Play Book Tag discussion

James McBride always pulls it out. Every time I read him, I am reminded that he is one of my absolute favorite authors. He brings his characters to such life. This one was just great. And I listened in Audio, which was recommended for this book. At first, I wasn't sure if I would prefer it more in print. But now I think that suggestion was right on the mark!

The characters have all kinds of odd names ~ Sportcoat, Soup, Hot Sausage, Lightbulb, Elephant, Beams and Deams. It was absolutely wonderful to see how all of it connected.

In the late sixties, a community is struggling, racked with drugs and drinking and no hope. But in there is a baseball team, moonflowers, cheese that was obstensibly sent by Jesus, and a Church called the Five Ends. There is hope, love, friendship, and community.

In the opening of the book, a drunk old man who regularly commuicates (argues) with his dead wife, goes and shoots a young drug dealer. Nobody knows why. He really liked the kid, practically raised him. This kid represented hope to him, to everyone. But this event sets off a string of interrelated connections, that let us see how a community is bound, and how hope, and kindness, and faith, and understanding, how all can intervene. And still by the end, one is like - What? What actually just happened there? It was a like a piece of old New York History. With the individual stories that make up a community. Dang that was good!

Amy, this is a book that I wished I could love. Instead, after giving it a good try, I had to let it go. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

I recently read and loved The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by McBride. It's remarkable that it has similar themes to what you describe in Deacon King Kong. This book spoke to me in a way that "Deacon" didn't. You might want to add it to your list.

I can't wait to see what McBride does next.

I have this on my Subdue list-two very different opinions from 2 who I respect....very intriguing.

I loved this one and The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is on my hold list at the library (although I don't expect to get a copy for several months).

Amy, I wasn't sure you would love this, but so glad you did.

I can't wait to see your reaction to Heaven & Earth, which I suspect you will love even more.

You probably should wait just a bit between because you won't want to let go of your community from Deacon and move to Chicken Hill in Heaven & Earth to quickly.

Love the review. I have it in a special TBR Tower right by the couch with some James Baldwin, a few mysteries and Harlem Shuffle. Most I know rate it highly but a couple here and there disliked it, so it is not universally embraced - Holly is not alone.

Actually, it took me a while to get into. I can completely understand why Holly put it aside. It’s one of these books that comes together more in the middle. I mean you were hearing the perspectives of varying people and you don’t really yet understand how it’s going to come together. This is one of those books that really built over time. It’s hard to write for multiple voices in a community about similar events. You just get the feeling it’s all going to connect up, but I had in my mind how much everybody loved this book and how good it was. So I patiently waited it out. But I also think the audio actually really helped. It was one of the reasons I was worried that maybe I should have read it in print at first. But maybe had a read it in print I would’ve been rather similar to Holly. That is the reasoning I would add to why the reviews are so disparate. Holly and I normally align pretty darn well together.

I really liked this book and am looking forward to The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. I see that Song Yet Sung is on the Top 100 Fiction voting list, so I'll need to add that to my TBR list as well.