Deacon King Kong: The New York Times and Oprah's Book Club Pick
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- Create Date：2021-04-15 13:57:57
- Update Date：2025-09-07
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- Author：James McBride
- ISBN：0857527657
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Summary
‘Deacon King Kong is deeply felt， beautifully written and profoundly humane; McBride’s ability to inhabit his characters’ foibled， all-too-human interiority helps transform a fine book into a great one’ The New York Times Book Review
‘A hilarious， pitch-perfect comedy set in the Brooklyn projects of the late 1960s。 This alone may qualify it as one of the year’s best novels。’ The Washington Post
From the winner of a National Book Award and author of The Good Lord Bird， soon to be a TV series starring Ethan Hawke
The year is 1969。 In a housing project in south Brooklyn， a shambling old church deacon called Sportscoat shoots – for no apparent reason – the local drug-dealer who used to be part of the church’s baseball team。 The repercussions of that moment draw in the whole community， from Sportscoat’s best friend – Hot Sausage – to the local Italian mobsters， the police （corrupt and otherwise）， and the stalwart ladies of the Five Ends Baptist Church。
DEACON KING KONG is a book about a community under threat， about the ways people pull together in an age when the old rules are being rewritten。 It is very funny in places， and heartbreaking in others。 From a prize-winning storyteller， this New York Times bestseller shows us that not all secrets are meant to be hidden， and that the communities we build are fragile but vital。
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What Goodreads readers are saying:
***** ‘Deacon King Kong is one of those novels whose brilliance sneaks up on you。 I haven’t been this pleasantly surprised by a book in a while。’
***** ‘I do believe I just finished one of my all time favorite books。 I loved every minute spent with Sportcoat and his community。 A good old fashioned yarn shot through with truth， spirit， and humor。 I LOVED it！’
***** ‘This book was a balm for my soul， a portrait of a black church community circa 1969 with sweet characters （well， most of them）， interconnections that stretch back decades， and a plot with more than one mystery at its heart。’
***** ‘"Deacon" has the texture of folk lore and fable mixed with the unexpected rhythms of jazz and the noisy streets of late 1960s Brooklyn。’
***** ‘The ending was one of those where you clutch your heart and want to hug the book （or your Kindle）。’
‘A hilarious， pitch-perfect comedy set in the Brooklyn projects of the late 1960s。 This alone may qualify it as one of the year’s best novels。’ The Washington Post
From the winner of a National Book Award and author of The Good Lord Bird， soon to be a TV series starring Ethan Hawke
The year is 1969。 In a housing project in south Brooklyn， a shambling old church deacon called Sportscoat shoots – for no apparent reason – the local drug-dealer who used to be part of the church’s baseball team。 The repercussions of that moment draw in the whole community， from Sportscoat’s best friend – Hot Sausage – to the local Italian mobsters， the police （corrupt and otherwise）， and the stalwart ladies of the Five Ends Baptist Church。
DEACON KING KONG is a book about a community under threat， about the ways people pull together in an age when the old rules are being rewritten。 It is very funny in places， and heartbreaking in others。 From a prize-winning storyteller， this New York Times bestseller shows us that not all secrets are meant to be hidden， and that the communities we build are fragile but vital。
______________________
What Goodreads readers are saying:
***** ‘Deacon King Kong is one of those novels whose brilliance sneaks up on you。 I haven’t been this pleasantly surprised by a book in a while。’
***** ‘I do believe I just finished one of my all time favorite books。 I loved every minute spent with Sportcoat and his community。 A good old fashioned yarn shot through with truth， spirit， and humor。 I LOVED it！’
***** ‘This book was a balm for my soul， a portrait of a black church community circa 1969 with sweet characters （well， most of them）， interconnections that stretch back decades， and a plot with more than one mystery at its heart。’
***** ‘"Deacon" has the texture of folk lore and fable mixed with the unexpected rhythms of jazz and the noisy streets of late 1960s Brooklyn。’
***** ‘The ending was one of those where you clutch your heart and want to hug the book （or your Kindle）。’
Reviews
Lynn
，
It was work to get through this book — so much annoying， repetitive， drunken dialog！ But the writing is so witty and hilarious， and the cast of characters so vivid and entertaining， and the nicknames are laugh-out-loud funny — well you just have to stick with it。 The story is rich and satisfying， wise and rewarding。 Genius。
Mary
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So many confusing names。。 boring in the beginning 。。 the last 1/2 was good。。。
Sherri Anderson
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Certainly a quirky read with some eccentric characters。 It reminded me a bit of 100 years of solitude。 I had a difficult time understanding some of the dialogue， and it seemed to meander quite a bit in the first half。 The second half when some of the plot started to come together was more enjoyable， but overall I didn’t love it。
Cynthia Van
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Loved this book！
Jane
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Bursting at the seams with vivid， lovingly drawn characters and subtle plot twists， this all takes place within one neighborhood in Brooklyn in 1969。 This is a hugely satisfying book。
Joan
