Deacon King Kong
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-11 11:52:02
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：James McBride
- ISBN：0735216738
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
One of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of the Year
Oprah's Book Club Pick
Named one of the Top Ten Books of the Year by the New York Times， Entertainment Weekly and TIME Magazine
A Washington Post Notable Novel
From the author of the National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird and the bestselling modern classic The Color of Water， comes one of the most celebrated novels of the year。
In September 1969， a fumbling， cranky old church deacon known as Sportcoat shuffles into the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn， pulls a 。38 from his pocket， and， in front of everybody， shoots the project's drug dealer at point-blank range。
The reasons for this desperate burst of violence and the consequences that spring from it lie at the heart of Deacon King Kong， James McBride's funny， moving novel and his first since his National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird。 In Deacon King Kong， McBride brings to vivid life the people affected by the shooting: the victim， the African-American and Latinx residents who witnessed it， the white neighbors， the local cops assigned to investigate， the members of the Five Ends Baptist Church where Sportcoat was deacon， the neighborhood's Italian mobsters， and Sportcoat himself。
As the story deepens， it becomes clear that the lives of the characters--caught in the tumultuous swirl of 1960s New York--overlap in unexpected ways。 When the truth does emerge， McBride shows us that not all secrets are meant to be hidden， that the best way to grow is to face change without fear， and that the seeds of love lie in hope and compassion。
Bringing to these pages both his masterly storytelling skills and his abiding faith in humanity， James McBride has written a novel every bit as involving as The Good Lord Bird and as emotionally honest as The Color of Water。 Told with insight and wit， Deacon King Kong demonstrates that love and faith live in all of us。
Oprah's Book Club Pick
Named one of the Top Ten Books of the Year by the New York Times， Entertainment Weekly and TIME Magazine
A Washington Post Notable Novel
From the author of the National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird and the bestselling modern classic The Color of Water， comes one of the most celebrated novels of the year。
In September 1969， a fumbling， cranky old church deacon known as Sportcoat shuffles into the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn， pulls a 。38 from his pocket， and， in front of everybody， shoots the project's drug dealer at point-blank range。
The reasons for this desperate burst of violence and the consequences that spring from it lie at the heart of Deacon King Kong， James McBride's funny， moving novel and his first since his National Book Award-winning The Good Lord Bird。 In Deacon King Kong， McBride brings to vivid life the people affected by the shooting: the victim， the African-American and Latinx residents who witnessed it， the white neighbors， the local cops assigned to investigate， the members of the Five Ends Baptist Church where Sportcoat was deacon， the neighborhood's Italian mobsters， and Sportcoat himself。
As the story deepens， it becomes clear that the lives of the characters--caught in the tumultuous swirl of 1960s New York--overlap in unexpected ways。 When the truth does emerge， McBride shows us that not all secrets are meant to be hidden， that the best way to grow is to face change without fear， and that the seeds of love lie in hope and compassion。
Bringing to these pages both his masterly storytelling skills and his abiding faith in humanity， James McBride has written a novel every bit as involving as The Good Lord Bird and as emotionally honest as The Color of Water。 Told with insight and wit， Deacon King Kong demonstrates that love and faith live in all of us。
Reviews
Jody
，
I really enjoyed this book。 My first book by James McBride。 I will be reading more of his。A story of crime， mystery， drama， funny， suspenseful， relationships， friendships， racism， forgiving， helping one another， tenderness。I really got to know the characters and the town。 Overall enjoyable read！Also， can pull at your heart strings in parts of the book and the ending。I learned more about the hood。 What life can and is for them。I think McBride did well to sensitive topics in the book。I hope you en I really enjoyed this book。 My first book by James McBride。 I will be reading more of his。A story of crime， mystery， drama， funny， suspenseful， relationships， friendships， racism， forgiving， helping one another， tenderness。I really got to know the characters and the town。 Overall enjoyable read！Also， can pull at your heart strings in parts of the book and the ending。I learned more about the hood。 What life can and is for them。I think McBride did well to sensitive topics in the book。I hope you enjoy it as much as I did！ 。。。more
Hope Alexander
，
Wow！ I think this is a beautifully written book on so many levels。 It was pure joy to read。McBride's writing reminds me of Hemingway。 He provides an intimate portrait of the life and humanity within the "Causeway Housing Projects" in Brooklyn， NY in the 60's。 His portrait puts you right into the lifestyle， the relationships， the love and the tragedy of living there。 And he gives us a deep dive into the real emotions of these people。 It left me with a feeling of true intimacy for the characters a Wow！ I think this is a beautifully written book on so many levels。 It was pure joy to read。McBride's writing reminds me of Hemingway。 He provides an intimate portrait of the life and humanity within the "Causeway Housing Projects" in Brooklyn， NY in the 60's。 His portrait puts you right into the lifestyle， the relationships， the love and the tragedy of living there。 And he gives us a deep dive into the real emotions of these people。 It left me with a feeling of true intimacy for the characters and deep empathy for humanity。 James McBride is able to describe human emotions in a way I've never read。 He describes the mobster Elefante's desire to leave crime and marry a country girl， or the stable wisdom of Potts the local cop or the elegance and faith of Sister Gee in such a realistic and deeply intimate way。 And finally， his description of the red ants invading the Projects every year is amazing。 There are so many layers to this book。 It's about human beings。 It's about humanity。 It's about friendships。 It's about life。 And， it's timeless。 。。。more
