Harlem Shuffle

After the grimness of Underground Railroad and Nickel Boys, I had said that I would not read anymore Colson Whitehead, however I was persuaded to give Harlem Shuffle a go on the promise that it was nowhere near as dark. And that is certainly the case. The novel is split into three sections, each a story set at a different time within the life of Ray Carney, a furniture seller with a couple of dodgy side hustles. Ray makes for an intriguing central character and I loved seeing Harlem flow around him. Perhaps Harlem Shuffle wasn't always quite as gripping as I had hoped, but it was still a good book for me and I was glad to have been able to borrow a cooy.

I mean it was fine. What's there to say. Quite well written, don't get me wrong. But I found the three acts all lacking action, intrigue, and a consistent through line. None of the characters were memorable or distinct in a way that impacted the story, including the main character. They all seemed to serve as a backdrop for a story that was was not interesting enough to stand up on its own. It wasn't a bad read at all, just wholly unmemorable.

Perfect writing. Great characters. Interesting and exciting story. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and now looking forward to the follow-up book.