfather; Harold Isaac McFadden (pictured on the cover).
I never personally knew the man and neither did my father. All I had to recreate his life were a birth certificate, census schedules, a few newspaper articles and my imagination.
In many ways, this book is the culmination of twenty years of family history research.
From this information I cannot determine which of the events in the story are fictional and which are factual. There is no author's note at the end of the audiobook offering further clarification.
The end of the book takes an unexpected turn, which of course can be captivating in a book of fiction. Yet this book is supposed to be based on the author’s grandfather, making it important to differentiate fact from fiction. For me too many events were improbable, too coincidental! In the book Harlan is sent to Buchenwald and there he comes in contact with Ilse Koch, the wife of Karl-Otto Koch, the first commandant of Buchenwald. Both husband and wife were convicted Nazi war criminals and their fate is to be found in history books. In this book the author fabricates history when Ilse is said ! Playing with historical events in this manner is unacceptable to me.
Even before the dramatic ending, I struggled. I wasn’t convinced the story could be true. My only explanation was then that fact can be more surprising than fiction, but now having completed the book and having seen how the author altered historical events I believe nothing! I am only left with questions.
The audiobook narration by Robin Miles was very good. Her narrations are always exemplary.
May 12, 2016
I have said this before, but it bears repeating. The publishing of any Bernice McFadden book is an event, not simply another book being released. She has done it again with this excellent novel. The Book of Harlan can be described as a historical novel, but that description doesn't really do it justice, because it is much more than just historical. She uses very short chapters to great effect, it certainly helps the feel of the book as a fast paced page turner.
Bernice's prose as usual is imperial and her storytelling skills remain on a superior level. The novel centers on Harlan and his coming of age, but there are a host of characters here including some actual persons. We follow Harlan from childhood to age of adult maturity and because the story crosses multiple decades it allows Bernice to riff on various historical incidents, including both world wars, Nazi occupation of France and the turbulent 60's. Bernice is at the top of her game with this one, with a heart warming ending that will leave a smile on your face.
Bernice's prose as usual is imperial and her storytelling skills remain on a superior level. The novel centers on Harlan and his coming of age, but there are a host of characters here including some actual persons. We follow Harlan from childhood to age of adult maturity and because the story crosses multiple decades it allows Bernice to riff on various historical incidents, including both world wars, Nazi occupation of France and the turbulent 60's. Bernice is at the top of her game with this one, with a heart warming ending that will leave a smile on your face.
March 29, 2020
I absolutely loved this book, it was such an immersive experience, I could feel myself slowing it right down not wanting it to end.
What a memorable Sunday I spent reading through the thirties and every time she mentioned one of the singers or musicians thanks to YouTube I could play Bessie Smith's most popular song, watch Cab Calloway sing and dance Minnie the Moocher, listen to Lucille Hegamin.
The Book of Harlan is just that, the life of a boy, an only child that begins in the town of Macon, Georgia where he spends his formative years with his grandparents while his parents seek their fortune, intending to send for him. By they time that happens he doesn't want to leave, but the bright lights of New York and an introduction to the musical world help him recover.
His mother's best friend is Lucille Hegamin, also born in Macon, (the 2nd African-American blues singer to record) and when Harlan drops out of school at 16 she invites him to come along on one of her tours with his guitar. Being on the road changes him, exposing him to things that overwhelm him and he's shocked to find Lucille won't tolerate it and packs him off home.
He meets Leo, a musician everyone calls Lizard and they'll start a band together, life getting back on track. Lizard's story is unique, he and Harlan are bound together by some strange twist of fate, a connection that would run so deep and silent within Harlan his whole life, until finally he is released from the pain of it. I can't say more because this is a story that has to be read, not told by someone who has already read it.
Harland and Lizard respond to an invitation to come to Paris to play in a club in Montmartre, it's like a dream come true, except that it is the wrong time in history to be hanging around a city that is about to come under occupation. Paris becomes a life changing moment for both of them.
The book is inspired by a number of Bernice McFadden's ancestors, their names are listed at the back of the book, as are some of the musicians, dancers and singers who make an appearance. What an amazing story and a unique experience. By the end, you just want Harlan to be safe and it is with some relief that I read the closing chapters and wondered if that was the true version of events or the life-saving imagination of Ms McFadden.