Alison
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I loved this book so much I now regret some of my earlier 5-star ratings so this would stand out more。I loved the characters， how the stories of each person wove together in the community and how all the lives affected each other over decades。
Jenny Thompson
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I honestly didn't expect a book about heroin moving into the projects in New York City in the late 60s to be so damn funny， but I underestimated McBride。 Of course， it's not just funny - the story and his intricately drawn cast of characters are also deeply moving。 The novel was fundamentally hopeful， which was another pleasant surprise。 I honestly didn't expect a book about heroin moving into the projects in New York City in the late 60s to be so damn funny， but I underestimated McBride。 Of course， it's not just funny - the story and his intricately drawn cast of characters are also deeply moving。 The novel was fundamentally hopeful， which was another pleasant surprise。 。。。more
Tracy
，
I really liked this one - beautifully written， full of humor and sadness and tragedy and grace， strong characters and such a sense of place I felt like I was there。 This is less plot driven， the events serve more to illuminate these people， this place， that time than to provide action， which was fine with me。 I didn't expect to find so much familiar in a book set among the projects in Red Hook the year before I was born， but I sure did， right down to the Black church ladies， the mobsters， and th I really liked this one - beautifully written， full of humor and sadness and tragedy and grace， strong characters and such a sense of place I felt like I was there。 This is less plot driven， the events serve more to illuminate these people， this place， that time than to provide action， which was fine with me。 I didn't expect to find so much familiar in a book set among the projects in Red Hook the year before I was born， but I sure did， right down to the Black church ladies， the mobsters， and the eccentric elderly Italian immigrant asking to pick the "weeds" from our yard for what， I don't know。 You could pick up those people in the book and spread them out among my little middle class industrial hometown on the Ohio River near Pittsburgh， and these were my people， except we weren't， thankfully， as segregated in my generation which came next。 There was even a time， in the late 70s/early 80s when the mills shutdown， when people were also lining up for 5 lb blocks of cheese。 In my youth， it was crack， not heroin， but the lives and potential lost to drugs isn't unfamiliar。 Now， it's heroin again。 The more things change， the more things stay the same， I guess。 It is still a battle that binds us。It made me wonder what stories are lurking， what long ago prejudices and differences and strife previous generations set aside so that things were better （not perfect; better） by the time I was a kid。 I think it had more to do with people just joining together for more ordinary things than the events in the book， which， in the end， I think was the point。 We just have to let each other in， and the things we have in common help us navigate the times that are hard and unexpected and strange。 。。。more
Nancy Defever
，
Masterful story telling！ A real feel-good book about the people who inhabit the housing projects in Brooklyn circa 1969。 Sportcoat， aka Deacon Kingkong is a character I will never forget！ It’s a book that will make you laugh and cry in equal measures。
Myles
，
A delightful book， full of memorable characters， set in 1969 NYC， so a setting with which at least in part I was once familiar。 Not the projects， of course。 Interestingly this is a book which for the most part is about men and women of a certain age， the retiring officer Potts， the retiring gangster Elefante。 It is an intensely romantic book， as these men are smitten at this time of life， for the very first time。 It is an urban fable， filled with larger than life residents of the project。 And wi A delightful book， full of memorable characters， set in 1969 NYC， so a setting with which at least in part I was once familiar。 Not the projects， of course。 Interestingly this is a book which for the most part is about men and women of a certain age， the retiring officer Potts， the retiring gangster Elefante。 It is an intensely romantic book， as these men are smitten at this time of life， for the very first time。 It is an urban fable， filled with larger than life residents of the project。 And with many exceptional women， strong women， smart women on whom so many others rely。 do the hard work 。。。more
Susan
，
Deacon Sportcoat shoots drug dealer。 Stories of the people in the area wind together to a beautiful ending with mysterious cheese an ancient relic and a church。
Eric Roling
，
It started out great， and the writing was excellent。 But I found the plot to move laboriously slow， and certain plot points （view spoiler）[such as the location of the soap were painfully obvious。 （hide spoiler）] I enjoyed all the unique characters and their personalities。 Didn't really enjoy a drunk main character and the plot moving slowly because they were all doddering old folks。 It started out great， and the writing was excellent。 But I found the plot to move laboriously slow， and certain plot points （view spoiler）[such as the location of the soap were painfully obvious。 （hide spoiler）] I enjoyed all the unique characters and their personalities。 Didn't really enjoy a drunk main character and the plot moving slowly because they were all doddering old folks。 。。。more
Jennifer
，
If I could give it more stars， I would。 Mr。 McBride created such wonderful characters and I enjoyed the humor in their banter。
