RaveNational Book ReviewIn the hands of Whitehead, Harlem is a stunning motif representing a cultural mecca of intellect, art, and business ... Whitehead skillfully weaves a complex tapestry of Harlem’s racial issues ... Harlem Shuffle exudes authorial power and profound insight into the American experiment. In this multi-layered crime narrative, Whitehead presents complex characters who embody the complexity of their social milieu. Like America, Harlem’s stratified beauty is symbolic of the constant tension between those who are corrupt and those who are trying to lead a respectable existence. Ultimately, the power of Whitehead’s mixed-genre narrative is his exploration and insight into the duplicitous mindset of the American consciousness.
Colson Whitehead
RaveThe National Book ReviewWith this new novel, Whitehead forces us to contend with a criminal justice system that is more about profit than actual reform ... Whitehead continues to triumph in a literary space of his own invention ... The Nickel Boys is destined to be another Colson Whitehead classic. The terse prose keeps a steady and suspenseful pace, as new forms of systemic harm keep emerging. Whitehead’s new work once again demonstrates his greatest talent: crafting a memorable story in a way that forces America to listen.
Colson Whitehead
PositiveThe National Book ReviewWhitehead forces us to contend with a criminal justice system that is more about profit than actual reform ... Whitehead continues to triumph in a literary space of his own invention ... destined to be another Colson Whitehead classic. The terse prose keeps a steady and suspenseful pace, as new forms of systemic harm keep emerging. Whitehead’s new work once again demonstrates his greatest talent: crafting a memorable story in a way that forces America to listen.
