James mcbride and the good lord bird band live from the. From james mcbride, author of the national book awardwinning the good lord bird, comes a wise and witty novel about what happens to the witnesses of a shooting. Treating tragic and painful historical events with humor is risky business. Or dave chappelles parody of roots, where his kunta kinte whoops his masters ass. James mcbride opens live from the nypls spring 2014 season with an exploration of his latest work the good lord bird winner of the 20 national book award for fiction. The good lord bird is a 20 novel by james mcbride about a slave who unites with john brown in browns abolitionist mission. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with mcbrides meticulous eye for detail and character, the good lord bird is both a rousing adventure and a. Interviewing james mcbride, author of the bestselling memoir the color of water and the good lord bird, the unexpectedly hilarious new novel. James mcbride on the good lord bird chicago tribune. The color of water author james mcbride talks to chief arts correspondent jeffrey brown about his new book and winner of this years national book award in. Author james mcbride finds humor in pain and pain in humor. He is also the author of kill em and leave, a james.
A black mans tribute to his white mother, and the good lord bird, and more on. Analysis and discussion of characters in james mcbride s the good lord bird. While mcbride considers himself more of a musician than a literary scribe, we are here on this brisk november afternoon because showtime has just filmed a limited series based on his bold, irreverent novel the good lord bird. The good lord bird by james mcbride is about a slave boy, henry shackleford, who becomes part of john browns antislavery movement. Reading james mcbrides the good lord bird brought me the kind of joy that makes me question the decentness of my pleasure. His most recent book, the good lord bird, is the winner of the 20 national book award for fiction. Marie arana marie arana, a native of peru, is the former editor of the posts book world and the author of the.
He is the recipient of the 20 national book award for fiction for his novel the good lord bird. His landmark memoir, the color of water, was on the new york times bestseller list for two years. Summary the good lord bird, published in 20, is a historical novel written by james mcbride. 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 awardwinning the good lord bird. It is set during three years of the slave era south and is a work of progressive americana in the vein. Aug 09, 20 interviewing james mcbride, author of the bestselling memoir the color of water and the good lord bird, the unexpectedly hilarious new novel about the 19th century abolitionist john brown and. James mcbride walks a fine line in the national book awardwinning the good lord bird. A slaveryera comedy sounds like a risky proposal, but james mcbride pulls it off with style in the good lord bird. The novel is narrated by 12yearold henry shackleford, a kansas slave brown mistakes for a girl. The color of water author james mcbride talks to chief arts correspondent jeffrey brown about his new book and winner of this years national book award in fiction, the good lord bird. The good lord bird is created by ethan hawke, in the actors first major foray into writing episodic television.
Such is the persona who narrates james mcbride s absorbing and darkly funny novel, the good lord bird. The tiein edition to showtimes eightpart tv series starring ethan hawke and daveed diggs, which premieres in 2020. Such is the persona who narrates james mcbrides absorbing and darkly funny novel, the good lord bird. Book club discussion good lord bird pritzker military.
Nov 25, 20 james mcbride was so sure that his novel the good lord bird was not going to win the national book award that in the final moments before the prize was announced last wednesday at a black. James mcbrides the good lord bird follows 10yearold exslave henry, known as the onion, as he travels with abolitionist john brown. In james mcbrides new novel, the good lord bird, brown is a comic figure, given to making religious speeches at strangely inappropriate. James mcbride books list of books by author james mcbride. The good lord bird by james mcbride, paperback barnes. The good lord bird is james mcbrides fourth book, his third novel, and one that takes on a characteristically ambitious topic. James mcbride was so sure that his novel the good lord bird was not going to win the national book award that in the final moments before the. Henry shackelford is mcbride s protagonist, a fauxnaif square in the tradition of. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with mcbrides meticulous eye for detail and character, the good lord bird is both a rousing adventure. Nov 09, 2015 james mcbride was a professional saxophonist for decades before he took up writing. Dec 02, 20 the color of water author james mcbride talks to chief arts correspondent jeffrey brown about his new book and winner of this years national book award in fiction, the good lord bird.
What role do the good lord bird and its feathers play in john browns story. The good lord bird, by james mcbride james mcbride s the good lord bird follows 10yearold exslave henry, known as the onion, as he travels with abolitionist john brown. Old john brown, a historical figure who is hilariously fictionalized by mcbride, is a zealous, biblequoting white abolitionist in the kansas territory. The first is from quentin tarantino s django unchained. 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.
Aug 05, 2014 in anticipation of james mcbride s upcoming book, deacon king kong, were giving away 25 copies of his previous book, the good lord bird. Fred tells little onion that a good lord bird is so pretty that when man sees it, he says, good lord, and that a feather from this bird will bring you understanding thatll last your whole life. Back in 20, mcbride won the prestigious national book award for fiction for the provocative and unapologetically knee. James mcbride born september 11, 1957 is an american writer and musician. James mcbride, author of the good lord bird in 1857, john brown liberates 12yearold henry from his master. Mcbride is a distinguished writer in residence at new york university. I was eager to read james mcbrides novel the good lord bird.
