Deacon King Kong

Sportcoat. Readers looking for a funny novel with terrific characters, spot perfect dialogue and all around great writing should pick up James McBride’s novel titled, Deacon King Kong. The title refers to the protagonist, a church deacon with a penchant for the moonshine called King Kong, and whom everyone calls Sportcoat. Set in a Brooklyn housing project in 1969, the novel is packed with a cast of engaging characters, living and dead, and relationships that pass the test of time. I kept copying phrases like “…your cheese done slid off your cracker.” (p. 44) Add to the recipe guns, drugs, the mob, and a long-held secret, and the result is hours of hilarious reading pleasure. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase Deacon King Kong from amazon.com.