Join us for an in-person Book Club Discussion &/or Cooking Demo with Tasting on Saturday, October 21st, starting at 4:00 pm! This adventure features Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead, BUT PRE-READING IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT…

Local Chicago Cullinary Expert (Jessica Hererra) will be demonstrating how to cook dishes inspired by 1970's New York (think New York Cheesecake and more!) that compliment the featured story from 4-5 pm in our New Book Joy Reading Lounge (right before our book discussion from 5-6 pm). You'll get to taste these delicious dishes, take home the recipes, and ask any questions you might have for Jessica too! NOTE: A percentage of the proceeds for this event will directly support this talented chef.

Psst... You can join us for either or both events!

If you've already paid for a Book Tastings Experience or Subscription, the Book Chat is FREE - no need to buy a ticket - just show up for our discussion!

If you'd like to join us for the discussion, please pick up a physical copy or Book Box with curated reading pairings from the dropdown menu above, or an audiobook from the link below before the event OR join us for the workshop before you dive into the book - your choice!

 CLICK HERE FOR AN AUDIOBOOK COPY 

BOOK SYNOPSIS

It's 1971. Trash piles up on the streets, crime is at an all-time high, the city is careening towards bankruptcy, and a shooting war has broken out between the NYPD and the Black Liberation Army. Amidst this collective nervous breakdown furniture store owner and ex-fence Ray Carney tries to keep his head down and his business thriving. His days moving stolen goods around the city are over. It's strictly the straight-and-narrow for him -- until he needs Jackson 5 tickets for his daughter May and he decides to hit up his old police contact Munson, fixer extraordinaire. But Munson has his own favors to ask of Carney and staying out of the game gets a lot more complicated - and deadly.

1973. The counter-culture has created a new generation, the old ways are being overthrown, but there is one constant, Pepper, Carney's endearingly violent partner in crime. It's getting harder to put together a reliable crew for hijackings, heists, and assorted felonies, so Pepper takes on a side gig doing security on a Blaxploitation shoot in Harlem. He finds himself in a freaky world of Hollywood stars, up-and-coming comedians, and celebrity drug dealers, in addition to the usual cast of hustlers, mobsters, and hit men. These adversaries underestimate the seasoned crook - to their regret.

1976. Harlem is burning, block by block, while the whole country is gearing up for Bicentennial celebrations. Carney is trying to come up with a July 4th ad he can live with. ("Two Hundred Years of Getting Away with It!"), while his wife Elizabeth is campaigning for her childhood friend, the former assistant D.A and rising politician Alexander Oakes. When a fire severely injures one of Carney's tenants, he enlists Pepper to look into who may be behind it. Our crooked duo have to battle their way through a crumbling metropolis run by the shady, the violent, and the utterly corrupted.

CROOK MANIFESTO is a darkly funny tale of a city under siege, but also a sneakily searching portrait of the meaning of family. Colson Whitehead's kaleidoscopic portrait of Harlem is sure to stand as one of the all-time great evocations of a place and a time.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Grown-Ups

OUR BOOKS ARE LISTED BY AGE GROUP to indicate that the content is engaging and appropriate for those selected ages. PLEASE NOTE: They may not be the appropriate reading level for every individual at those ages or may extend beyond the brackets.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

Publisher: Doubleday Books

Publish Date: July 18, 2023

Pages: 336

Dimensions: 6.4 X 9.3 X 1.4 inches | 1.35 pounds

Language: English

Type: Hardcover

Condition: NEW