The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store - James McBride

A young deaf black boy in Pottstown Pennsylvania in the 1920's and 30's is hidden from the authorities who want to put him in an institution as feeble-minded.  The downtrodden community of Chicken Hill, made up of African Americans, Jews and immigrants, band together to keep him safe.   

I've done research in Pennsylvania for genealogy in the area north of Pottstown, not knowing the setting of this book and was intrigued when I recognized the references to places in Pennsylvania.  I checked it out because it had received the Kirkus prize, a book award in 2023. It's based on the true makeup of the town at that time though the characters are fiction.

The author shows how disconnected and yet supportive a community can be, despite their differences. He reveals the misunderstandings and biases based on race and culture with gentle humor and heartbreaking consequences.

 I got bogged down in parts with the detailed descriptions used to illustrate the different perspectives of the townspeople and their living situations.  I sometimes lost track of the myriad of characters, where they had come from, and how they related to one another.  After finishing it and stepping back, the broad arch of the story was clearer.  A good story that should be read slowly.

Published: 2023  Read: January 2025  Genre: Fiction

The Hummingbird - Stephen Kiernan

Finally, a wonderful read!  It's been a slow year without much sure-fire reads.  This book was very satisfying.

This is the story of a hospice nurse who goes to care for an elderly history professor who is dying of cancer.  Her caring spirit is tested by his sarcastic, negative banter.  When she returns home after work, she must deal with a husband suffering from PTSD after having served in Iraq multiple tours.
She breaks down the barriers built by the professor by reading his unpublished manuscript that describes the bombing of the Oregon coast by a Japanese pilot during WWII and the subsequent relationship of the town and the pilot in the post war aftermath.

Her compassion is absolutely inspiring.  The author lets us know how she feels yet contrasts it with how she reacts, both to the professor and her husband.  There are lessons to be learned here.  Highly recommended read, my pick for best so far this year.

Published: 2015  Read: May 2016  Genre: Fiction