Deacon King Kong served with a Rosemary Maple Whisky sour and Cheese

 Deacon King Kong by James McBride 

This is a book I probably would have never picked up if it weren't for my book group.  Boy am I glad I did!   

I listened to this on audio and the first chapter, I was like....  what?  There were probably 20 characters discussed and each one with a crazy nickname.  I thought there is no way i'm going to know all of these people.  But then the story really starts and it focuses on just a handful and we really get to know each of them.  It's 1969 Brooklyn and old drunk Sportcoat shoots the meanest drug dealer around and everyone witnesses it.  No one knows why he did it and he doesn't even remember doing it.  From here the story digs into Sportcoat, who is a deacon at the church,  his best friend, the drug dealer, the local mafia guy,  the wife of the preacher, one of the cops investigating and a few others.  Oh my!  I just loved this book.  The characters are so great.  We have the mystery of the shooting, a couple of romances and a look at loneliness .   The book is full of humor (there is a chapter on ants!) and also tackles some tough issues without throwing them right in your face.  One of my favorite side stories is of Elephante the local mafia guy and his search for love and for a hidden treasure.  The names alone are worth reading this- Pudgy fingers, Hot Sausage, The Governor.    Overall it is a character study which weaves together this community and the church. McBride is a master of words and I now understand the high praise he receives.   I highly recommend this book.  Don't let that first chapter scare you off!  And the narrator , Dominic Hoffman, is so good.  He is just amazing the way he does the voices. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Throughout the book they discuss the king kong which seems to be a kind of moonshine that Sportcoat drinks.   They also talk about the cheese.  Every month the church gets cheese to hand out to their parish.  No one knows where it comes from or who furnishes it.  But it is good cheese.  I knew i had to serve cheese and some type of drink.  I landed on a Rosemary Maple Whiskey sour because i think if Sportcoat had ever had the money, he might have drank Whiskey instead of Kong.  I found some great cheese and this was dinner!   One of the cheeses is called Beehive Cheese which is totally appropriate because our bookgroup is the Beehive!   

Rosemary Maple Whiskey sour recipe 

In a shaker put 

a sprig of rosemary- i roll it between my hands first to release the fragrant and then put it in the shaker 

1 part Whisky, 1/2 part lemon juice, 1/3 part maple syrup.    Shake over ice and then strain into a glass.  Top with another rosemary sprig and drink!   It is delicious!