Highly Recommended.
What a memorable Sunday I spent reading through the thirties and every time she mentioned one of the singers or musicians thanks to YouTube I could play Bessie Smith's most popular song, watch Cab Calloway sing and dance Minnie the Moocher, listen to Lucille Hegamin.
The Book of Harlan is just that, the life of a boy, an only child that begins in the town of Macon, Georgia where he spends his formative years with his grandparents while his parents seek their fortune, intending to send for him. By they time that happens he doesn't want to leave, but the bright lights of New York and an introduction to the musical world help him recover.
His mother's best friend is Lucille Hegamin, also born in Macon, (the 2nd African-American blues singer to record) and when Harlan drops out of school at 16 she invites him to come along on one of her tours with his guitar. Being on the road changes him, exposing him to things that overwhelm him and he's shocked to find Lucille won't tolerate it and packs him off home.
He meets Leo, a musician everyone calls Lizard and they'll start a band together, life getting back on track. Lizard's story is unique, he and Harlan are bound together by some strange twist of fate, a connection that would run so deep and silent within Harlan his whole life, until finally he is released from the pain of it. I can't say more because this is a story that has to be read, not told by someone who has already read it.
Harland and Lizard respond to an invitation to come to Paris to play in a club in Montmartre, it's like a dream come true, except that it is the wrong time in history to be hanging around a city that is about to come under occupation. Paris becomes a life changing moment for both of them.
The book is inspired by a number of Bernice McFadden's ancestors, their names are listed at the back of the book, as are some of the musicians, dancers and singers who make an appearance. What an amazing story and a unique experience. By the end, you just want Harlan to be safe and it is with some relief that I read the closing chapters and wondered if that was the true version of events or the life-saving imagination of Ms McFadden.
Highly Recommended.
October 5, 2016
This is my first McFadden, it sure will not be my last. What a voice! I started laughing at the blunt open way she faces some delicate issues and kept chuckling along to the middle of the book. As Ms. McFadden describes the life of the family of Harlan; she gives all readers insight to what is personal and public in their lives beginning 1915, and quickly moving forward to 1917 Macon Georgia where Harlan is born. The chapters are short, and that makes it easy to finish a chapter before going to bed or back to work etc., but each chapter is power packed even if the chapter is only 1 page. Harlan lives in Georgia, then moves to Harlem and we read about the good, the bad and ugly elements that go along with being Black, Musician and less than rich. Harlan and his band go to Paris to play music. Then the book becomes extremely dark. Just dark. The German occupation of Paris is nothing to chuckle at. The musicians prepare to leave. For the readers, it is too late to turn back, the dear readers are invested by now and so we have to endure right along with Harlan and his people. It becomes a different book and Harlan becomes a different person. And we all get through it together, readers and characters. Now we are battered and bruised and back in Harlem. We get through the turbulent 60's and in 1973 the book ends. Great book, I wished it were longer because I would have liked to know more of Gwen's story. I'm very confused at the dates Harlan lived according to the family tree in the back of the book. This is wonderfully written and expresses so many different feelings of pain, suffering, good times and joy, by the time I finished reading the book I was happily exhausted.
June 25, 2016
4.5 stars. I'm deducting a half point because I feel too large a time period was crammed into these pages. I would have preferred a bit more detail in some of the story-telling especially closer to the end although perhaps that would have detracted from the steam-roller effect. But that aside, this is one powerful and emotionally draining story that I had to put down to breath every now and then. There are quite a few events in the book that sent me sprawling, left me depleted. The phrase "packs a punch" couldn't be more suitable for this book.
June 14, 2016
It's hard to know what to say about this book, because it is so rich and compelling. It is one man's tragic, epic life, and an unflinching, raw look at how trauma haunts survivors. Harlan's post-liberation life didn't follow the redemptive narrative I expected, and the book is richer for it. This was the first Bernice McFadden book I have read; it won't be the last.
Read
April 21, 2022I cannot begin to explain how beautiful and heartbreaking this book was.
I admit, I have developed a thick skin because I read so much, and sometimes that means books don't always emotionally overwhelm me the way they should.
This was NOT the case with, The Book of Harlan .
I, originally, had this as a book club selection, but then felt like this was too heavy to expect everyone to jump into this one for a book chat.
