BABEL: James McBride and The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store

On April 30, 2025, I had the absolute pleasure of being able to attend BABEL, presented by the Just Buffalo Literary Center. BABEL is a local event that occurs at Kleinhans Music Hall four times a year. Every three months, an esteemed author comes to Buffalo to talk about one of their novels. April’s author, James McBride, spoke about his most recent work, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.

The Book

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store can’t be explained in just a few brief sentences. The novel, full of intertwining stories, focuses on Jewish culture, the African American experience, and the under-told stories of the differently abled. As McBride calls it, “The American Journey.” With highlights of influential jazz and extensive historical research, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store stands out as one of the greatest works of historical fiction released this decade. The main characters jump off the page, each having their own unique, important stories that intertwine. The novel utilizes the butterfly effect to tell its story, while dealing with coming of age, love, and loss.

“There’s something about the human retelling of history that gives it life,” says McBride.

The Author

James McBride’s talent is not limited to just his works of fiction. He shines in many other niches as well. Not only is he a renowned author, but he is also a screenwriter, historian, journalist, and musician who plays saxophone and piano. He’s worked with Spike Lee on Miracle on St. Anna, and so far has published eight books. He’s a master of his many crafts, and his skills stand out on paper, screen, and stage. It’s apparent his passion for creation is abundant in everything he does. As he spoke about the making of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, it was clear the amount of love he has not only for writing, but for the history he studied in order to achieve the realism found in the novel.

The Event

In my opinion, both the book and the author were fantastic, but the highlight of the experience was the event itself. BABEL is a complete joy to attend, and I highly recommend anyone who enjoys reading or hearing about the creative process that goes into writing a book to attend at least one time. McBride’s evening was extra special, as it abandoned the typical format of a simple interview in favor of something a little more jazzy. McBride, along with his dear friend and Buffalo Music Hall of Fame inductee George Caldwell, and three more talented singers/musicians, performed live jazz music to accompany him as he read excerpts from The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. After music was played, he answered thought-provoking questions, some from audience members. Afterwards, there was an opportunity for attendees to get their books signed. The event was entertaining, inspiring, exceeded expectations, and was an all-around extremely pleasant experience.

The evening was a celebration of culture, history, and creativity. BABEL, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, and James McBride are gleaming examples of how important and impactful the arts can be to the community.