Highlights
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Colson Whitehead, writes another dazzling thriller this year! Whitehead's 2021 book is titled 'Harlem Shuffle', a family drama set in 1960s New York.
'Harlem Shuffle' revolves around the life of a furniture salesman Ray Carney and it traces his journey from a middle class family-man, who is juggling loans and installments, to the prominent member of a grand heist. The life and times of Ray Carney are a delight to read as we see him go awry in his way of life under the bad influence of his cousin Freddie, for quick money. And that's how Ray gets involved with a gang that pulls off heists.
Primarily depending on the protagonist’s double life and how he manages both, the novel also has hilarious takes on street fights and slightly mocks hard core action thrillers. It also simultaneously explores the question of morals, ethics and how far can they be pragmatically employed by a common man who is struggling on a daily basis. While Whitehead abstains from didactic jargon or narration at all times, he clearly marks the ‘illusion of advancement’ that people fall prey to. A treat for readers of all ages, 'Harlem Shuffle' is a joyful ride that features a heist at the ‘Hotel Theresa', the Waldorf of Harlem and Ray maintaining his image as a decent furniture salesman.
How critics view the book:
Ian Williams writes for The Guardian, "The double Pulitzer winner turns to crime with a tale of 1960s New York gangsters, rendered with superbly observed, affectionate, page-turning brio".
Janet Maslin writes for The New York Times, "Though it’s a slightly slow starter, “Harlem Shuffle” has dialogue that crackles, a final third that nearly explodes, hangouts that invite even if they’re Chock Full o’ Nuts and characters you won’t forget even if they don’t stick around for more than a few pages."
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