COMMENTS

6 responses to “Senior Planet Book Club: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride”

1. Why do you think the book is named The Heaven and Earth Grocery? What is the significance that it is mentioned numerous times the grocery never makes money, peoples needs are met whether they can pay or not?

   Reply to Jacquelyn May

2. I have been asking myself this question: Does this book have a main character? At first it seemed to me that Chona was the main character, but when she died there was still a lot of the book left. At some moments Moshe seemed more important than some of the others, but he almost disappeared by the end of the book. I hope I am not including too many spoilers in this. All the characters in the book are essential to the plot. I’m looking forward to hearing everyone’s ideas at book club.

   Reply to Jennifer Hale

3. Let me see if I can post this time. Having a problem doing that.

   Reply to Lee Marie

4. I just read heaven and earth grocery store part one. I have read it before but I am reading it closely now! In part one, we meet Moshe, who is a theater owner who befriends people of another race, which goes against his own Jewish friends. He meets and falls in love with Chona,whose family run the heaven and earth grocery store!
   She turns out to be compassionate with everyone ! She has very strong views for a woman of her own time! But everyone comes to love her!

   Reply to Marie Noyes

   1. Thanks for that summary of both Chona and Moshe. I have never tried the commenting before but I want to try here — Do you think Chona’s empathy or inclusiveness is related to the polio she suffered as a young child. It doesn’t get mentioned much after it is introduced but I think the author is showing some pretty deep background of how we are affected by early experiences. What do others think??

      Reply to Richard Puffer

   2. Wonderful, wonderful book. The first time I tried to read the sample, it just didn’t grab me. But the more I read the reviews the more I thought I might’ve missed something. So I went back and started reading it again and I literally have not been able to put it down. It’s so wonderfully written too. The story line isn’t linear and I love the way it gives everyone’s back history as it goes along. Looking forward to chatting with everyone at the end of the month.

      Reply to Jeanne Leslie