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Family of Neighbors， Spiritual Saviors， RedemptionPoverty， drinking， and drugs are realities of life in NY housing projects that the author projects for the reader in a way that reveals depth of humanity， strength of will， love of neighbor and Church， and constant deep connection with each other。 It warms the heart in spite of the pain and suffering that we delve into as we glimpse in these pages the tragic burden of Blacks who moved north to escape the legacy of slavery。 The Deacon is a kind， Family of Neighbors， Spiritual Saviors， RedemptionPoverty， drinking， and drugs are realities of life in NY housing projects that the author projects for the reader in a way that reveals depth of humanity， strength of will， love of neighbor and Church， and constant deep connection with each other。 It warms the heart in spite of the pain and suffering that we delve into as we glimpse in these pages the tragic burden of Blacks who moved north to escape the legacy of slavery。 The Deacon is a kind， hardworking， and haunted man whose drinking causes oblivion。 But clarity finally wins over as he touches the lives of so many in his neighborhood making it a better place。 。。。more
Sue Simonsen
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Excellent story of faith and friendship。。。enjoyed the raw humanity and clever laughter at life。 Beautiful characters！
Robin
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The story takes place in New York in the late 1960s。 McBride is a master storyteller and demonstrates a strong faith in God and humanity。
Mike
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Interesting story， although a difficult read。
Kerry
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Abandoned。
Jeff
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Great story with a multitude of fascinating characters 。 This unique and lyrical novel is filled with captivating dialogue and some laugh out loud moments。 While an air of sadness hangs over the story， there's also a sense of joy among these people and a sense that everyone gets along despite their cultural differences。 I felt as if I lived in the middle of Causeway Housing Projects in South Brooklyn。 Great story with a multitude of fascinating characters 。 This unique and lyrical novel is filled with captivating dialogue and some laugh out loud moments。 While an air of sadness hangs over the story， there's also a sense of joy among these people and a sense that everyone gets along despite their cultural differences。 I felt as if I lived in the middle of Causeway Housing Projects in South Brooklyn。 。。。more
joshua liberman
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A truly beautiful book。 Loved every bit。 Couldn’t begin to describe it。 Just treat yourself and read it。
Elle Howie
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DNF Didn't get far in this one。 Too many characters introduced in the first few pages。 I guess I missed what all the hype was about。 DNF Didn't get far in this one。 Too many characters introduced in the first few pages。 I guess I missed what all the hype was about。 。。。more
Megan
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Oh my god I loved this book。
Angela Chambers
，
So， being the book lover， I cross referenced about 20 best of 2020 books lists。 I looked for books that showed up most often and put them on my reading list。 This was one。 When I read the description I feared it might be dark/violent。 I realize now that there is no way to adequately describe this book。 How I know a book is really good （such an arbitrary word） is when I weep at the end。 Not because it has a sad ending but because the book is over， and I’m in awe of what the author created。 To say So， being the book lover， I cross referenced about 20 best of 2020 books lists。 I looked for books that showed up most often and put them on my reading list。 This was one。 When I read the description I feared it might be dark/violent。 I realize now that there is no way to adequately describe this book。 How I know a book is really good （such an arbitrary word） is when I weep at the end。 Not because it has a sad ending but because the book is over， and I’m in awe of what the author created。 To say this book is well-written is too trite。 If you love writing， you must read this book。 It’s going to be hard to start another after reading this。 。。。more
Ada
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Should get 5 stars for originality， but confusion ensued with so many characters， each with at least one nickname。 Perhaps that enhances the feeling of chaos in the projects of Brooklyn in 1969。 A brilliant depiction of joys， sorrows， worries， occupations， interactions of the poor。 Starts right off with intrigue in the very first sentence。 Some of examples of the finest， most caring characters， and some of the lowest in integrity and morals。 Whew！ Wild ride！
Karen
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This was the best book I read this year。 The rhythm of Mc Bride's language is captivating， his characters well drawn。 I've read the book twice， and then listened to it。 Great story！ This was the best book I read this year。 The rhythm of Mc Bride's language is captivating， his characters well drawn。 I've read the book twice， and then listened to it。 Great story！ 。。。more
Alexandria
，
Really cool to fit the many puzzle pieces of this book together as the story progressed - a good mystery （amongst other things） with very interesting characters。
Laura
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It's a treat to read a book that's so well written and seamlessly intertwines a large cast of characters into a portrait of Brooklyn's inhabitants in the late 1960s。 Loved it！ It's a treat to read a book that's so well written and seamlessly intertwines a large cast of characters into a portrait of Brooklyn's inhabitants in the late 1960s。 Loved it！ 。。。more
Ruth
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I struggled at first to connect with the characters and stay with the story since part of the setting was drug dealing， but I was glad I stuck with it。 By the end I enjoyed the characters and story。
