Set against the 1960s, Harlem Shuffle is an excursion into the double life of Ray Carney. To his family he's an upstanding family man trying to get his family by with his furniture store. However, his cousin Freddie pulls him into shadier illegal affairs. Vivid historical scenes grace the pages as shakedowns, threats and struggles come from all angles.

I want to say that I enjoyed this one but it didn't click for me. While I liked the narrative smoothness of Dion Graham, I was not able to invest myself with the plot or characters. I tried reading the digital ARC to start and ended up putting it down as a DNF. When PRH Audio had this in their line-up I wanted to try again. Graham was a godsend. He did a wonderful job voicing each character distinctly. He brought so much more emotion than I was able to while reading on my own.

The audio definitely helped me finish but it also made why I wasn't connecting more apparent to me. The plot constantly splits off into side stories, very minor characters and disconnected thoughts. The main storyline itself is almost buried in the overgrowth of these changes. We all know Whitehead has a way with words and while I found his writing style poignant and well researched, the execution didn't hit the mark for me the way I had hoped.

I am in the minority for this one but I have loved his previous works. I do think that readers who enjoy Whitehead's novels and these genres should give this novel a read either way. There are fantastic reviews for this book and you never know how a novel will resonate with you until you read it.

Thank you to @doubledaybooks & PRH Audio for the opportunity to review for an honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

A great walk through another day and time. Well developed characters and storyline - but I just never felt involved. Really dark and sad.

Harlem Shuffle started off strong. It has a 50s noir/crime novel vibe that I enjoyed. Unfortunately, it feels like that never really turns into anything. The characters go from intriguing to dull as the novel slogs on to a drab conclusion. There’s a depressing sense of inevitability and pointlessness. What starts off as a crime novel devolves into a work of contemporary fiction, following the life of a man who starts out “a little bent” and becomes more crooked over time without any sense of remorse. It’s just life, and by the end, I didn’t care about the fate of any of the characters.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nichol Boys, Colson Whitehead now offers up his thought-provoking Harlem Shuffle.

Ray Carney has opened a furniture store and prides himself in his success despite struggling to pay the monthly rent. With a wife, daughter, and a baby on the way, Ray has a soft heart for other struggling young couples and is always willing to give them a price break or easy credit terms even if it means he takes in less money or risks not receiving monthly payments. Ray is a complex character like several others in the book. He sees himself as an honest, hard-working man striving to move his family to a better neighborhood. He hopes to work his way into the black elite, like his wife’s father, Leland Jones, a prosperous Harlem accountant. However, Leland Jones brags about how he can “get you off the hook” with his “collection of loopholes and dodges.” Just as Ray Carney doesn’t see anything wrong in his father-in-law’s business practices, he doesn’t ask questions when Cousin Freddie wheels in a used TV now and then for Ray to sell. When priced right, the TVs sold quickly. “Carney was only slightly bent when it came to being crooked,” the book tells readers.
When Slate’s Laura Miller asked Whitehead if his books have any unifying theme, he mentioned one he said he had never spoken of before: “weird jobs.” In Harlem Shuffle, Ray Carney is a fence. “I liked the idea of someone who is a reluctant fence, trying to reconcile his straight-world side and his crooked side,” the author added. It doesn’t take long for Cousin Freddie to draw Ray reluctantly into Miami Joe’s planned heist at Hotel Theresa, known as the Harlem Ritz. Ray tries to back out, to get Freddie to send Miami Joe to someone else, but circumstances decide otherwise.

Whitehead divides the novel into three parts: “The Truck 1959, ” “Dorvay 1961,” and “Cool It Baby 1964,” each divided into eight or nine chapters. The titles of the parts gradually become clear. The 1964 Harlem Race Riot serves as a backdrop for the final section, yet Carney’s life, little affected by the riot, remains the primary focus.

Several times throughout the novel, readers see Harlem and New York City change. At one point, Whitehead mentions the story of Manhattan Island having been “bought for twenty-seven bucks from the Indians” and how that money “went a lot further in those days.” At another, he reminds readers of how “the neighborhood tipped over from Jews and Italians and became the domain of Southern blacks and West Indians” as the earlier immigrant groups succeeded and moved up in life.

Without giving away details, Whitehead pulls everything together in the end, giving Harlem Shuffle a jaw-dropping conclusion with ramifications in the coming decades.

Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday/Penguin Random House for an advance reader copy of another stunner by Colson Whitehead.

3 stars

I am a huge fan of Whitehead's writing, and I have found myself truly gripped by the characters, settings, and events. This is why I was thrilled to jump in to _Harlem Shuffle_. What shocks me is that my feelings are so different about this latest installment.

Ray Carney, the m.c., is a family man and small business owner with a secret past and an uncertain future, and he is the focal point of this novel, which takes place in the late '50s and early '60s. The sense of place is spectacular. It's impossible not to feel like you're right there with the characters experiencing the culture, sights, and general sensory overload of the spaces (and times) they inhabit. Ray is also an intriguing character at the start; it's clear that he's on the cusp of determining what kind of liminal space he'll inhabit. Will he be the upstanding entrepreneur, or will he move from dabbling in to dominating a local criminal element?

Every part of this sounds like the setup for a five-star novel on my end, but I could never really get my footing. In what should have felt - even just thematically - quite fast paced, I often felt like lengthy sections just dragged. I also never got fully invested in the characters: even Ray. This is an unquestionably well written novel with a beautifully developed setting, but it just fell a bit flat for me. I hope others will find this more engaging, and I know I'll still be eager to read whatever Whitehead produces next.

Great place setting and character development as Colson Whitehead carries readers to 1960 Harlem and the world there is very much alive. HARLEM SHUFFLE describes a two-sided world of making ends meet, one by the front door, the other by the back. At any given moment, the movement between these worlds is either subtle or jarring, but it is constant. Whitehead’s constant in his writing is his ability to make his readers feel immersed in his stories; this book continues that wonderful ability. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

It’s 1959 and Ray Carney is the owner of Carney’s Furniture on 125th Street in Harlem. He is a proud Black businessman. While his father was a career criminal, Ray worked hard to avoid following in his footsteps. But he’s living in a world that has made that nearly impossible. The neighborhood police expect an envelope of money monthly as do the local gangsters, all claiming to provide protection. It’s the cost of doing business. While Ray’s store is a legitimate one, he reconciles that it is fine to sell merchandise that has “fallen off the truck.” When his cousin Freddie gets him involved in a jewel heist at the nearby Hotel Theresa, it becomes harder for Ray to continue to believe he is running a clean operation. Through it all, Ray’s main goal is to save money for a nice apartment on Riverside Drive and provide for his family.

Colson Whitehead’s latest book is a crime novel. But it’s more than that. Within the criminal escapades of it’s well-developed characters, there are social messages to be found. Ray is unable to join the Dumas Club, the prestigious social club of his lighter-skinned father-in-law, as he strives to become part of Harlem’s Black business elite. And are these lawyers and bankers really any less of a crook that he is? The lines of distinction are blurred. The book takes us through the 1964 Harlem riots and continued injustices as Ray’s life continues to get more complicated.

Harlem Shuffle satisfies with its creative cast of criminals, heists and cons while leaving readers with a lot to think about.

Harlem Shuffle is the first Colson Whitehead book I've read, and I was immediately drawn in by his skill in pulling the reader into the time, place, and culture with subtlety and authenticity. Unlike so many other authors writing about the 20th century, Whitehead consistently hit the right notes through his main character Ray Carney.

Carney is complex and relatable in his desire to want better for himself, his family, his neighbors, and his neighborhood. Becoming the man he wants to be, though, turns out to tempt him to be the man he doesn't. Whitehead unravels Carney in such a way that you truly understand the choices Carney makes, good and bad.

There are beautiful layers to the stories told within Harlem Shuffle. An extremely well crafted novel on all levels is quite rare, and this is one of the best I've read.

Colson Whitehead brings us to Harlem in the late 1950s and early ‘60s: a time of contrasts - of upward mobility and riots, hope and the proliferation of drugs. It was an era when the power structure of post- war Harlem was being shuffled and it was unclear who was on top at any particular moment.
Ray Carney owns a furniture store but, as so many others we meet, has a side hustle. And a past and old family relationships that make the desire to succeed for him and his family complicated.
The story flows (as Colson Whitehead’s beautiful writing always does) from highs to lows to highs and on again. The book reminds us of the turbulence of that time in New York generally and in Harlem specifically and gives us a true understanding of the culture that only insiders know. As someone who grew up in NY at that time, the details of events are startlingly accurate, the result of careful and caring research.
The story portrays a time closer in history than Whitehead’s other books, but is no less enlightening as to the struggles and triumphs of the Black experience in America. And, sadly, history’s strong parallels to today.

Although was promoted as a story about a heist, it seems more to be a story about growth and deciding to be like the family you know or bring your own person.
Colson is an amazing writer but as with his other works, sometimes the beautiful words got in the way of progress of the story. A fun ride with a flat ending.

An eye opening view of life in Harlem during that time period. Well written and thought provoking, showing the two sides of the main character, the one he presents to his family and the general public, and the other less visible side, doing what he has to do to provide.

