Crook Manifesto

I didn’t realize til after I finished that this follows Harlem Shuffle (on my list but yet unread!) - this didn’t hinder my pleasure at the rich descriptions of New York City, fondness for the layered characters, or delight in learning new factoids woven into the story and different ways of thinking about politics, crime, and racism. Such intelligent writing - I look forward to catching up with the rest of the trilogy.

(Read in 2023) I thoroughly enjoyed reading this; it was great to spend time with Carney and Pepper again. Lots of wisdom and memorable observations about life, families, work, etc. weaved into the excellent storytelling. For example, on the 5 train when Carney changes how he's interacting with Robert, after thinking back on how his own father used to get on his case for being too quiet ... as someone who's been hassled many times over the years for being quiet, I really appreciated that scene. Also, important insights about racism, crime, and corruption, plus ... a bit of a geology lesson! In between reading Harlem Shuffle and Crook Manifesto, we took a trip to NYC and spent a day walking around Harlem to see the Hotel Theresa, Morningside Park, and other aspects of the neighborhood. I recommend that to anyone who loves these books.

Pleased to learn this is the 2nd volume of a planned trilogy. The 70s in Harlem from the eyes of Ray Carney, including a Jackson 5 concert as experienced by an accompanying dad.

This installment focuses on the 70s (Harlem Shuffle focused on the 60s), and the writing is great. There's a lot of New York specific detail about neighborhoods and streets that is lost on me, but it's necessary for a series that is so intent on using NYC much the way The Wire used Baltimore. My favorite moment is probably when the Magnavox Odyssey (the "brown box") makes a cameo. The research behind this book is pretty awesome.

Whitehead continues the story of Ray Carney from Harlem Shuffle, while also showing us more about engaging characters like Pepper and a certain arsonist-turned-filmmaker. Very enjoyable and sets up well for what will be the final volume in the trilogy.

The first Whitehead novel I read was The Underground Railroad, and I have eagerly awaited his new novels ever since. Crook Manifesto does not disappoint. It is a follow-up to Harlem Shuffle, which you don't need to have read in order to understand this book (although you should read it anyway because it is fantastic). Whitehead has an incredible gift for language, and the snappy prose in Crook Manifesto makes the book impossible to put down. At the same time, Whitehead has a sharp eye for detail, and his language also exposes the brutal reality of race relations in the 1970s. A fabulous book from a remarkably talented writer.

Follow on from Harlem Shuffle. Evolution of survival over several years. The skill employed by the developing characters and that fine line between legit and illegality ; against the backdrop of community/environmental erosion and gentrification. We feel it.