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Summary: Another amazing performance
Review: Pelecanos continues to deliver the goods, this time stepping back even further in time from his earlier books--the novel stretches from immediately before WWII, interweaves the characters' experiences in the war, and tells a sordid tale of ruined lives in postwar D.C.The author continues his trademark use of very specific places and period music, and once again creates flawed but wonderful characters and believable situations. The violence still has the capacity to shock and the reader really feels for the characters. This is as gripping and intense as anything he has written and I highly recommend it.
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Summary: Pelecanos best work.
Review: Pelecanos is a way cool author and this is his best work so far. His use of language, music and locale is always superb. A very readable novel.
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Summary: Really liked this book
Review: This book is really good. I liked the characters, their stories and the relationships between them.
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Summary: A Book that Touches You to the Core.
Review: This is the fourth Pelecanos book I have read and I have to say I was blown away. No pun intended with regard to the title of the book. Pete Karras has to be one of the most complete and flawed characters I have read in a long time. His constant struggle in life (from surviving the battle in Leyte to surviving the beating he received from members of organized crime) makes him all that more appealing. He is always searching for the meaning of his life. This book just reaches out and hits in the gut. Pelecanos really does transport you back to the 40s. I felt like I was there as much as when I read Chandler. Couldn't put this one down. A must read. I enjoyed this one more than Right as Rain and Hell to Pay combined. And both of those books were excellent also. I'll have to rent an old John Hodiak movie to see what he looks like since Pete favors Hodiak. Thanks for a great read.
Rating:
Summary: A Book that Touches You to the Core.
Review: This is the fourth Pelecanos book I have read and I have to say I was blown away. No pun intended with regard to the title of the book. Pete Karras has to be one of the most complete and flawed characters I have read in a long time. His constant struggle in life (from surviving the battle in Leyte to surviving the beating he received from members of organized crime) makes him all that more appealing. He is always searching for the meaning of his life. This book just reaches out and hits in the gut. Pelecanos really does transport you back to the 40s. I felt like I was there as much as when I read Chandler. Couldn't put this one down. A must read. I enjoyed this one more than Right as Rain and Hell to Pay combined. And both of those books were excellent also. I'll have to rent an old John Hodiak movie to see what he looks like since Pete favors Hodiak. Thanks for a great read.
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Summary: A wonderful, different kind of crime novel
Review: This was the first Pelecanos book I read, almost by accident. When I was done, I was completely satisfied and hooked on this writer. This is set in the '40s, around the Washington DC and Maryland area, and I loved the history, the subtle ways of establishing place and time and community through dialogue and action. It is a very character driven novel, the best type, right on the edge of what a crime novel is considered to be. I'm grateful to see Pelecanos joining the ranks of those writers who are pushing the envelope in crime writing. This novel is more the story of the life of a man who attracted violence more than about the violence itself. Great, great work.
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Summary: Washington In the 40s
Review: We follow the fortunes of Peter Karras, a Greek American living in Washington DC, before, during and after World War II. After coming out of the war a hero, Karras, along with his childhood friend Joe Recevo, finds himself drifting along, occasionally providing muscle for the Mafia in their protection rackets. When Karras makes the mistake of showing leniency towards one of his boss's "clients", it's inevitable that he has to be taught a (painful) lesson. The story is ultimately a commentary on how the two friends deal with the different directions their lives have taken, particularly when their paths cross again. The mood of the time and place are captured with remarkable vividness. Even the street noises are described in such a way that it almost feels as if we are there watching the drama unfold in front of us. I feel this is the defining novel for George Pelecanos and a must read for Pelecanos fans. I can't recommend it highly enough without appearing to gush, so I'll just say that it's a fantastic piece of American literature that manages to capture the 40's very nicely.
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