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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
taylor_nelms's review
challenging
funny
reflective
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
3.75
jwordsmith's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book.
I don’t even quite know what to say about it. A motley collection of characters who leap off the page. A real community with all its flaws at the inflection point in NYC’s interesting history. No character is entirely likable and yet I kind of loved and rooted for all of them. And all of a sudden there would be a half-page-long stream-of-consciousness sentence that nevertheless flowed and I loved it.
Off to download more by James McBride.
I don’t even quite know what to say about it. A motley collection of characters who leap off the page. A real community with all its flaws at the inflection point in NYC’s interesting history. No character is entirely likable and yet I kind of loved and rooted for all of them. And all of a sudden there would be a half-page-long stream-of-consciousness sentence that nevertheless flowed and I loved it.
Off to download more by James McBride.
col13en's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
shans71506's review
4.0
My review is Elle’s review below. She captured what so was thinking in a beautiful way. There were many times i wanted to abandon the book entirely...but I’m glad I didn’t. I thoroughly enjoyed them and their misfit lives. It also left me with many more questions and thoughts....and I’m ok with that!
bmccabe088's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
guybrarian133's review
5.0
James McBride's prose was a lyrical flow that swept me up into a community in flux that was nearly-overflowing with a dazzling array of fleshed-out characters with constantly intersecting paths, the most memorable of them all (and one of the most memorable fictional characters I have encountered in a good while, period) being the deacon for whom this very book is titled. At times side-splittingly ridiculous, at others absolutely wrenching and real, and all-around just a beautiful work of literary art that I just could not put down.
jackamo's review
5.0
Brilliant, authentic dialogue w well realized characters who drive this novel tremendously // a novel w the power to reveal truths deeper than those found in simple fact or nonfictions — more concerned with experiential, relatable truths // reminded me of Barry Gifford and to an extent A Confederacy or Dunces w/ Sportcoat playing into that Ignatius J Reilly kind of hilarity // absolutely loved it and thrilled to go back and read McBride’s other books