We are thrilled to announce our November book club selection and event details! This month, we will be reading “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by the award-winning author James McBride.
About the Book: “In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new housing development, the last thing they expected to uncover was a human skeleton. Who the skeleton was and how it got buried there were just two of the long-held secrets that had been kept for decades by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side, sharing ambitions and sorrows.
Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, which served the neighborhood’s quirky collection of blacks and European immigrants, helped by her husband, Moshe, a Romanian-born theater owner who integrated the town’s first dance hall. When the state came looking for a deaf black child, claiming that the boy needed to be institutionalized, Chicken Hill’s residents—roused by Chona’s kindness and the courage of a local black worker named Nate Timblin—banded together to keep the boy safe.
As the novel unfolds, it becomes clear how much the people of Chicken Hill have to struggle to survive at the margins of white Christian America and how damaging bigotry, hypocrisy, and deceit can be to a community. When the truth is revealed about the skeleton, the boy, and the part the town’s establishment played in both, McBride shows that it is love and community—heaven and earth—that ultimately sustain us.”
Event Details:
- 🗓 Date: November 29
- 🕖 Time: 7 PM
- 💻 Location: Via Zoom
Discussion Highlights:
- The intertwined lives of the residents of Chicken Hill
- Themes of community, survival, and resilience
- The impact of bigotry, hypocrisy, and deceit on marginalized communities
- James McBride’s portrayal of historical and social contexts
Why You Should Join:
- Engaging Discussions: Share your insights and hear diverse perspectives on the book’s themes and characters.
- Community Connection: Connect with other passionate readers and members of the Black Women Connect community.
- In-Depth Analysis: Delve into the rich storytelling and emotional depth that James McBride brings to his writing.
How to Participate:
- Read the Book: Grab your copy of “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride and immerse yourself in the story.
- RSVP: Register below.
- Engage: Come prepared to share your thoughts, insights, and questions. Your participation makes our book club vibrant and enriching.
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore a heartfelt story while connecting with an amazing community. We look forward to seeing you at the book club meeting!
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.
