Harlem Shuffle
A Novel
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4.1 • 767 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, this gloriously entertaining novel is “fast-paced, keen-eyed and very funny ... about race, power and the history of Harlem all disguised as a thrill-ride crime novel" (San Francisco Chronicle).
"Ray Carney was only slightly bent when it came to being crooked..." To his customers and neighbors on 125th street, Carney is an upstanding salesman of reasonably priced furniture, making a decent life for himself and his family. He and his wife Elizabeth are expecting their second child, and if her parents on Striver's Row don't approve of him or their cramped apartment across from the subway tracks, it's still home.
Few people know he descends from a line of uptown hoods and crooks, and that his façade of normalcy has more than a few cracks in it. Cracks that are getting bigger all the time.
Cash is tight, especially with all those installment-plan sofas, so if his cousin Freddie occasionally drops off the odd ring or necklace, Ray doesn't ask where it comes from. He knows a discreet jeweler downtown who doesn't ask questions, either.
Then Freddie falls in with a crew who plan to rob the Hotel Theresa—the "Waldorf of Harlem"—and volunteers Ray's services as the fence. The heist doesn't go as planned; they rarely do. Now Ray has a new clientele, one made up of shady cops, vicious local gangsters, two-bit pornographers, and other assorted Harlem lowlifes.
Thus begins the internal tussle between Ray the striver and Ray the crook. As Ray navigates this double life, he begins to see who actually pulls the strings in Harlem. Can Ray avoid getting killed, save his cousin, and grab his share of the big score, all while maintaining his reputation as the go-to source for all your quality home furniture needs?
Harlem Shuffle's ingenious story plays out in a beautifully recreated New York City of the early 1960s. It's a family saga masquerading as a crime novel, a hilarious morality play, a social novel about race and power, and ultimately a love letter to Harlem.
But mostly, it's a joy to read, another dazzling novel from the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning Colson Whitehead.
Look for Colson Whitehead’s new novel, Crook Manifesto!
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Who could fault Colson Whitehead for wanting to take a lighthearted breather after his hard-hitting Pulitzer-winning novels The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys? This book introduces Ray Carney, the owner of a respectable furniture store who wants more for his growing family. When his no-account cousin Freddie gets mixed up in an ill-fated hotel heist, Ray discovers he might be pretty good at breaking the law. But, of course, Harlem Shuffle is so much more than a rollicking crime caper—in classic Whitehead style, Ray’s journey from furniture peddler to criminal mastermind is really a story about race, class, family, and ambition. Whitehead immerses us in the sights and sounds of Harlem at the dawn of the ’60s. His writing crackles with wit and energy, and every character reveals unexpected depths. (We want an entire series based around Pepper, the muscle of Ray’s newfound gang.) Like Sag Harbor, his wonderful ’80s-era coming-of-age novel, this is one of Colson Whitehead’s lighter books, but it’s amazingly satisfying.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Two-time Pulitzer winner Whitehead (The Nickel Boys) returns with a sizzling heist novel set in civil rights–era Harlem. It's 1959 and Ray Carney has built an "unlikely kingdom" selling used furniture. A husband, a father, and the son of a man who once worked as muscle for a local crime boss, Carney is "only slightly bent when it to being crooked." But when his cousin Freddie—whose stolen goods Carney occasionally fences through his furniture store—decides to rob the historic Hotel Theresa, a lethal cast of underworld figures enter Carney's life, among them the mobster Chink Montague, "known for his facility with a straight razor"; WWII veteran Pepper; and the murderous, purple-suited Miami Joe, Whitehead's answer to No Country for Old Men's Anton Chigurh. These and other characters force Carney to decide just how bent he wants to be. It's a superlative story, but the most impressive achievement is Whitehead's loving depiction of a Harlem 60 years gone—"that rustling, keening thing of people and concrete"—which lands as detailed and vivid as Joyce's Dublin. Don't be surprised if this one wins Whitehead another major award.
Customer Reviews
See AllEveryday is a Struggle
With “Harlem Shuffle”, Colson Whitehead flexes his range as an author. Placing us in a 1960’s Harlem crime and social drama that shows the beautiful and at the same time gritty sides of the city. Even in this moment in time, Whitehead does not forget the themes that have made his writing so wonderful. Moral inconsistencies and redemption arcs feature throughout the book.
What makes this one even more compelling is the role of family dynamics in the story. Whitehead shows us how blood can be a reminder of where you come from and also an anchor keeping you where you are. That reflective quality makes already hard decisions into lose-lose propositions. For some of our characters being the last one laughing even while dying may be a win in itself.
For those reasons and more Whitehead is proving masterful at revenge stories. Moreover, his fluid narrative style and vivid descriptions paints a picture of an American Dream that really is more of an American Hustle. Everyone playing their hand hoping that Lady Luck will be with them that day. A daily scramble for survival and social mobility that for some takes a back seat even to the race and identity battles that form the larger picture.
One Man’s Struggle with finding his balance in 1960’s Harlem
Colson Whitehead’s Harlem Shuffle is a blend of historical fiction and crime drama, set in the vibrant yet turbulent Harlem of the early 1960s. The novel follows Ray Carney, a furniture salesman with aspirations for middle-class respectability, who becomes entangled in the criminal underworld through his cousin Freddie. This duality—between striving for legitimacy and succumbing to illicit temptations—forms the crux of the story.
The narrative unfolds in three interconnected sections, each separated by a few years, showcasing Carney’s gradual descent into Harlem’s shady dealings. Through heists, betrayals, and encounters with mobsters and corrupt cops, Whitehead explores themes of morality, ambition, systemic racism, and the blurred lines between legality and criminality. Carney’s struggles reflect broader societal issues, such as institutional racism and economic inequality.
Whitehead vividly recreates 1960s Harlem, with its dive bars, bustling streets, and cultural vibrancy. The backdrop of real historical events, like the 1964 Harlem riots, adds depth to the narrative. His prose is sharp and witty, blending humor with poignant observations about race and class dynamics.
Ray Carney is a compelling protagonist—flawed yet relatable. His pragmatic approach to survival contrasts with his yearning for upward mobility. Supporting characters like Freddie and Pepper add richness to the story but occasionally feel underutilized.
While Harlem Shuffle offers an engaging narrative and nuanced social commentary, some readers may find its pacing uneven. Much of the action occurs offstage, leaving certain moments less impactful than they could be.
Harlem Shuffle is a thought-provoking exploration of identity and ambition within a racially stratified society. Whitehead’s departure into crime fiction demonstrates his versatility as a writer. Though not as groundbreaking as his Pulitzer-winning works, it remains a highly enjoyable read that captures the spirit of Harlem during a transformative era.
C’mon Apple Books
Trying to change when I finished it.