James McBride
James McBride is an acclaimed American author, musician, and screenwriter known for his rich storytelling and exploration of race, identity, and faith. He won the National Book Award for The Good Lord Bird, a novel about abolitionist John Brown. His debut memoir, The Color of Water, became a bestseller and is widely studied in schools. A former journalist and saxophonist, McBride blends humor and heart in stories that celebrate human connection across cultural divides. His work often highlights overlooked voices in American history, as seen in his recent novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. He lives in New York.
Set in 1970s Pottstown, Pennsylvania, this novel uncovers secrets buried within a tight-knit, racially diverse community. When a skeleton is discovered in a well, the town's residents are forced to confront long-held truths. At the heart of the story is the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, a beacon of kindness owned by a Jewish woman who shelters a deaf Black boy from institutional cruelty. McBride’s novel is a rich tapestry of history, humor, and humanity, illuminating how love and community can thrive despite systemic injustice, making it both a gripping mystery and a moving exploration of American life.
In James McBride's 'Deacon King Kong,' readers are transported to a vibrant Brooklyn neighborhood in the late 1960s, where an elderly deacon, known as Sportcoat, inexplicably shoots a drug dealer in the courtyard of a local housing project. As the novel unravels, McBride weaves a tapestry of interconnected lives, exploring themes of community, forgiveness, and the complexities of human nature. Through humor and heart, the author delves deep into the characters' pasts, revealing their struggles and hopes. 'Deacon King King' is a poignant and powerful tale that offers a nuanced portrayal of race, faith, and redemption.