The honest truth is that I weeped through a good portion of this book and there are images that can't leave my mind.
I also learned a different side of the Holocaust that I didn't realize existed.
I apologize if this was naive, but I did not know that other people of color were also rounded up, on the streets, and sent to concentration camps.
Harlan's experience, as a concentration camp survivor, is harrowing and ripped my heart to shreds.
I have read so much literature on this era and McFadden opened my eyes by using her own research into this (and her own ancestor's stories), to bring to light something that I didn't know.
This is one reason I am so grateful for historical fiction.
Starting with the marriage of his parents, we are taken on a journey through Harlan's life and how difficult it was (and still is) to be a black man, growing up in such a bigoted world. Spanning six decades, Harlan's story from beginning to end is beautifully told.
This book is graphic, as McFadden pulls back the curtain on the concentration camp. I really did have to take a break through this section, in particular. In the same way, A Little Life, moved and wrecked me, this story captured my heart and made Harlan one of the most special characters I've read.
I'm thankful that I read this one this year.
I admit, I have developed a thick skin because I read so much, and sometimes that means books don't always emotionally overwhelm me the way they should.
This was NOT the case with, The Book of Harlan .
I, originally, had this as a book club selection, but then felt like this was too heavy to expect everyone to jump into this one for a book chat.
The honest truth is that I weeped through a good portion of this book and there are images that can't leave my mind.
I also learned a different side of the Holocaust that I didn't realize existed.
I apologize if this was naive, but I did not know that other people of color were also rounded up, on the streets, and sent to concentration camps.
Harlan's experience, as a concentration camp survivor, is harrowing and ripped my heart to shreds.
I have read so much literature on this era and McFadden opened my eyes by using her own research into this (and her own ancestor's stories), to bring to light something that I didn't know.
This is one reason I am so grateful for historical fiction.
Starting with the marriage of his parents, we are taken on a journey through Harlan's life and how difficult it was (and still is) to be a black man, growing up in such a bigoted world. Spanning six decades, Harlan's story from beginning to end is beautifully told.
This book is graphic, as McFadden pulls back the curtain on the concentration camp. I really did have to take a break through this section, in particular. In the same way, A Little Life, moved and wrecked me, this story captured my heart and made Harlan one of the most special characters I've read.
I'm thankful that I read this one this year.
July 26, 2016
Wow. I almost quit this book but I am glad I didn’t. This book is really touched my soul. I have never given much thought to black people in the context of World War II period as most of the narrative revolves around the Jewish Experience. This is the most detailed accounting I’ve personally read about a real black person captured and sent to a concentration camp.
Harlan Elliot grew up in that 1920’s period where music was going through a revolution. Harlan, his best friend Leo “Lizard” Rubenstein “and their bandmates got an opportunity to travel abroad to Paris and perform.
Harlan and Lizard were captured by the Nazi’s when Paris was invaded in 1940, and they were sent to the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Five long years later Harlan made it out but Lizard didn’t survive and Harlan’s life was forever changed.
The latter half of Harlan’s story portrayed a wounded soul. This story was painful yet informative. Disturbing yet rousing. At times, I wanted to stop, but I couldn’t bring myself to halt. The author’s use of imagery and prose leaves the reader feeling raw at times, but also mesmerized with the portrayal of the period’s musicality.
There were other subplots in this story but Harlan’s experience was the centerpiece. It was written with care and I was left astonished by the time I was done. This is Historical Fiction done well. I appreciate the author sharing this story and giving voice to a marginalized segment of the 1920-40’s era. This book wasn’t a flowers and candy read, but it was engaging, informative and inspirational.
*Special Thanks to Perseus/PGW/Legato via by Edelweiss for the e-arc given in exchange for an honest review
Harlan Elliot grew up in that 1920’s period where music was going through a revolution. Harlan, his best friend Leo “Lizard” Rubenstein “and their bandmates got an opportunity to travel abroad to Paris and perform.
Harlan and Lizard were captured by the Nazi’s when Paris was invaded in 1940, and they were sent to the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Five long years later Harlan made it out but Lizard didn’t survive and Harlan’s life was forever changed.
The latter half of Harlan’s story portrayed a wounded soul. This story was painful yet informative. Disturbing yet rousing. At times, I wanted to stop, but I couldn’t bring myself to halt. The author’s use of imagery and prose leaves the reader feeling raw at times, but also mesmerized with the portrayal of the period’s musicality.
