Homicide: a year on the killing streets

OK, so I posted this video on my main blog already. Sue me. The Wire rocks, and the show inspired me to read Homicide: a year on the killing streets, by David Simon.

Simon created The Wire based on his experience as a newspaper reporter for the Baltimore Sun. He spent a year with the Baltimore Homicide unit and wrote this book. Homicide chronicles a calendar year in a city with nearly 300 murders a year. The year was 1988, but the book ages well. Obviously, the information age was not yet as efficient, but the police work was a joy to read.

This book was fascinating, educational, shocking and hilarious all at the same time. Open cases are written in red, and turn to black once solved. The challenge is to keep the percentages high and the open murders at a minimum. "Red ball" cases are those with special importance. For example, a murdered child, political crime or police shooting each add their own unique problems.

Simon explains the legal obstacles to the job. There are frustrations, but the reader will get an up-close look at the balance between observance of rights and enforcement of law. It illustrates just how gray these matters can be. Both maddeningly so and thankfully so.

Most of all, however, this book is about the detectives. The murders and police work are interesting, but the characters are central. The homicide division is merely where they work and that world drives who they are.

The book starts in January and finishes the entire year. I couldn't have kept track of the pure number of murders covered, but many stick out. There was an older woman who hired contract killers to murder family members and husbands so she could collect life insurance. She convinced family that she had voodoo powers, so they never told. Many murders involved basic quarrels that led to gunfire. Drug murders, domestic disputes... anything you can imagine. Interestingly, the type of murder drives the expectation for a solution. Domestics? Usually an easy solution. Drug murder? Almost never a solution.

The best stuff, however, is the gallows humor. I can't get enough of that.

Some of my favorite quotes and scenes:

- "More often than not, the last visage of a murdered man resembles that of a flustered schoolchild to whom the logic of a simple equation has just been revealed."

- "... ninety cases out of a hundred, the investigator's saving grace is the killer's overwhelming predisposition toward incompetence or, at the very least, gross error."

- "Fuck the why, a detective will tell you; find out the how, and nine times out of ten it'll give you the who."

- "'You shoot a guy, hey,' the sergeant adds with a shrug. 'You shoot another guy - well, okay, this is Baltimore. You shoot three guys, it's time to admit you have a problem.'"

- "Ralph Waldo Emerson rightly noted that for those responsible, the act of murder 'is no such ruinous thought as poets and romancers will have it; it does not unsettle him, or frighten him from his ordinary notice or trifles.' And while West Baltimore is a universe or two from Emerson's nineteenth-century Massachusetts hamlet, the observation is still useful. Murder often doesn't unsettle a man. In Baltimore, it usually does not even ruin his day."

- "Who found her?" the detail officer asked.
"Post officer from the Central."
"Did the guy rape her?"
"The officer?" asked Landsman, feigning confusion. "Um, I don't think so. Maybe. We didn't ask him 'cause we figured the guy who killed her did that."
In any other world, the comedy would be appalling."

- On how reliable a victim can be before he actually dies:
"Yeah. We asked him who shot him."
"And?"
"He said, 'Fuck you.'"

- The officers rigged a copy machine to be like a lie detector and have gotten confessions that way. How? They would put pages in the machine with "True" or "False" already printed on them. They would place the hand of the suspect on the outside of the machine. True, True and False would be rigged to come out in that order. Two easy questions would be followed by a direct question about guilt. The stories are hilarious.

I did not rig this, but Homicide is going to be hard to beat for the rest of the year. (Dave, stop looking at me.). I am sure I will read many other good books this year (Seriously, Dave, stop looking at me), but this one will have staying power. Just because a team starts the season ranked number 1 doesn't mean it has an edge or the system is rigged (What? Do I have something on my face?... Dave, this is getting creepy... stop it!).

This book would have been a top 3 last year and it's out in front now. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Intro

Well, guess I ought to introduce myself. I'm James, and for those random folks out there who read this, I'm a long time friend of the two main characters here. I wanted to join up then, but I was in grad school at the time, and that just wasn't realistic. Now that I'm out and had some time to recharge, I'm joining up.

To provide a generalization for my reading preferences, I prefer fiction, especially sci-fi, fantasy, and military style technical stuff. I'm also a big fan of western books. Since I just recently completed my graduate degree, I also have a new taste for certain kinds of business books.