Ian
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It starts slow， I can't deny that。 But man， once the story starts moving， it's like a pebble becoming an avalanche。 Just a profoundly happy and sad tale， all wrapped up together。 Amazing novel。 It starts slow， I can't deny that。 But man， once the story starts moving， it's like a pebble becoming an avalanche。 Just a profoundly happy and sad tale， all wrapped up together。 Amazing novel。 。。。more
Tessa Varon
，
Parts of the book are hilarious。 Parts of it are deadly serious。 It's even part slapstick。 But absolutely all of it is really， really good。 This is a richly imagined story that drew me in slowly until I got wound up tight in it。 The writing is extraordinary， a powerful force field of its own。While the society in which the story takes places is fractured and destructive， there is also a deeply spiritual goodness that permeates over the despair and evil， leaving in its wake hope and love and faith Parts of the book are hilarious。 Parts of it are deadly serious。 It's even part slapstick。 But absolutely all of it is really， really good。 This is a richly imagined story that drew me in slowly until I got wound up tight in it。 The writing is extraordinary， a powerful force field of its own。While the society in which the story takes places is fractured and destructive， there is also a deeply spiritual goodness that permeates over the despair and evil， leaving in its wake hope and love and faith。 It's everything you want in a novel。 。。。more
Danielle Mulhearn
，
This book has made James McBride one of my favourite authors。 Despite the novel not being what I initially anticipated I absolutely LOVED it。 So much heart and soul。 It is hilarious at times to the point I found myself laughing even after I had put the book down。 At the same time it tackles real issues that faced generations within the communities in and around the projects。 Loved it。 Warm， heartbreaking， funny。
Rachel
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I felt immersed in a different culture and time。 This book should be read in a short duration， it can easily become confusing and overwhelming。
Lana
，
This is such an interesting look at life in the NY projects in the late '60s。 I listened to some of it which was great to hear the different accents， voices， and establish the characters better than just reading。 I certainly got different and better insight to the multifaceted characters and time。 This is such an interesting look at life in the NY projects in the late '60s。 I listened to some of it which was great to hear the different accents， voices， and establish the characters better than just reading。 I certainly got different and better insight to the multifaceted characters and time。 。。。more
Sherean Malekzadeh allen
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Larger-than-life， absolutely unforgettable， magnetic characters。 A story that takes you back to the projects right as harder drugs were coming in。 McBride draws the stories of the town and its people immensely well。 It might take you a minute to follow along as the chapters change perspective but you'll get it and it'll be worth it。 Larger-than-life， absolutely unforgettable， magnetic characters。 A story that takes you back to the projects right as harder drugs were coming in。 McBride draws the stories of the town and its people immensely well。 It might take you a minute to follow along as the chapters change perspective but you'll get it and it'll be worth it。 。。。more
Sterlingcindysu
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"Never trust a man who doesn't trust。" Well， that makes sense。 Honor among thieves。 "May God hold you in the palm of your hand。" A classic Irish blessing。。。but think about that for a minute。 Where the heck is God going to hold you if he was？ In the crook of his elbow？ On top of his head？ In his hip pocket？ （You might find some good stuff there。） This book takes the cake for the sheer number of characters you have to keep track of。。。just as the red ants on their annual march。 （Man， I should not h "Never trust a man who doesn't trust。" Well， that makes sense。 Honor among thieves。 "May God hold you in the palm of your hand。" A classic Irish blessing。。。but think about that for a minute。 Where the heck is God going to hold you if he was？ In the crook of his elbow？ On top of his head？ In his hip pocket？ （You might find some good stuff there。） This book takes the cake for the sheer number of characters you have to keep track of。。。just as the red ants on their annual march。 （Man， I should not have read this during the annual spring march of black ants in my kitchen。） Almost too many。。。near the end I forgot all about Deacon's son。 Pudgy Fingers。 Now that paints a picture， but I'm not so sure about Sister Bum-Bum。 Remember Christmas Club accounts？ When you could save a dime or quarter a week and actually buy real gifts？ Or perhaps life insurance。 I wonder what type of cheese was given。 Couldn't be ricotta mozarella， too oozy。 Lots to pick from-- 。。。more
Laura Porto
，
DNF - I got about 1/2 way through but just couldn't go forward。 I wanted to love this books since it's gotten so much good press。 DNF - I got about 1/2 way through but just couldn't go forward。 I wanted to love this books since it's gotten so much good press。 。。。more
Marian Mcmullan
，
Story like no otherMcBride does not disappoint in this true to life story in the Bronx。 The dialect is （I think） true to form， the battle of the minorities in the neighborhood is educational， the conversations both amusing and thoughtful。 It took this white person （me） a little time to get the flow but I highly recommend this book when looking for something lighthearted but also learning about what minorities endure。
Julia ✨thebookshelfbitch✨
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