Deacon King Kong
| Author | James McBride |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Literary fiction |
| Set in | Brooklyn, 1969 |
| Publisher | Riverhead Books |
Publication date | March 3, 2020 |
| Pages | 370 pp. (hardcover 1st ed.) |
| ISBN | 9780735216723 (hardcover 1st ed.) |
| OCLC | 1122690620 |
| 813/.6 | |
| LC Class | PS3613.C28 D43 2020 |
Deacon King Kong is a novel by James McBride. It notably won the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence for Fiction, Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction, and Thurber Prize for American Humor.
Narrative
The story unfolds in September 1969 Brooklyn and centers around volatile Cuffy Lambkin, nicknamed "Sportcoat". Sportcoat, a heavy drinker and church deacon, shocks his community by publicly shooting a young drug dealer, Deems Clemens, in broad daylight at the Cause Houses housing project. The incident sets off a chain of events involving the church community, local gangsters, the police, and residents of the housing complex. As secrets about Sportcoat, Deems, and others come to light, the novel explores their interconnected lives during a period of social and personal upheaval.
Release
It was published in the United States on March 3, 2020.
Critical reception
The novel was by and large praised by critics. According to Book Marks, it received "Rave" reviews.[1]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Booklist Editors' Choice | Adult Audio | Won | [2] |
| Goodreads Choice Awards | Historical Fiction | Nominated–14th | [3] | |
| Kirkus Prize | Fiction | Shortlisted | [4] | |
| New York City Book Award | — | Won | ||
| 2021 | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence | Fiction | Won | [5] |
| Anisfield-Wolf Book Award | Fiction | Won | [6] | |
| Audie Award | Literary Fiction & Classics | Shortlisted | [7] | |
| Dayton Literary Peace Prize | Fiction | Shortlisted | [8] | |
| Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award | — | Shortlisted | [9] | |
| Thurber Prize for American Humor | — | Won | [10] |
Reference
- ^ "Book Marks reviews of Deacon King Kong by James McBride". Book Marks. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Adult Audio, 2020". Booklist.
- ^ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Historical Fiction!". Goodreads. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "2020 Kirkus Prize Finalists". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "2021 Winners | Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence". American Library Association. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "Introducing Our Class of 2021". Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "AudioFile, Discover the World of Audiobooks". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "2020 & 2021 Awards – Dayton Literary Peace Prize". Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "Mark Twain Award Shortlist Announced". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "Past Finalists & Winners | The Thurber Prize". www.thurberprize.org. Retrieved December 22, 2024.