I'm looking forward to the challenge, we'll see how it goes!

Dave's Top Ten!

Joe and I talked earlier, and I think we both agree; this has been a great year for our book choices.  I had a hard time picking the top ten, which got moved around until the end.  But first, the books that got consideration but didn't quite make it.


- V. by Thomas Pynchon- A very difficult read, a narrative that jumps around with seemingly no reason, and nothing resembling an ending or closure.  What makes V so good is the clever dialogue, biting parody, and philosophical talking points that Pynchon tosses at the reader in waves. This is a not a book concerned with telling you a story as much as trying to plant an intellectual seed inside your head and wait for it to spout roots and bloom out of your skull.  

First, the books I kinda-liked.

61 books.  Damn, that was not what I was expecting.

So, now, at the glow of a new year, is not the time to look forward, towards what could be, but to rank what was, and wallow in the miasma of instant nostalgia.  I'm excited! Let's do this!

These are the majority of the books on my list. The next post I do will be the top ten and the books that were in consideration.  This list contains the titles I liked, but didn't love, and maybe even a couple that I hated.  In order of finish...

- Bowden: How Bobby Bowden Forged A Football Dynasty by Mike Freeman- First book I read this year.  In fact I read most of it watching Bobby's last game. (The 2010 Gator Bowl vs. WVU) Some intriguing facts (Bowden almost had the Alabama job in 89) and a look at the Bowden family dynamics.  It is a very pro- bowden book, but not so much that it doesn't look at some of Bobby's mistakes (OC Jeff Bowden!!!!!!)

- Men With Balls by Drew Magary (nook)- I love drew's foul-mouthed posts on KSK, and decided this short book would be an ideal first shot on my brand new nook.  This book was basically a jokey-stab at athletes, and there were a couple of things I laughed at. But, ultimately, not funny enough.  Need more funny.

- The Moon Pool by Abraham Merritt (nook)- Old-school sci-fi book that made an appearance in an episode of Lost.  Despite the over-extended prose, it's a fun book for people who wouldn't be bored out of their mind watching those movie-serials from the 40's and 50's.  (Hey, that's me!)

- The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire And War by James Bradley (nook)- Already wrote about this book.  Still love Teddy, though.

- Running For My Life, My Journey Into The Game Of Football and Beyond by Warrick Dunn- Warrick Dunn is a terrific running back, and an even better man, despite the tragedy, or more accurately, because of the tragedy that   hit him in high school.  Recommended for anybody with typically narrow view of athletes.

Also, He scored, Joe.  He says it in the book.  He scored.

- Rome 1960 by David Maraniss (nook)- Book about the first Olympics that the "cold war" really focused on.  Really good stories, especially about the two american track and field stars, Wilma Rudolph and Rafer Johnson.

- Blink by Malcom Gladwell- Just another fascinating Gladwell book.  This one focuses on how people generally make snap decisions before they even realize it.  The section about how police react to split-second stimuli was worth the whole book by itself.

- Where Men Win Glory by John Krakauer (nook)- The story of Pat Tillman's life and death, interspersed with a history of Afghanistan.  The middle eastern history was not really all that necessary for the book, but Tillman's story is worth the read.  The complications that made up Pat Tillman's life are surpassed only by the jaw-dropping machinations that the Government used to cover up the facts of his death.

- Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahamme-Smith (nook)- I really was looking forward to this mixture of historical record and fantasy, but the mixture wasn't "stirred" enough, leading to one page reading like a scholarly biography (and scholarly is being generous) and the next page like a second-rate genre novel. Not recommended.

- The Age of American Unreason by Susan Jacoby (nook)- A manifesto on why Elitism matters and it's (allegedly) dying influence in America.  Ms. Jacoby makes some excellent points hidden in an angry liberal dissertation of our growing stupidity. I agree that America, as a country, doesn't read enough, although the more I talk to people, this seems to be an overblown and easy take.  I don't agree that there's only one way to gain true culture and stimulation ( An absolutely unfair summary of her views- Mozart and Russian poetry: Yes; Television and pop music: NO)

- You're a Horrible Person, But I Like You by The Believer (nook)- A throw-away book in the best sense of the term.  Imagine an advice column written by generally funny people (Sarah Silverman, Judd Apatow, etc..)  Quick read, and not one that will stay with you, but very, very funny.

