Play Book Tag discussion

I read this for my F2F bookclub and we all loved it. The characters were all interesting, especially the loveable but flawed main character, Sportcoat. Then there's the Italian mobster, Elephant; the lady assassin Haroldeen, the 104 year-old with all the answers, Sister Paul; and the cop, Potts, who is trying to do the right thing in the face of police corruption. All of the characters have their own storylines and then,,,, their lives begin to converge. All of these storylines are happening in Brooklyn in 1969, where life is hard for these people of color living in the "projects." They learn to take care of each other and support their church community. McBride has packed so much into this book! With humor and creativity, he tells a story that still speaks to the challenges of a racist world and yet offers hope. 5 stars for me!

Nothing here would change. Life in the Cause would lurch forward as it always did. You worked, slaved, fought off the rats, the mice, the roaches, the ants, the Housing Authority, the cops, the muggers, and now the drug dealers. You lived a life of disappointment and suffering, of too-hot summers and too-cold winters, surviving in apartments with crummy stoves that didn’t work and windows that didn’t open and toilets that didn’t flush and lead paint that flecked off the walls and poisoned your children, living in awful, dreary apartments built to house Italians who came to America to work the docks, which had emptied of boats, ships, tankers, dreams, money, and opportunity the moment the colored and the Latinos arrived. And still New York blamed you for all its problems.

Great review, Shelly! I loved this book as well.

This is on the list for my book club that I run here locally. The folks are starting to say that they want to read it. I’m really glad your book club loved it too!

Oh Shelly - great review for a wonderful book. It has won so many awards and your review is spot on. McBride creates such wonderful characters. Did you know that he grew up in the projects in NY? He did so he knows these people, lived with them. Thanks for the reminder of so many folks and thanks for the review. peace, janz

Great review Shelly! This one's been on my TBR for a while and will probably be my pick if African American ends up as our tag next month.

I really liked this one too. Nice review!

I just ordered this from one of my local indie bookstores ... along with several other books on my wishlist as an early birthday present to myself.

Theresa (and others) this is my read if African American is the winner for August.

Amy wrote: "Theresa (and others) this is my read if African American is the winner for August."

I think it will be mine too

I absolutely loved this book.

The New York Times Book Review podcast interviewed McBride when his book came out and he is such a humorous curmudgeon... at one point he is bitching about names these days and says something to the effect of "Beyonce!? That's not a name!" 😂
He is also in a jazz band. Forget the instrument though.

This is one of my two favourite books by McBride.