One Book, One San Diego 2025 Author Event Featuring James Mcbride

Please join KPBS and our community partners for a special in-person event with James McBride, author of our 2025 One Book, One San Diego adult selection, Deacon King Kong. Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction Winner of the Gotham Book Prize One of Barack Obama’s “Favorite Books of the Year” Oprah’s Book Club Pick New York Times Readers Pick: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Named one of the Top Ten Books of the Year by the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and TIME Magazine A Washington Post Notable Novel From the author of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, and the bestselling modern classic The Color of Water, comes one of the most celebrated novels of the past few years. In September 1969, a fumbling, cranky old church deacon known as Sportcoat shuffles into the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn, pulls a .38 from his pocket, and, in front of everybody, shoots the project’s drug dealer at point-blank range. The reasons for this desperate burst of violence and the consequences that spring from it lie at the heart of Deacon King Kong, James McBride’s funny, moving novel and his first since his National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird. In Deacon King Kong, McBride brings to vivid life the people affected by the shooting: the victim, the African-American and Latinx residents who witnessed it, the white neighbors, the local cops assigned to investigate, the members of the Five Ends Baptist Church where Sportcoat was deacon, the neighborhood’s Italian mobsters, and Sportcoat himself. As the story deepens, it becomes clear that the lives of the characters—caught in the tumultuous swirl of 1960s New York—overlap in unexpected ways. When the truth does emerge, McBride shows us that not all secrets are meant to be hidden, that the best way to grow is to face change without fear, and that the seeds of love lie in hope and compassion. Bringing to these pages both his masterly storytelling skills and his abiding faith in humanity, James McBride has written a novel every bit as involving as The Good Lord Bird and as emotionally honest as The Color of Water. Told with insight and wit, Deacon King Kong demonstrates that love and faith live in all of us. - This will be a hybrid event with a livestream option on YouTube and Facebook! Please find the links below. YouTube link: [hidden] Facebook link: [hidden] The Belly Up venue is exclusively for individuals who are 21 years of age or older. Please remember to bring a valid ID with you as the venue strictly enforces age verification for entry. The Belly Up is proud to be handicap accessible, ensuring that all our patrons can enjoy our shows comfortably. If you require accommodations, please email [hidden] in advance of the event. Directions & Parking Google Map directions to 143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach, CA 92075 can be found here: [hidden] Free street parking and and both free and paid lot parking is available. Please read and adhere to all parking signage to avoid being ticketed or fined. Belly Up Tavern Rideshare Drop-off and Pickup Location At Belly Up Tavern, there are specific pick-up locations for rideshare users. You’ll find the designated pick-up spots at 143 S. Cedros Ave, in front of the Tavern. Using rideshare to attend an event is a great option because it eliminates the stress of finding parking, which can often be scarce and expensive. Additionally, ridesharing promotes safety by providing reliable transportation if you plan on consuming alcohol during your visit. For details on trolley and bus options visit, Metropolitan Transit System Bus and Trolley Routes ([hidden]). Bag Policy & Prohibited Items Clear bags are strongly encouraged for quick inspection and enhanced security, as they provide visibility of contents, speeding up entry. If a clear bag isn’t feasible, opaque bags should be around clutch size or at least fit comfortably under a seat; oversized bags and backpacks will not be allowed inside. Prohibited items include weapons, illegal substances, outside food, hazardous materials, and disruptive items. Refreshments Non-alcoholic beverages are served as well as alcoholic beverages including but not limited to beer and mixed drinks. Accepted Payment Methods Belly Up Tavern primarily operates on a cashless basis. Health Protocol Before arriving at this event please assess your health. If you observe any runny nose, cough, tickle/sore throat, fever, body aches or any other unusual symptoms, please stay home. We appreciate your cooperation. - "Deacon King Kong" may be purchased at the event from the Library Shop. Proceeds support the entire San Diego Public Library System. Or check out "Deacon King Kong" for free through the San Diego County Library or the San Diego Public eLibrary. - One Book, One San Diego is a partnership, led by KPBS, with the San Diego Public Library, the San Diego County Library, San Diego State University, One Book Sin Fronteras and more than 40 organizations. For more information about One Book, One San Diego, please visit: [hidden] - More Info below.