- Freakonomics by Steven D. Leavitt and Stephen J. Dubner (nook)- Oh, economists.  This is why we don't let you out in public often, because you destroy credibility in institutions like Sumo Wrestling and the Chicago public school system.  

- Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk- Wasn't sure if reading this would be ruined by my love for the movie, but it's just different enough to be enjoyable.  Probably didn't hurt that Palahniuk is a top 5 author for me.

- The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls (nook)- Walls's dysfunctional childhood reads like a dark Kerouacish coming of age story.  Just about every way you could create an unsafe and discouraging environment for kids, you name it, The parents in this book do it.  But, as batshit- insane as it seems while you're reading, they do it with love, and the story of the book is that family is family, and dysfunctional love is still love, and though you may not follow in it's footsteps, you never forget or deny it.

- The First Star: Red Grange and The Barnstorming Tour That Launched The NFL by Lars Anderson (nook)- A notable book for the look at how Grange's constant touring and exhibitions created an appetite for pro football...and destroyed Grange's budding pro career.

- Syrup by Max Berry (nook)- A funny and clever pop fiction satire on Hollywood and corporate synergy.

- Dangerously Funny by David Bianculli (nook)- I was resolved to read this once I heard the author's interview on Fresh Air.  The fact that the Smothers Brothers show in the 60's might have been the most censored show in TV history is mind-blowing; and the fights that Tom Smothers went through to present his vision for a politically and topically relevant variety show are eye-opening.  Just missed top-10 consideration.

- Little Bee by Chris Cleave- At first, a look at the plight of African girls and their troubles at home and abroad sounds like the making of a good book.  Unfortunately, Cleave quickly loses any coherence in the story, and, apart from the major incident in the middle, nothing really happens to anybody for the majority of "Little Bee:, and then Cleave tries to stuff a whole novel's worth of action into the last 30 pages.  The pace (or lack of) destroys any political and moral lessons to be gained.  Not Recommended.

- Collected Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald (nook)- Enjoyable collection of stories which proved my affection for the author is not limited to "Gatsby".  I am now resolved to read another of his novels next year.

- Loose Balls by Terry Pluto- I can't say anything about this that Joe didn't cover in his post.  A fun read, especially for anybody who enjoyed Simmons "basketball book"

 Wow, so, halfway through.  Maybe I'll take a break to watch some new year's bowl action.

/Turns to Capital One Bowl.  Sees third quarter score

You know what, let's keep going.

-  Extra Lives by Tom Bissell (nook)- An intelligent and philosophical look at Video games and their claim, present and future, to being called "Art".   You don't have to be a video-game freak to enjoy it, but it would probably help if you played a little.

- Flawless by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell (nook)- about the largest diamond heist in history.  Reads like a non-fiction version of Ocean's Eleven.

- Stalingrad, The Fateful Siege, 1942-1943 by Antony Beever (nook)- I like reading war books, but more for stories and tactics instead of formations and movement.  This book needed more of the former, less of the latter.  Still, holy crap, nobody bunkers down like the fucking Russians.

- Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson (nook)- A techno-Sci-Fi book that probably had some influence on "The Matrix", which came out a few years later.  Very well written, though at times a little high-minded (Talk slowly, I don't... think....good.)

- Born Standing Up by Steve Martin- Martin's gratifying biography of his career from it's quiet beginnings to when he became the first stand-up comic to sell out arenas.  

- Beat The Reaper by Josh Bazell (nook)- Another likeable pop fiction book, and if I was going to make a movie out of any book I read this year, this would be the easiest translation and if cast right, could be a fun flick.

- The Beckham Experiment by Grant Wahl (nook)- Really good look at what happens when the best franchise in a third-rate soccer league* decides to bring in the most recognizable and over-rated superstar** in the world.  By the way, if anybody's counting-  Beckham's MLS titles= 0  Rapids MLS titles in Beckham era= 1***

* Yes, that hurt to type.

**That, not so much

***That was just fucking enjoyable

- Recollections and Letters by Robert E. Lee Jr (nook)- if you were looking for THE WORST BOOK I READ THIS YEAR, congrats, you made it!!!!  I thought that reading a collection of Robert E. Lee's letters and stories would lend some insight to his life and his generalship in the war.  Here's what I learned....

