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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So good! I'm glad I recommended it for our library book group. Even though I wasn't as thrilled with Heaven and Earth Grocery Store as some people, I respect a BookTuber who loves McBride's work and was happy to give another book of his a chance. So glad I did!
The area where the book is set is in lower Brooklyn but had sort of a feel of Gatsby's Valley of Ashes. At one point a character even looks across the water at some lights where the rich people live and dreams of moving on up. This book is also in conversation with other influential American novels. Even if it weren't, the humor, storytelling, history, romance, etc. would, I think, keep it on readers' radar. There's a "mystery" but you know what and where the MacGuffin is long before that gets resolved. This isn't a problem as it would be with a lesser writer. You're in good hands throughout, and some passages might blow you away.
Too bad I don't think anyone is ever going to read any of my Storygraph reviews. It's all just notes to self, sadly. I would love to recommend this book to people. Hubby doesn't read physical books but sometimes listens to audio. I haven't heard the narration but I'm trying to persuade him to give it a listen and tell me what he thinks.
Update: The book group met, and the librarian told me the audiobook reader is the same one who reads Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, hand picked by the author. I was surprised some of the new book group members didn't really vibe with this book, but apparently some readers aren't as interested in the excellence of the writing and only like books they can relate to. "I've never been to New York/the projects/don't understand the dialect" etc. Well, by that metric I guess they wouldn't like Shakespeare either. I'm sure they've never been to Elsinore, for instance. But when I say that this book is Shakespearean in scope, I mean it offers a view of life from the humor and personal particulars to the broader lens of society, doing what good and great art is supposed to do and helping us connect with times, places, and people outside of if our own experience. The great and enduring subject is Life. It saddened me that not all of the ladies were able to connect with that, but to be clear that is no fault of the book. The writing is, objectively, chef's kiss.
The area where the book is set is in lower Brooklyn but had sort of a feel of Gatsby's Valley of Ashes. At one point a character even looks across the water at some lights where the rich people live and dreams of moving on up. This book is also in conversation with other influential American novels. Even if it weren't, the humor, storytelling, history, romance, etc. would, I think, keep it on readers' radar. There's a "mystery" but you know what and where the MacGuffin is long before that gets resolved. This isn't a problem as it would be with a lesser writer. You're in good hands throughout, and some passages might blow you away.
Too bad I don't think anyone is ever going to read any of my Storygraph reviews. It's all just notes to self, sadly. I would love to recommend this book to people. Hubby doesn't read physical books but sometimes listens to audio. I haven't heard the narration but I'm trying to persuade him to give it a listen and tell me what he thinks.
Update: The book group met, and the librarian told me the audiobook reader is the same one who reads Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, hand picked by the author. I was surprised some of the new book group members didn't really vibe with this book, but apparently some readers aren't as interested in the excellence of the writing and only like books they can relate to. "I've never been to New York/the projects/don't understand the dialect" etc. Well, by that metric I guess they wouldn't like Shakespeare either. I'm sure they've never been to Elsinore, for instance. But when I say that this book is Shakespearean in scope, I mean it offers a view of life from the humor and personal particulars to the broader lens of society, doing what good and great art is supposed to do and helping us connect with times, places, and people outside of if our own experience. The great and enduring subject is Life. It saddened me that not all of the ladies were able to connect with that, but to be clear that is no fault of the book. The writing is, objectively, chef's kiss.
It took me longer than I expected to get through this book. It’s wonderfully written, but the first half had me wondering where it was heading and if it was worth it to keep reading. Really glad I stuck with it. The character development was really well done. All the questions I had while reading came together by the end. Lots of themes to think about for the big picture of life.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked the multiple POV, and I think it worked really well with the plot and the central theme of community.
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
At times serious and at other times funny, McBride’s story of a community and city in changing times did have its moments. But with all of the different characters introduced in such a little time and a confusing way to introduce the inciting action at the beginning of the novel, I found it difficult to understand what exactly was going on. But, it did have its moments and worked best when it was a comedy of errors. I might have to read it again to fully understand everything that happened.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
It took me to a place and time I never will inhabit, with characters I never will forget. And o the laughter!
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This book just got better as the story moved along. A lot of different characters that I wondered how they would all tie together. A lot of funny pieces and that "palm of God's hand" that I just knew was going to be important! So much great character development.
Deacon King Kong by James McBride is an absolute gem—a vibrant blend of historical fiction, humor, and social commentary. The novel explores themes of community, redemption, and the unexpected ways in which lives intertwine. The characters are messy, flawed, and wonderfully human, with motivations that are lovingly layered. At the heart of it all is Sportcoat, an aging church deacon whose impulsive act of violence triggers a chain reaction that ripples through a Brooklyn neighborhood in 1969. McBride’s writing is sharp yet vivid, effortlessly balancing wit and poignancy. The story is rich in character, themes, and heart, offering a heartfelt meditation on faith, survival, and the enduring power of love and forgiveness.
The story unfolds slowly, which might feel tedious for more experienced readers in this genre, but honestly, I think that’s part of the charm. The pacing lets you savor the moments and gives fans the space to predict what's coming. And when things do finally click together? It’s so satisfying! I was worried the ending might fumble (as so many books do), but McBride wraps it all up in this perfect, imperfect way that feels earned and real.
'
Comp titles: The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr., 'The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store' by James McBride, 'The Sellout' by Paul Beatty
Comp titles: The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr., 'The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store' by James McBride, 'The Sellout' by Paul Beatty
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes