This was a pretty decent crime story.

It's hard for me to talk about this book without talking about the Wire. I'd never have heard of the author if it wasn't for the Wire, after all. I think the Wire was a great TV show because it had details and interesting nuggets, not because the main narrative was particularly intriguing. I watched the Wire waiting for my favorite characters (who, with the exception of Omar, were always the minor ones, if not the outright marginal: Bodie, Slim, Brother Mouzone...), and the subtlety (and the familiarity) of the city.

This story probably gave the same % of interesting nuggets, but because it was a 6 hour book-on-CD and not a 6 season, 13 episode per season, hour per episode epic, I can't say it was particularly great. The main reason I kept listening was because I live where all these events took place.

New York city has such a cultural hegemony that every goddamn book, TV show and movie are supposed to take place there. When I saw the Wire, it was so refreshing to not have to look at NYC (or Toronto, NYC's screen lookalike) or think about the culture of NYC. But it's a true pleasure to read about DC, and to have my neighborhood's landmarks be the backdrop to a narrative was a primary factor in my finishing this book. ( )

This is a good easy to read book.
The main character is Lorenzo Brown an ex con who lives in Washington DC, he is trying to get his life back on track he works as a Humane officer helping animals that have been neglected.

He is friendly with his Parole officer Rachel Lopez and from his day to day dealings with the people of Washington he sees his old gang and other undesirables.

There is a bit of a turf war between two rival gangs. Rachel is then attacked and Lorenzo is very tempted to get involved. His old crew Boss Nigel tells him to stay out of it.
It doesn't end well for the gangs or Nigel.
Lorenzo with the help of his dog Jasmin stays out of trouble.

Good book very enjoyable. All the George Pelecanos books I have read have been excellent. ( )

Lorenzo Brown is an ex-convict who is determined to lead a normal, morally righteous life. He is employed as a Humane Society officer for the city, determined to protect abused animals and bring some sort of justice to those that cannot defend themselves. Throughout all this, he has to stop himself from getting involved with the old street life.

At work he is employed alongside Mark, who is a humorous and supportive character. The trials he goes through as a Humane Officer are intriguing and depressing in a realistic way.

His parole officer, Rachel Lopez, is one of the good ones, believing that some people really can transform their lives for the better. But while during the day she has her head on her shoulders, at night is a much different story.

Drama City takes the reader through the daily lives of both of these main characters, creating an interesting story that is believable and realistic. When something tragic happens that could cause Lorenzo to undo his oath that says he should stay on the good side of things, will he be able to resist the temptation? What is the right thing for him to do after all?

George Pelecanos' story is one of hope, inspiration and survival. His style is easy to digest, his point comes across clearly without sounding preachy and his characters are strong.

On the negative side, the novel could have used some tightening in pace and tension, with more flavor added to Lorenzo's life (present and past). Overall, though, it's an enjoyable read that is thought-provoking, emotionally gripping and well-written.

( )

Murder and gang wars in Washington, D.C., including some who make it and some who don't. Helps with understanding of how people get caught up in these activities by looking at long time relationships of people who go to grade school together, then either prison, job or college. Warning: Some coverage of dog fighting. ( )

Wow! This is his best so far and probably the closest in sensibility to The Wire. Yet there are no cops in it. Well, a few glimpses of them but they're not the protagonists. The POVs most of the time belong to 1) Lorenzo, still on parole, working diligently for a pet rescue organization and pretty close to never going back to prison, and to 2) Rachel Lopez, his parole officer, who is privately struggling with an alcohol and possible sex addiction. Female POV is not George's strong point, which is why I give this 4 stars.

Otherwise, this is pretty damn good, better than a mere airport time killer. I'd emphasize that this isn't a police procedural or a mystery; the murders of and by drug dealers unfold before us. The second shoot-out was so well done; I was figuratively on the edge of my seat!

I spotted private eye Derek Strange once but he never appears by name. Although of course it takes place in DC, Drama City reminds me of The Wire because of the fullness of most of the bad guys' characters: They could have gone another way. Because of their broken homes, parents in jail, the temptations and material attractions, they didn't.

As in his other books, Pelecanos frequently rounds back to the turning point age for boys: that's high school, especially early high school. Maybe there was an attraction to sports, a book, a career: these boys could have gone another way or they still can but ... the odds are not so great. At near the last moment, Pelecanos even sketches how the most unredeemable character, Rico. turned so bad. He was constantly abused by his mother as a child.

Pelecanos isn't the profound pessimist that The Wire's producer and sometime writer David Simon is. OK, I haven't seen the entire TV series by a long shot but from what I've seen and heard, when you start feeling for a particular young character on the TV show, chances are good he or she will be killed or off to jail for a very long spell.

Not only Pelecanos but even some of his characters (Lorenzo and perhaps even his old drug lord buddy Nigel) see glimmers of hope and possibility. The high-school drop-out girl knocked up by her no-good boyfriend--with the help of her mother or grandmother--might go back to school, even college, and raise a good kid.

Moreover, we're seeing the world of the ex-cons in this book. Some, like Lorenzo, have vowed never to go back. You might say that prison has worked for them. Lorenzo and some of his cohorts at Narcotics Anonymous are moving to a place where they might be able to help a kid go the right way or help another ex-con. I would like to know more about those who, still "on paper", intentionally "violate" so they can go back in the can; they feel they aren't ready to do the straight world yet, so better to go back in before they do something far worse.

This book answered a question I've long wondered about: who would knowingly hire an ex-con? Well, ex-cons themselves are apparently big employers. Construction work and hairdressers, maybe restaurants and mechanics. As for the work of dogcatchers, animal rescue and pet shelters ... I never thought much about it before but I learned something. Good research, George. Of course, some dogs are like some people: because of what's been done to them, they're unredeemable and have to be put down. But the author doesn't hit you over the head with the parallels. ( )