Colson Whitehead has done it again. As with Underground Railroad and Nickel Boys, Harlem Shuffle is a historical novel with engaging characters, this time set against the backdrop on the 1950's and 1960's in Harlem. Highly recommended

It took me a little bit to really get into Harlem Shuffle. But once I did, I found something special. I did not think it was funny. Or a crime caper, as I have seen some people say. It felt like a love letter to Harlem and to Family.

Colson Whitehead brings a story of 1950-60 Harlem and the culture and crime in the city. Beautifully descriptive and poetic. You get an insight into wanting to break the circle and be the guy doing the right thing, but see how easy it is to be pulled into something you know isn’t right. Multi layered story about family. Excellent book for book clubs with so much to discuss.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead is a very highly recommended historical fiction novel set in Harlem during the early 1960's.

Ray Carney makes a living for his family selling furniture, some gently used. It is 1959 and he and his wife Elizabeth are expecting their second child. They hope to be able to move into a bigger apartment someday. Despite his background he strives to generally live an upstanding life - with a few exceptions when his cousin Freddy gives him some random stolen item to sell. Then his life begins to change when Freddy tells a group planning to rob the Hotel Theresa, the "Waldorf of Harlem," that Ray can act as a fence for the stolen items. Once Ray's name is out there, the struggle begins as a group of several different underworld figures enter his life, including the mobster Chink Montague, WWII veteran Pepper, the purple-suited Miami Joe, among others and he begins leading a double life. Suddenly Ray needs to decide how much loyalty he owes to Freddy versus his care for his family and business.

Whitehead shows amazing skill and care in creating his characters and setting them into a specific time and place in history, from 1959 to the Harlem riots of 1964. The atmosphere and setting makes you feel as if you were there, in 1960's Harlem and experiencing everything along with Ray. The compelling plot follows Ray's dilemmas in this family and crime novel that can be funny, serious, and somber, but is engaging from start to finish. It is an entertaining novel that captures the time period and lovingly tells the story of one man and his family. The writing is sumptuous and memorable.

Ray is an appealing protagonist and you will like him, always hoping he finds a way through the dilemmas placed in his path. The tests of his character are numerous and what Ray learns along the way is just as important as what he learned in the past. In a real sense Harlem is another character in the story as Whitehead lovingly captures it during this period in time.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2021/09/harlem-shuffle.html
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I thoroughly enjoyed Whitehead's newest novel. Set in Harlem in the 1960s, it's full of drama and crime, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps the whole thing moving forward in a brisk fashion. I've read some reviews that call this lighthearted, but I didn't find that to be the case, as it covers a lot of heavy topics, including racism and riots, police brutality, poverty, and moral dilemmas. Highly recommended. I was provided a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This 1950-60s crime drama from Colson Whitehead continues his exploration of African American experiences. A wonderful read, seemingly light, but full of depth of character and culture.

DNF @25%. I think the pacing and time period of this one just isn't for me, and it wouldn't be fair of me to push through an objectively wonderful book because of my own mood. Definitely recommend to fans of the author, setting, and historical era.

Ray Carney is working as hard as he can to make a better life- and get an apartment on Riverside Drive- for himself, his wife Elizabeth, and their daughter May. He has a furniture store and a small side line as a fence. His cousin Freddie, oh Freddie, can't stay away from trouble and he gets involved with a robbery, he sucks Ray into a problem that will haunt and hover over him throughout the rest of this wonderful novel. Ray, while a generous man in some ways, is also vindictive and when he is ripped off by a man who appears to the world to be an upstanding citizen, he contrives to bring him down. The world, and Harlem, is changing and Ray works hard to keep what he's got. He's an amazing character but so are all the others, especially Pepper, a hard man who has a soft side for children and Ray. Freddie's relationship with Linus, a Park Avenue heir, has a spiraling impact on everyone. There is wonderful imagery. Whitehead's storytelling and gorgeous prose pulled me in immediately and kept me reading past when I should have put it down. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A terrific read that I can't recommend more highly.

Ray Carney, wanting to get away from his family history of crime, opens a gently used furniture store in Harlem. He sees himself as a middleman to the to and from of objects, a churn of property, and he was just the facilitator of that churn...and if some of those objects come from nefarious means, how is he to blame?
But when his cousin names him to a shady new group of friends who plan to run the Hotel Theresa, all of a sudden, Ray's shop is frequented by assorted lowlifes and shady cops. He looks for a better life, a better home, but this is no way to get it. He has to work hard to get himself, his cousin, and his shop back out of trouble.
I loved the descriptions of different areas and neighborhoods in Harlem in the 60s from Ray's perspective. I like how he'd choose a house or apartment and imagine his family living there. I really respected Ray for trying to provide for his family in the mostly legal way and get away from his father's criminal ways.
I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.