The Rib King

Loved the first half of the book, but was thrown by the shift to the second half and felt disengaged from the rest of the story.

Layer and layers and layers of story! Each character is unique and fleshed out. There are individual stories for each person and then they interact with the larger world to contribute to a larger story. I just can't get over how good this story is and how many stories there are in the book. I especially like the way each character has their own theories of what black people need to do to get ahead. It is educational and sad and real.
If you like complicated characters, read this book. If you like life going on in the midst of hardship, read this book. If you like history becoming real, read this book. Just read this book!

Exceptional writing and an uncommon story with characters to care for made this a winner for me.