Harlem Shuffle

Heist. Some fiction writers return to places, characters, or time periods they’ve presented in earlier works. Colson Whitehead starts fresh with time, place, and character as if there is no connection to his earlier novels. The backdrop for his novel titled, Harlem Shuffle, is Harlem in the 1960s. The protagonist, Ray Carney, sells furniture, which Whitehead describes with glee, and he fences stolen goods on the side. The plot involves a heist, and we learn about power in the community, and tension in families as the line between right and wrong meanders. Whitehead’s prose soars in this novel, and his love for Harlem infuses every page. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to see when and where Whitehead takes readers next. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase Harlem Shuffle from amazon.com.