James mcbride is an accomplished musician and author of the new york times bestseller, the color of water. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with mcbrides meticulous eye for detail and character, the good lord bird is both a rousing. The third is among countless uproarious moments in the good lord bird, mcbrides brilliant romp of a novel about brown, narrated by a freed slave boy who passes as a girl. His most recent work of historical fiction, the good lord bird, was the winner of the national book award for fiction in 20. Analysis and discussion of characters in james mcbrides the good lord bird. Eventually little onion finds himself with brown at the historic raid on harpers ferry in 1859one of the great catalysts for the civil war. Aug 18, 20 the third is among countless uproarious moments in the good lord bird, mcbrides brilliant romp of a novel about brown, narrated by a freed slave boy who passes as a girl. Good lord bird the series is based on the 20 novel of the same name by james mcbride. The memoirs of henry shackleford, a slave in kansas during the bleeding kansas era, are discovered in a. Winner of the 20 national book award for fiction, the good lord bird by james mcbride is an inspired and slightly transgressive take on the story of abolitionist john brown. The good lord bird, by james mcbride join the pmml book club for a discussion of james mcbrides historical novel, the good lord bird winner of the 20 national book award for fiction.
The good lord bird, james mcbrides 20 novel about a young boy in abolitionist john browns ragtag army, is probably the funniest book about slavery you will ever read. Book giveaway for the good lord bird by james mcbride mar. His most recent book, the good lord bird, is the winner of. No slave who fought with brown survived to shed light on the man whose armed insurrections electrified the nation and led to the civil war that is, until james mcbrides the good lord bird. Aug 05, 2014 in anticipation of james mcbrides upcoming book, deacon king kong, were giving away 25. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the good lord bird. The third is among countless uproarious moments in the good lord bird. Mcbride august 8, 1911 april 5, 1957 was africanamerican. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with mcbride s meticulous eye for detail and character, the good lord bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival. The good lord bird 2020 official trailer ethan hawke. James mcbrides new novel, narrated by a freed slave boy who passes as a girl, is a romp about john browns violent crusade against slavery.
Jan 23, 2014 reading james mcbrides the good lord bird brought me the kind of joy that makes me question the decentness of my pleasure. The novel follows young slave henry shackleford, whisked away from his owners by the alreadynotorious browns renegade group. You know what i mean if youve watched the scene in django unchained when the klan members complain about the faulty eyeholes in their white hoods. In deacon king kong, mcbride brings to vivid life the people affected by the shooting. See all books authored by james mcbride, including the color of water. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with mcbrides meticulous eye for detail and character, the good lord bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival. The national book awardwinning modern classic from james mcbride, the tragic, funny story of a boy who joins john browns antislavery crusade and passes as a girl to survive. This boisterous novel imagines a slave who pretends to be a girl and rides with abotionist john brown. The national book award for fiction winner is told as a. En espanol midlife comeback kid ethan hawke tells aarp about turning 50, marriage advice, and his eightpart tv version of james mcbrides national book awardwinning novel the good lord bird showtime, feb. This page will keep readers and fans updated on the work of author and musician james mcbride. James mcbride deacon king kong from james mcbride, author of the national book awardwinning the good lord bird, comes a wise and witty novel about what happens to the witnesses of a shooting.
He previously wrote screenplay for his feature directorial debut, blaze. The good lord bird is a 20 novel by james mcbride about henry shackleford, a slave, who unites with john brown in browns abolitionist mission. Showtime orders ethan hawkes good lord bird limited. The good lord bird is a tale of the antebellum south like none youve heard.
James mcbride on his novel the good lord bird the new. The good lord bird is a 20 novel written by james mcbride. Mar 21, 2015 the good lord bird, by james mcbride join the pmml book club for a discussion of james mcbrides historical novel, the good lord bird winner of the 20 national book award for fiction. The national book award for fiction winner is told as a memoir of an enslaved teen. Ethan hawke stars as john brown in the good lord bird. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with mcbrides meticulous eye for detail and character, the good lord bird is both a rousing adventure and. Showtime series adapts james mcbrides the good lord bird. A young slave is liberated by john brown, who will later try to ignite a revolution. The good lord bird, by james mcbride james mcbrides the good lord bird follows 10yearold exslave henry, known as the onion, as he travels with abolitionist john brown. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The color of water author james mcbride talks to chief arts correspondent jeffrey brown about his new book and winner of this years. The good lord bird by james mcbride the washington post. The good lord bird tv miniseries 2020 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. So the story of john brown has been written and written about in nonfiction and fiction.
James mcbrides the good lord bird offers room to laugh. Book giveaway for the good lord bird by james mcbride mar 02. Mar 11, 2019 good lord bird the series is based on the 20 novel of the same name by james mcbride. Interviewing james mcbride, author of the bestselling memoir the color of water and the good lord bird, the unexpectedly hilarious new novel about the 19th century abolitionist john.
It is a firstperson fictional account of the experiences of henry shackleford, a slave boy from kansas territory, as he travels across precivil war america with fanatically religious abolitionist john. His subject is john brown and the failed raid on the federal armory at harpers ferry in 1861. Mar 02, 2014 the good lord bird is a tale of the antebellum south like none youve heard. The novel follows young slave henry shackleford, whisked away.