A review by robertrivasplata
Deacon King Kong by James McBride

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

The Brooklyn version of The Troublesome Offspring of Cardinal Guzman. Takes place in an old housing project home to a wacky & diverse cast of characters. Takes place in 1969: in the middle of the postwar urban neglect, & at the end of the great migration. As such, it's kind of a story of the old generation that came up from the old country being replaced by the younger City-born generation. It's also a gangster story, and much else. Fast paced, despite the many digressions going into the life stories of the many characters, or of the neighborhood itself. Makes me want to visit New York, read some history of New York City, & also find out more about Robert Moses. I feel like someone with more familiarity with New York & Brooklyn than me would probably get more out of Deacon King Kong, & someone with familiarity with 1960s New York would probably get more out of it still. The circular quality of many of the conversations reminds me of The Buried Giant, except the only truly brain-damaged participant is the titular Deacon. The depictions of public life in the Cause Houses remind me of Jane Jacobs' discussions of civic life & the use of the public spaces in cities. I really want to hear Los Soñadores. They sound like my kind of music.