1. He loved God. (What?!?!?! A Religious southern man?  Holy shit!!!!)

2. He loved his family (before you castigate me for being obvious, consider that 75% of his letters written DURING the war ruminated on these 2 themes and nothing else.)

3. He continually harassed his son to get married and have kids. (Fathers.  They haven't changed in 150 years.)

4. His idea for the best general on the Union side? McClellon. (For those who know little of the civil war and don't understand why this is mind-fuckingly ridiculous, imagine asking Bill Belichek who the toughest coach he ever went against was, and his response was "Dick Jauron")

I didn't need to learn these things, and consequently, I didn't need to read this book.  DO NOT RECOMMEND.

- Horns, Hogs, and Nixon Coming by Terry Frei (nook)- Not as good as his book about the 77' broncos, but a good book, and one that makes me actually want to watch the tape of the 69 Texas-Arkansas game, which, in it's own way, is a recommendation.

-  The Man in The High Castle by Philip K. Dick (nook)- A book dealing with an alternate history where Germany and Japan were successful in WWII, and thus split the world (and America) between them.  Some interesting ideas in this book, but it felt like it was taken out of the oven too early.

- Badasses by Peter Richmond (nook)- A fun look at the boogeymen of the 70's NFL.  At the risk of committing heresy, I have to say, if I was an unattached football fan in the 70's, I might have choosen the Raiders to root for.  Or to hate blindly.  The either/or dichotomy is what's wrapped up in their charm; you could not be apathetic about the Oakland Raiders under Madden.

-  Let The Great World Spin by Colum Mcann (nook)- A "where were you when..."  novel set in New York during Philippe Petit's 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers, involving the increasingly tangled-together lives of several city dwellers.  Beautifully written, and meant to invoke thoughts of 9/11, this also just missed top-10 consideration.  Also, if your interested in the actual high-wire walker, there is a great documentary, "Man on Wire", highly rec'd


- Free Darko presents The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History- A collection of essays on (mostly) the NBA, which is as intelligent and hipster-centric as the website it is based on.  Agree with Joe that it is a great bathroom book, not so much on this book being "the crumbs" of Simmon's book.


- White Noise by Dom DeLillo (nook)- A scathing satire on consumerism, media, and family.  Given the book's credentials, I did not like this as much as I probably should.  It felt a little off to me.


- Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks- Meh.


- The Genius: How Bill Walsh Reinvented Football and Created an NFL Dynasty by David Harris- Though I don't argue that he reinvented football, the book really doesn't get into that.  Mostly it's just a bio on Walsh's career, which was of course impressive, especially considering his coldness and paranoia. Also Eddie DeBartolo is a drunk asshole.


- The Passage by Justin Cronin (nook)- How do I explain this book?  Hmmmm.  Lord of the Rings meets The Stand with Vampires?  Yeah, that's pretty good. First book of a planned trilogy, and I look forward to #2.


- The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett- One of the women at Book Club described this book about the Queen of England become a bookworm as "fizzy", and that pretty much nails it.  Short and fun.


-  First Family by Joseph J. Ellis (nook)- I love John Adams, I love Ellis's books on the revolution, so you can imagine how much I liked this book on the relationship between John and Abigail in the midst of the remarkable times they lived in.  There was a lot I already knew about, but also a couple of new stories, like Abigail putting the smackdown on Thomas Jefferson when he and Adams were not on speaking terms. Bam!  Take that Weasel!


- The Martian Tales Trilogy by Edgar Rice Burroughs (nook)-
PROS- Burroughs is a great descriptive writer, (One critic said about him "When Burroughs writes about rain, the reader gets wet.") and in his John Carter books he has not only created a world, but a mythology that runs deep into his stories.
CONS- As far as plot and emotional content, these books are nerd porn written for 10-year-olds. (The human dropped into Mars where he is automatically the strongest, smartest, and most attractive person that immediately seduces the buxom princess) 
VERDICT- I loved it!  <----immature


-  Death to the BCS by Dan Wetzel, Josh Peters, and Jeff Passan (nook)- A very thorough, angry, and damning look at the bowl system in college football. The level of reporting involved will only be surpassed by the rage felt by the reader at scam that replaces a reasonable playoff system.  Anybody who likes college football should read this book, no matter which way they come down on the argument.


Tomorrow: the Top Ten and more!