Deacon King Kong

 James McBride wrote this gripping novel, Deacon King Kong. The story is set in the southern Brooklyn in public housing near the wharf. The public housing, called "The Cause," was originally built for the Italian immigrants who worked on the docks unloading boats. Now people of color live here and Deacon King Kong is one of them. The Deacon has many flaws. He wasn't the best husband to his wife, Hettie. He drinks way too much hooch which is named King Kong. He is rarely sober. He is a good father, for the most part, to his son, Pudgey. Pudgey is blind and the entire neighborhood makes sure he gets to his destinations and that his needs are met. The people in this set of public housing buildings are really a community. Some of the people are criminals and drug dealers and pimps and prostitutes but they are still a community.  One day Deacon point blank shoots the worst drug dealer in "The Cause." The aftermath of that shooting is what the book is all about and it is really interesting. This book is worth listening to via audio book because the narrator does an excellent job.