Deacon King Kong first gained traction after it was recommended by both Obama and Oprah in “Favorite Books of the Year” and Book Club Pick, respectively. Prior to that, not many had taken notice of this gem. This was certainly unexpected considering how James McBride had previously enjoyed a huge success with his previous book., The Good Lord Bird, for which he won the National Book Award.
The book starts us off in the 1960s, in a small community in New York city that is mostly inhabited by the African Americans. Sportscoat, also known as “Deacon King Kong”, shoots Deems Clemens, a young notorious drug dealer in the face. The reason for this is slowly revealed through the story which quickly shifts into a mystery narrative with people in the neighborhood working to uncover the truth behind the shooting. A thrilling story then unfolds, as people search for sportscoat to exact revenge. Though there are many different aspects to this the book, it is mostly about the community and how one action can cause a ripple that implicates everyone, even if they are not present.
I am really impressed with this novel and would highly recommend it as it is really unique and well written. Although there is violence present in the story, there was nothing graphic. The scenes are not uncalled for and instead have a purpose behind them. The story covers a lot like racism and the dangers faced as a person of color while emphasizing on topics like faith, church, community and friendship, making the reader feel warm and empathetic by the end of the book even with all the serious issues it covers. Although there is a huge cast of characters, McBride does a great job of stitching everyone’s stories together and breathing life into the characters through his rich descriptions. One simply can’t help but feel connected to and sympathetic towards all the characters by the end of it all. The book is also filled with humor, which could be found both in the narration as well as the dialogues. There are several moments in the book that make me laugh out loud with just the absurd situations or descriptions. Overall, McBride was able to show the reader the lives of black people in a serious but also at the same time humorous and respectful way. This book is definitely one of my favourites and if you are a fan of James McBride or is just searching for a fiction book to read, you may want to try reading Deacon King Kong.
By Zi Xin