Deacon King Kong The New York Times and Oprah's Book Club Pick

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK 'A hilarious, pitch-perfect comedy set in the Brooklyn projects of the late 1960s. This alone may qualify it as one of the year's best novels.' The Washington Post From the winner of a National Book Award, author of the million-copy selling COLOR OF WATER, and THE GOOD LORD BIRD, soon to be a TV series starring Ethan Hawke The year is 1969. In a housing project in south Brooklyn, a shambling old church deacon called Sportcoat shoots - for no apparent reason - the local drug-dealer who used to be part of the church's baseball team. The repercussions of that moment draw in the whole community, from Sportcoat's best friend - Hot Sausage - to the local Italian mobsters, the police (corrupt and otherwise), and the stalwart ladies of the Five Ends Baptist Church. DEACON KING KONG is a book about a community under threat, about the ways people pull together in an age when the old rules are being rewritten. It is very funny in places, and heartbreaking in others. From a prize-winning storyteller, this New York Times bestseller shows us that not all secrets are meant to be hidden, and that the communities we build are fragile but vital. 'Deacon King Kong is deeply felt, beautifully written and profoundly humane; McBride's ability to inhabit his characters' foibled, all-too-human interiority helps transform a fine book into a great one' The New York Times Book Review ______________________ What readers are saying: ***** 'Deacon King Kong is one of those novels whose brilliance sneaks up on you. I haven't been this pleasantly surprised by a book in a while.' ***** 'I do believe I just finished one of my all time favorite books.' ***** 'This book was a balm for my soul' ***** 'Oh what an absolute treasure this book is!' ***** 'The ending was one of those where you clutch your heart and want to hug the book (or your Kindle).' ***** 'Magnetic, hilarious and mesmerising storytelling from a gifted author.' What reviewers are saying: 'Cracking...Terrific...Deeply felt, beautifully written, and profoundly humane.' New York Times Book Review cover 'The sheer volume of invention in Deacon King Kong commands awe.' The New Yorker 'Among the greatest American storytellers of our time.' Bookpage 'Sets a new standard for multidimensional fiction about people of color.' Booklist, starred review