Five-Carat Soul

James McBride, winner of The National Book Award for his novel The Good Lord Bird, has now proven himself as a notable short fiction writer. His clever imagination shines in his debut collection, Five-Carat Soul. The stories in this book feature a host of characters that will leave an indelible mark on its readers: a vintage toy collector and a reverend with a secret, a group of boys who play in a garage funk band, two war friends who share an annual Christmas dance, President Lincoln and the son of a stable hand, a bored and irritable Gatekeeper of Hell, and zoo animals with the gift of telepathy.

Five-Carat Soul is further evidence of McBride’s masterful storytelling ability. With absorbing originality, this collection oscillates between the far-fetched and the plausible while thoughtfully reflecting on poverty, compassion, innocence, race, obsession, violence, bitterness, and joy. McBride’s language is captivating; the portraits he paints with his authentic dialogue, compelling settings, and immersive plot make this collection unputdownable. Five-Carat Soul is essential reading for short story enthusiasts.