Reviews

Deacon King Kong by James McBride

pchopd's review against another edition

5.0

This book is beautiful. You have to make space for it- it is filled to the brim! I found myself needing to go back and make sure I caught all of what was being said, and I will certainly need to read it again. I know I will find a whole new set of wordings and wisdoms I still missed.

lindabook2024's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring sad 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

5.0

cecile87's review against another edition

5.0

Yes, as someone mentioned, it felt a bit cartoonish, with lots of overdrawn characters creating a sort of background rhythm to the story.

Nevertheless, I found it a clever means to shine a light on the oppression, the wounds that come from systematic racism and the inhumanity and greed of plantation capitalism that is the blood of this very ill country.

Also, it was a very colorful reflection of the foibles and the nobility that can be found in human nature.

stephaniesteen73's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book! The characters were memorable, the writing engaging with an interesting plot (and several plot twists). I have heard it's great on audio as well and would definitely consider listening to it to get that experience. Highly recommend!

hirvimaki's review against another edition

1.0

An almost DNF - but it is a book club pick so... I had to skim after about 40%. I just couldn't. It has a congeries of characters that rivals Six of Crows or Handmaiden's Tale but the depth of a 90's sitcom. If there was anything profound in those pages I didn't find it (I don't buy that everyone is good even when doing bad) and if there was humour it was mostly lost on me. It is long and repetitive with a cliche ending. Yes, it is a slice-of-life tale, but not a very good one. Please give me Steinbeck, Salinger, Lee, or, if you want to be more modern, Zusak, Coelho, or Haddon. I'm fully willing to admit that it went over my head because I was unable to connect with any character. But not because I didn't grow up in a Brooklyn housing project. I wasn't fleeing persecution and murder in WW2 nor a was I a tenant farmer in the Great Depression nor a shepherd boy searching for treasure at the Egyptian pyramids, yet I was able to connect with and truly care about those characters. Not so with any of the cartoonish, floppy characters in this book.

kimmaloo's review against another edition

5.0

Excellent audiobook. The narrator is superb.

patmella's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

bhnmt61's review against another edition

5.0

I started this book on audio, but there were too many characters — or something. Honestly, I’m not sure why it wasn’t working because the narrator’s voice reminded me of my favorite uncle.

The story had me hooked, though, so I switched to print. I don’t know what to say that hasn’t been said by many others. After a dramatic shooting at the beginning, you get slowly drawn in to the lives of a whole bunch of people who live around the Five Ends Baptist Church in NYC. And also there is Jesus cheese.

By the end, you just love them all. McBride’s genius is that even though he’s telling you a story full of addiction, crime, and racism, it is suffused with joy. I was surprised into laughter more than once. Deserves all the many accolades it has received.

dstrombo's review

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

madrtz's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.0