There were other subplots in this story but Harlan’s experience was the centerpiece. It was written with care and I was left astonished by the time I was done. This is Historical Fiction done well. I appreciate the author sharing this story and giving voice to a marginalized segment of the 1920-40’s era. This book wasn’t a flowers and candy read, but it was engaging, informative and inspirational.
*Special Thanks to Perseus/PGW/Legato via by Edelweiss for the e-arc given in exchange for an honest review
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May 9, 2016She has done it again! I have read 7 of McFadden's 15 novels and every time I finish one, I sit in awe of her gift. The Book of Harlan is a book that takes the reader through the history (roughly 57 years) of not only a man but also Black culture. From Macon, Georgia to New York City, to France, to Germany, and back to the States, the reader is thrust into the life of Harlan will have a difficult time pulling away from all that happens in this 342 page novel. Now my charge is to read the rest of her books.
September 23, 2018
Wow! I will first say that I don't read much historical fiction at all. The Book of Harlan was amazing to me. I love how McFadden wove this story together. I loved all the characters in this book but Lizard was my favorite. The themes in this book are remarkable! I'm looking forward to passing this book on to my son who loves historical fiction. Definitely looking forward to discussing this with my book group at brunch today!
October 26, 2024
I learned about it through one of my book clubs LFPC. It was a monthly read back in 2017. I picked this book up for a variety of reasons. I've owned it for a number of years and hadn't read it. I am actively trying to clean up my tbr mountain. I knew the main character was a prisoner of war. It's almost November and my choices on book consumption usually includes a few books about veterans. It has won several book awards. Bernice McFadden is a respected author, and I hadn't read any of her books. Happy to report to believe the hype! Though not a story about veterans, it was an excellent historical novel showcasing what life was like for a Black "everyman" during the 20's to the 70s. A family saga of sorts. McFadden is excellent at creating and showcasing the time periods. Though the story spanned decades, the reader always understood what timeframe we were reading about without McFadden specifically stating it. Kind of brilliant that in these 300+ pages, she was able to span decades and not feel rushed. Her characters are engaging She is a compelling writer! This book was really good! Immersive! Beautifully written! Fascinating!
4.5ish Stars
Listened to the audiobook. As always, Robin Miles was amazing!
4.5ish Stars
Listened to the audiobook. As always, Robin Miles was amazing!
April 8, 2021
This novel tells the story of an African American named Harlan, born in Macon in 1917, grew up in the 1930's New York Harlem, became a jazz musician, was in Paris during the 1940's German invasion, survived five years in Buchenwald, returned the USA after the war, and after a slow recovery of his health was able to enact revenge on his German wartime persecutor. The story incorporates historical events, details, and famous people within its plot to portray life during this era thus allowing this book to be classed as historical fiction. However the plot ending, though relished by some readers as due justice delivered, is pure fiction.
The part of the story that takes place in 1930s Harlem is imaginatively based on the author's grandfather, but her father never knew or met his father (her grandfather), and all that she knows about him is his birth certificate, census data, and a few newspaper articles. The part of the story that takes place in Buchenwald is inspired by the book Germany's Black Holocaust 1890 to 1945, by Firpo W. Carr.
The character of Harlan is portrayed in this book as a philandering womanizer, careless with his words and actions, and frequent user of marijuana and liquor. This conforms with the stereotype of the jazz musicians of that era. Part of the story includes his impregnating a young teenage girl from Barbados and never learning about the birth of the resulting child. To the extent this story is based on true events, I assume that child represents the author's father.
The part of the story that takes place in 1930s Harlem is imaginatively based on the author's grandfather, but her father never knew or met his father (her grandfather), and all that she knows about him is his birth certificate, census data, and a few newspaper articles. The part of the story that takes place in Buchenwald is inspired by the book Germany's Black Holocaust 1890 to 1945, by Firpo W. Carr.
The character of Harlan is portrayed in this book as a philandering womanizer, careless with his words and actions, and frequent user of marijuana and liquor. This conforms with the stereotype of the jazz musicians of that era. Part of the story includes his impregnating a young teenage girl from Barbados and never learning about the birth of the resulting child. To the extent this story is based on true events, I assume that child represents the author's father.
May 22, 2016
4.5 stars. great read. this book was very detailed and fast paced. Its one of those books once you pick it up, you wont be able to put it down. my only issue with the story was I wanted closure to Gwen and the twin boys. that part felt rushed to me. Also, at the end of the story I really wished the author would have let Harlan tell his story in full detail of how he killed Ilse Koch also known as Andrew Mailer.
After reading this story I really want to do some research on blacks during the Holocaust. McFadden brings to light a topic that I never thought existed.
I am a huge fan of this author's work. Her writing style is flawless and effortless.
After reading this story I really want to do some research on blacks during the Holocaust. McFadden brings to light a topic that I never thought existed.
I am a huge fan of this author's work. Her writing style is flawless and effortless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2016
Can we say six stars? This is Bernice L. McFadden's best book ever! Her prose is stunning, gliding over an epic of horrific proportions.
We meet Harlan's parents Sam Elliot, and Emma Robinson before he was conceived, while Emma was too innocent to protect herself. But they did the best they could, leaving Harlan with his doting grandmother while the young couple goes off seeking their fortune from Macon to Louisville to Michigan, returning home to Macon when Emma's father Tenant Robinson dies. When Tenant's estate is settled, Emma and Sam move on to Harlem where Emma's best friend Lucille a famous blues singer, has settled in a large home, with rooms to spare.
McFadden weaves her story around historical facts of life in Harlem with famous singers and musicians of the 1920's. When Emma and Sam go back to get Harlan to join them in Harlem, he is at first defiant, but goes with his parents to New York where he discovers a life he never imagined. When Harlan learns to play the guitar, Lucille invites him to go on the road with her. But Harlan, who never has any personal discipline was often late, or drunk, until Lucille has to fire him and send him home.
Harlan lacked discipline, but he did love the music enough to form a jazz band. He found his partner in music in one Leo "Lizard" Rubenstein, who could play trumpet like Satchmo. Harlan called him his "brother from another mother." The band was invited to play in L'Escadrille in Montmarte in Paris. And so they went. Harlan, still lacking discipline, had a wild partying time in Paris, not aware of the Nazi invasion of France. (No spoilers here, it's in the book-blurb.)
McFadden continues the heartbreaking part of the story, leaving me in tears. The story ends in the 1960's, the Viet Nam War, "riots" in the cities, Imamu Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones), "free love." And a wonderful denouement.
We meet Harlan's parents Sam Elliot, and Emma Robinson before he was conceived, while Emma was too innocent to protect herself. But they did the best they could, leaving Harlan with his doting grandmother while the young couple goes off seeking their fortune from Macon to Louisville to Michigan, returning home to Macon when Emma's father Tenant Robinson dies. When Tenant's estate is settled, Emma and Sam move on to Harlem where Emma's best friend Lucille a famous blues singer, has settled in a large home, with rooms to spare.
McFadden weaves her story around historical facts of life in Harlem with famous singers and musicians of the 1920's. When Emma and Sam go back to get Harlan to join them in Harlem, he is at first defiant, but goes with his parents to New York where he discovers a life he never imagined. When Harlan learns to play the guitar, Lucille invites him to go on the road with her. But Harlan, who never has any personal discipline was often late, or drunk, until Lucille has to fire him and send him home.
Harlan lacked discipline, but he did love the music enough to form a jazz band. He found his partner in music in one Leo "Lizard" Rubenstein, who could play trumpet like Satchmo. Harlan called him his "brother from another mother." The band was invited to play in L'Escadrille in Montmarte in Paris. And so they went. Harlan, still lacking discipline, had a wild partying time in Paris, not aware of the Nazi invasion of France. (No spoilers here, it's in the book-blurb.)
McFadden continues the heartbreaking part of the story, leaving me in tears. The story ends in the 1960's, the Viet Nam War, "riots" in the cities, Imamu Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones), "free love." And a wonderful denouement.
October 18, 2023
3.5*
Quick read (however, this month I was very busy, so it took some time to finish this book). I loved that the chapters were short and that the author focused on the action rather than the tiny details. On the other hand, one may criticize this rushed tempo for being superficial and glancing over horrific historical events (segregation in the South, Buchenwald concentration camp, the rising crime rate of Harlem).
