My most recent read was James McBride’s new novel Deacon King Kong. The book was published in early 2020 and is based in the projects of Brooklyn in 1969. It tells the tale of Deacon King Kong, the nickname for a 71-year-old man who is technically a deacon at the local church. What exactly Deacon King Kong, also known as Sportcoat, does as a deacon is unclear, a fact referenced several times throughout the novel.
This is the first of McBride’s books that I have read. Born in 1957, he has been a fairly prolific writer, and his 2002 novel Miracle at St. Anna was turned into a movie directed by Spike Lee. McBride also garnered acclaim for his 1995 memoir called The Color of Water, which explores his childhood growing up in the projects of Red Hook Brooklyn as one of twelve children.
I learned of McBride’s origin story after finishing Deacon King Kong. He so vividly recreates the complexity and diversity of life in a Brooklyn project in the late 1960s that it seems to make sense that he has seen this world first-hand. Although following all of the different characters in Deacon King Kong can at times be challenging, the range of personalities in the book are incredible and a ton of fun. My favorite characters included Hot Sausage, Sister Gee, and Soup. I also came to love the main character Sportcoat.
I highly recommend this book, especially for those familiar with New York and the immigrant experience in the city throughout the twentieth century. It is an account of New York as the quintessential melting pot showing all the beauty and challenges that result from this.
For more analysis on the book, check out this review from the New Yorker (has spoilers though!).
Jeff Cangialosi 