Homicide: A Year On the Killing Streets

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Homicide: A Year On the Killing Streets - David Simon - 7/10/2008 2:28:04 PM

demoncleaner

Posts: 2176
Joined: 3/10/2005
From: Belfast

Arguably an American modern classic given a revival chance this side of the pond since the conclusion of The Wire, I have just picked this up and I�m glad to say it�s doing everything to assuage the loss of that (what�s bigger than a zeitgeist?) TV show.
I�m a quarter of the way through this book but it�s a massively gripping read from the first pages. Simon�s narrative structure couldn�t be simpler: following homicide detectives across 2 shifts over the course of a year. Getting to know one character is done via the chronology of events happening within respective cases. I can�t stress enough how rich this intertwining of stories and characters is as a result and there�s a resounding pleasure in appreciating that as narrator Simon gets to do this naturally, with legitimate purpose, whereas a novelist, or less scrupulous true-crime reporter would jump through hoops to manipulate this circumstance. I�m not a fan of crime per se, whether true-crime, fiction, or actual. Of the limited amount I have read this is evoking fond memories of LA Confidential (�Great film. Better fucking book!� to quote Ellroy himself). But as I said, the real thrill is knowing this is real, and under David Simon�s professional integrity for once this does not equate to a prurient thrall.

I�m sure a number of people on here have, or are intending to read this. Apologies if there have been other posts/threads.

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RE: Homicide: A Year On the Killing Streets - David Simon - 7/10/2008 2:35:19 PM

Hobbitonlass

Posts: 11619
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Westeros

Started reading this yesterday!

Great stuff so far.

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RE: Homicide: A Year On the Killing Streets - David Simon - 7/10/2008 11:00:12 PM

Acho

Posts: 3903
Joined: 3/10/2005
From: Dublin, Co. Ireland

I'm reading this at the moment too! Just started it last week, was going to wait til I was about halfway through before starting a thread! I'm really enjoying it. I've been catching up on The Wire lately, so had watched four seasons in the space of two months, but that hasn't taken from my enjoyment of the book at all.

It's very dense, but not unwieldy. Like the tv series, it does demand your attention, in that it might be easy to lose the threads of who's who, but the writing is very accessible. There's a sense of authenticity to it (leastways, I'm assuming there is - can't vouch for the Baltimore Police Department myself!) but it isn't bogged down with jargon. Every sentence and turn of phrase lends itself to the story.

It's a pretty long book (over 600 ages with small print!) so I'm only about a quarter of the way through, but making good, enjoyable progress. It's fun spotting the matching characters from The Wire too!

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RE: Homicide: A Year On the Killing Streets - David Simon - 14/10/2008 11:58:39 PM

Acho

Posts: 3903
Joined: 3/10/2005
From: Dublin, Co. Ireland

I'm about three quarters of the way through this now. Really, really enjoying. It's just such good writing. Seeing as much of it is concerned with police procedural work, it's remarkable how easily the narrative flows. I like how Simon doesn't appear to be preaching or putting his own stamp on the workings of the detective unit, yet at the same time offers so much more than just an accurate account of what goes on. I found the 'chapter' concering the Miranda rights particularly fascinating. It was both informative (taught me stuff I hadn't known!) and insightful - Simon offers analysis without even appearing to do so.

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