Deacon King Kong

The topic of this episode, James McBride’s stellar novel Deacon King Kong, explores a rara avis among book club reads: it’s funny. Not just amusing or humorous, but laugh-out-loud, tears-in-your-eyes kind of funny, and thanks to McBride’s skills as an author, Deacon King Kong is also full of heart and hope. Following the misadventures of neighborhood drunk Sportcoat after he shoots the community drug dealer, Deacon King Kong explores the lives and livelihoods of the residents of the Cause Houses, a large housing project on the banks of the East River in Brooklyn in 1969. McBride’s ability to use humor to engage readers allows him to dig deeper into hard topics like the early introduction of heroin, alcoholism, and the generational trauma of slavery. But shining brightly through the darkness are things like the relationships and celebrations shared among charming characters, the legendary exploits of Sportcoat and his best friend Hot Sausage, and most importantly: Cheese Day. We dig into McBride’s latest, the winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence, and talk about everything from urban biodiversity to the Brooklyn Dodgers. And as usual, we share our suggestions for what to read, watch and listen to after you’ve finished reading Deacon King Kong.