Dietmar Leibecke
，
Probably the best book I have read this year。 Beautiful story， colorful characters， excellent sense of humor， full of vivid life， of love， of hard times。 Absolutely gorgeous。
Clare
，
I couldn't put it down。 It was not at all what I was expecting， but was beautiful， sad， funny and just "good。" I couldn't put it down。 It was not at all what I was expecting， but was beautiful， sad， funny and just "good。" 。。。more
Linda
，
The audio version of this is very good。 James McBride creates characters that are so full of personality and （some unique nicknames！）。。。I'll miss Suitcoat and all the people that McBride introduced me to。 The story slowly unfolds but never boring because of this cast of characters。 The audio version of this is very good。 James McBride creates characters that are so full of personality and （some unique nicknames！）。。。I'll miss Suitcoat and all the people that McBride introduced me to。 The story slowly unfolds but never boring because of this cast of characters。 。。。more
Ali Mcdonnell
，
Quirky look at characters living in a NY housing project in the late 60s
Maggi
，
As others have said in their reviews， it took me a long time to get into this book with its large cast of characters with crazy nicknames and unrelatable habits and criminal activities。 But it's actually a wild sort of mystery which eventually gets solved in a satisfying way。 Is it funny？ Sad？ Touching？ Scary？ All of the above。 McBride's plot twists and complications are brilliant。 But you might need your highlighter for referencing different characters and what they did earlier in the book。 As others have said in their reviews， it took me a long time to get into this book with its large cast of characters with crazy nicknames and unrelatable habits and criminal activities。 But it's actually a wild sort of mystery which eventually gets solved in a satisfying way。 Is it funny？ Sad？ Touching？ Scary？ All of the above。 McBride's plot twists and complications are brilliant。 But you might need your highlighter for referencing different characters and what they did earlier in the book。 。。。more
Brian
，
As this book is set north of the Mason-Dixon Line， I'd love to sound clever and call it "A Union of Dunces，" because it does have a similar wacky local color thing happening。 But if you really think about it， Toole hated his characters。 McBride loves his。 This generosity and affection lends a relatively silly neighborhood story much more depth than the reader might have expected。 It's still a fun， funny read。 But it's got some shit to say too。 Not to mention any book giving shout outs to Sonny R As this book is set north of the Mason-Dixon Line， I'd love to sound clever and call it "A Union of Dunces，" because it does have a similar wacky local color thing happening。 But if you really think about it， Toole hated his characters。 McBride loves his。 This generosity and affection lends a relatively silly neighborhood story much more depth than the reader might have expected。 It's still a fun， funny read。 But it's got some shit to say too。 Not to mention any book giving shout outs to Sonny Rollins and Willie Bobo gets extra stars。 。。。more
Terica
，
A Beautifully Crafted BookThis book grew on me in a way that I wasn’t expecting。 At the beginning it started out with what seemed to be a chaotic jumble of storylines and hilarious hijinks but McBride has a really beautiful writing style that keeps you engaged even when you’re questioning why you should be。 As you continue to read， you become more invested in the complexity and intersections of the storylines。
Ann
，
This book was hard for me to get into。 About 1/2 in， I turned the page and then 。。。 couldn’t put it down。
Natalie
，
I enjoyed the characters in this book and LOL’d a few times， but I had a REALLY hard getting into the plot。 This one was a struggle for me。
Rob Stainton
，
So， the book is clearly excellent。 I'd recommend it to others。 And yet， weirdly， it just didn't speak to me。 So， the book is clearly excellent。 I'd recommend it to others。 And yet， weirdly， it just didn't speak to me。 。。。more
Kathy
，
I loved this story！ Laugh out loud funny but so rough and raw as well。 I look forward to reading more stories by James McBride。
Bisaya Reader
，
The depth。 The writing style。 And the characters！ All these elements were beyond the bars dreamed mediocrity wished they are in。 It was so good。 I won't be surprised to see this winning this year's Pulitzer Prize for fiction。 The depth。 The writing style。 And the characters！ All these elements were beyond the bars dreamed mediocrity wished they are in。 It was so good。 I won't be surprised to see this winning this year's Pulitzer Prize for fiction。 。。。more
Robin
，
The characters were gorgeously written， complicated and endearing。 Loved how the plot wove itself around the community and really came together。
Mary
，
Idk I really just did not care about this book at all
James Hutchisson
，
Full of joy and love of community。 McBride writes beautifully。
Benedict Navarro
，
This is a fun， quick-paced story that you will not disappoint。 It’s a fun book to share with a special friend。 。。。 If you have some great stories like this one， you can publish it on Novel Star， just submit your story to hardy@novelstar。top or joye@novelstar。top
Carter Howard
，
Best book I've read - and probably will read - in 2021。 Best book I've read - and probably will read - in 2021。 。。。more
Kerry
，
It was like The Wire， geriatric version。 A whole new perspective。 I loved all the stuff that happened to Earl， the crazy sayings， and the friendships。 Lots of characters to follow， all interesting in their own ways。
Darren Sepanek
，
Weak plot lineThe characters are interesting but the plot line is weak and boring。 The story is slow and meanders without hooks to keep the reader engaged。 Even the end was anti climactic。
Lucy
，
What a beautiful book。 Really savored this one。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Deacon King Kong
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Deacon King Kong&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Deacon King Kong&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0