Deacon King Kong (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel

In September 1969, a fumbling, cranky old church deacon known as Sportcoat shuffles into the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn, pulls a .38 from his pocket, and in front of everybody shoots the project's drug dealer at point-blank range. The reasons for this desperate burst of violence and the consequences that spring ...show more

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400 pages

Average rating: 7.61

294 RATINGS

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7 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

puravjha07
Jan 16, 2024
Set in the Cause Houses of Brooklyn in 1969, this is a slice-of-life tale. I've never been to this place or at this time before, but it seems less strange now. McBride has a great ability to weave a story while preventing too much confusion between the numerous characters and plot points. But beyond the three intertwining and tangling of individual lives over time, what is life? At the end, there is a satisfying resolution. And when I consider th...read more
margardenlady
Dec 27, 2023
8/10 stars
This is a slice of life story set in the Cause Houses of Brooklyn 1969. A time and location completely unfamiliar to me, but now a little bit less foreign. McBride can definitely spin a narrative and keep the many characters and lines of action from tangling overmuch. But what is life, other than three mingling and tangling of individual lives over time? The resolution at the end is satisfying. And as I think about the story, I am struck by the ...read more
Saposto
Apr 01, 2023
9/10 stars
The characters in DKK are vivid and real; the unique names and interrelatedness exemplifies how neighborhoods used to be personified as a be a member of one’s family. The novel takes off after Chapter 5 as the characters’ purpose become evident.
minnie052457
Apr 14, 2022
I liked it. It was a slog though.
Kimmers
Apr 13, 2022
8/10 stars
Wildly entertaining where you could laugh out loud. There were some real characters in that book.

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