Deacon King Kong: A Novel by James McBride - Book Review

A memorable cast of characters with equally memorable names like Sportcoat, Sister Gee, Elephant, Four Pie Lady, and Sausage inhabit this Damon Runyonesque story of life in a Brooklyn housing project. A series of momentous events unfold after Sportcoat, in an alcoholic stupor, shoots the ear off a local drug dealer, a kid who used to be the star player on the baseball team he coached. McBride effortlessly spans the cavern between some of the most serious issues confronting urban America and humor that sometimes approaches a slapstick level. The new book by the author of The Good Lord Bird is infused with a zest for life that is exhilarating, suspenseful, and completely delightful. ~ Reviewed by Alden Graves