Shelter: A Black Tale of Homeland, Baltimore

The personal and meditative style of the book blends well, surprisingly, with its other major content: Baltimore’s and Maryland’s history. And Baltimore’s and Maryland’s history is a critical part of the deeply conflicted history of the United States. Well done!

Jackson shares a great account and detail about the history of Baltimore and his roots.

Personal, objective, and informative. Layered details about history, architecture, politics, and real estate in Baltimore and Atlanta accompany this first-class narrative. The writing structure, attention to detail, and intimate storytelling evoke the memories of Toni Morrison, Tom Wolfe, and Ralph Ellison. This is a very good book. I bought seven copies!ERG

the author provides a deep personal dive into history, real talk interspersed with a little humor. this book and its stories give a colorful glimpse at a local level as to how we ended up in such a divided place.A must read if you're from baltimore!

Lawrence Jackson’s memoir is a compulsive read that tells not only his story but also a much needed insight into Baltimore history. I read Shelter quickly and was sorry when I finished. I’ll be rereading soon and recommending to everyone who is looking for their next captivating read.

This book hits close to home as a Black woman who recently moved into Homeland. It is fascinating to experience the city through Jackson’s eyes. So well written, I felt as if I were a part of his memoirs.

Jackson's stream of consciousness descriptions of "ordinary" people and events made this hard to put down. A rare look at Black middle-class life in Baltimore that will expand understanding about this unique little city.

I enjoyed the book by Jackson. It brought back memories of experiences had while growing up in Baltimore and gave me a clearer lens through which to view my own history.