Five-Carat Soul

'McBride at his brave and joyous best'

New York Times Book Review

'A furious joy drives these glimpses of brave lives in perilous places'

San Francisco Chronicle

An antiques dealer discovers that a legendary toy commissioned by a Civil War General now sits in the home of a black minister in Queens. Five strangers find themselves thrown together and face unexpected judgment. An American president draws inspiration from a conversation he overhears in a stable. And members of The Five-Carat Soul Bottom Bone Band recount stories from their messy and hilarious lives.

These stories spring from the place where identity, humanity, and history converge. A collection of surprising, perceptive and evocative short stories from internationally bestselling novelist James McBride, Five Carat Soul is a moving exploration of our human condition.

Brash, daring and defiantly original . . . [these] stories are bound to stay with readers for a very long time NPR
A furious joy drives these glimpses of brave lives in perilous places San Francisco Chronicle
McBride is such an agile writer that each voice feels authentic and somehow familiar . . . These are stories of and from the soul Minneapolis Star-Tribune
McBride delivers pure gold... Five-Carat Soul shakes with laughter, grips with passion and oozes wisdom Shelf Awareness (starred review)
Funny, strange and touching . . . McBride proves once again that he is a master conjurer of African Americana Seattle Times
Unpredictable, exhilarating, and, often, hilarious . . . a wild and utterly delightful ride BuzzFeed

James McBride is the author of the New York Times-bestselling Oprah's Book Club selection Deacon King Kong, the National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird, the million-copy-bestselling memoir The Colour of Water, the novels Song Yet Sung and Miracle at St. Anna, the story collection Five-Carat Soul, and Kill 'Em and Leave, a biography of James Brown. The recipient of a National Humanities Medal and an accomplished musician, McBride is also a distinguished writer in residence at New York University.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.