This novel really packs on a lot of material. Harlan Elliot is the son of two black Southerners from Macon (Georgia), but in his teens he moves with his parents to Harlem. Jazz is blooming and I could even hear the music while reading this book. Unfortunately, Harlan's innocence is quickly corrupted when he hangs out and tours with musicians. His music career takes him to Europe which is in the middle of WW2. I will stop here and just say that WW2 is just a part of this novel. After the war we still follow Harlan's life into the seventies.
This novel was inspired by the author's family. I mainly read this book to find out about blacks who were caught by the Nazis during the war. However, there is so much more to this novel. There is even a little about white people passing as black during the jazz age, because they would be taken more seriously as musicians. My first thought was, Rachel Dolezal, but I guess it's more complex than that. Unfortunately, I didn't like the ending. It was confusing and I also expected a re-appearance of Gwen and the boys, but it never happened. I guess I was looking for a bit more substance, but at the same time I was enjoying the short chapters and wanted to just see what happens next. A quick read for lovers of historical fiction and African American literature.
Quick read (however, this month I was very busy, so it took some time to finish this book). I loved that the chapters were short and that the author focused on the action rather than the tiny details. On the other hand, one may criticize this rushed tempo for being superficial and glancing over horrific historical events (segregation in the South, Buchenwald concentration camp, the rising crime rate of Harlem).
This novel really packs on a lot of material. Harlan Elliot is the son of two black Southerners from Macon (Georgia), but in his teens he moves with his parents to Harlem. Jazz is blooming and I could even hear the music while reading this book. Unfortunately, Harlan's innocence is quickly corrupted when he hangs out and tours with musicians. His music career takes him to Europe which is in the middle of WW2. I will stop here and just say that WW2 is just a part of this novel. After the war we still follow Harlan's life into the seventies.
This novel was inspired by the author's family. I mainly read this book to find out about blacks who were caught by the Nazis during the war. However, there is so much more to this novel. There is even a little about white people passing as black during the jazz age, because they would be taken more seriously as musicians. My first thought was, Rachel Dolezal, but I guess it's more complex than that. Unfortunately, I didn't like the ending. It was confusing and I also expected a re-appearance of Gwen and the boys, but it never happened. I guess I was looking for a bit more substance, but at the same time I was enjoying the short chapters and wanted to just see what happens next. A quick read for lovers of historical fiction and African American literature.
February 22, 2023
Wow! What a read! I love historical fiction based around true events, especially when very well researched. I also love epic stories that spans over decades. Growing with Harlan and this cast of characters made for an enjoyable, albeit an emotional read. Whew! This family couldn’t catch a break!
August 17, 2025
I listened to this one on audio, and found that format acceptable.
The story begins with the focus on Harlan's parents, eventually changing focus to Harlan's life as he ages. Following Harlan through important historical events gives an interesting perspective on how cultural aspects affect the lives of many on a deep level. We all like to tell ourselves that we have agency in where our lives go, and make choices accordingly, but often find out that just around the corner of those decisions lies invisible "fate"...things not imagined, but inescapable.
That this story was influenced by McFadden's ancestral history makes it all the more touching. While fiction often mirrors actual reality (despite the disclaimers in books), to know that with certainty brings the story up a notch for me. It makes every stomach-drop and horror reaction that much more salient. Conversely, it enhances the appreciation for those times when a character is tasting the sweetness of life as they experience it. This novel addresses some of our worst history, particularly for POC. Books like this help us forever remember this shameful reality to encourage us create a new one.
The story begins with the focus on Harlan's parents, eventually changing focus to Harlan's life as he ages. Following Harlan through important historical events gives an interesting perspective on how cultural aspects affect the lives of many on a deep level. We all like to tell ourselves that we have agency in where our lives go, and make choices accordingly, but often find out that just around the corner of those decisions lies invisible "fate"...things not imagined, but inescapable.
That this story was influenced by McFadden's ancestral history makes it all the more touching. While fiction often mirrors actual reality (despite the disclaimers in books), to know that with certainty brings the story up a notch for me. It makes every stomach-drop and horror reaction that much more salient. Conversely, it enhances the appreciation for those times when a character is tasting the sweetness of life as they experience it. This novel addresses some of our worst history, particularly for POC. Books like this help us forever remember this shameful reality to encourage us create a new one.
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