James McBride is a great storyteller. This moving tale of Jewish immigrants and African Americans living together in a Depression-era Pennsylvania town was quite the journey. With a large cast of characters, McBride weaves together the story of Chona, an enlightened liberal store owner; her husband Moshe, a Jewish theater owner; Nate, Addie and their ward Dodo, their Black employees and helpers; the racist White citizens of the town of Pottsville; along with a wide-ranging group of family and friends. Much like Deacon King Kong, the story is complicated, winding and somewhat magical. I cried at the end for a world where love, community and racism exist together, each affecting the other.
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