A review by knkoch
The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

adventurous funny reflective 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

What's not to like about rich historical fiction peopled with bold characters? This reminds me strongly of Colson Whitehead's Harlem Shuffle, where the characters feel like character actors delightedly chewing up the scenery. It's unusual and interesting to imagine aspects of John Brown's abolitionist war-making and rebellion as almost humorous capers, but James McBride succeeds, though with a constant threat of death and menace underscoring each event. McBride masterfully paints John Brown as a fascinating, woodsy, filthy iconoclast, both morally admirable and myopically flawed, strategic and naïve. I don't think I've ever understood the full significance of the raid on Harper's Ferry, which was always presented to me as an anomalous rebellion quickly squelched, and not a major touchstone event in the lead-up to the Civil War. I'm certainly much more interested in catching the TV miniseries for this now! And I'll definitely be reading more James McBride in the future, too. 
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