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A Sinfully
Good 'City'
Good 'City'
Drama City by George Pelecanos
In George Pelacanos' latest novel, Drama City,
there is a scene in which a group of substance
abusers share their personal tests and
heartaches with each other during a
mid-afternoon Narcotics Anonymous meeting.
The monologues are quiet, heartfelt, and in a
language so real in its urban lingo, that the
scene comes off gritty and philosophical
simultaneously, and in spots, nearly too painful
to read.
But this scene, and a scene in which a young
and albeit naive street thug contemplates outer
space and a career as an astronaut mere
moments before a sudden and shocking
disruption of violence, only proves Pelecanos'
enviable talent as a storyteller.
Drama City is nothing short of fascinating and
riveting, a crime novel among his many that
effectively captures the beat, rhythm, voice and
havoc of the mean streets of Washington, D.C.
The author offers these dimensions
unflinchingly, requiring the reader to delve in
and learn the language, lifestyle and code of
this urban habitat that exists within the
neighborhoods of our nation's capital.
At the center of this story is Lorenzo Brown, a
Humane Society officer who cruises the streets
looking for mistreated dogs, and Rachel Lopez,
an overworked and diligent parole officer. Each
has a past--and present--that betrays their
daytime personas. For Brown, it involves
violence, the streets, and a stint in prison. For
Lopez, it involves death, and a nightlife that is
hard, fast and draining.
Lopez is Brown's parole officer, and they have
become close enough to be friends. But the
streets and dangers of Washington bind them in
a cruel twist of fate, and in a denouement that
builds from a steady pace to a violent and
heart-pounding conclusion. Pelacanos'
protagonists are solid creations, complex and
likeable both, with understandable demons that
guide and sometimes cloud their judgment.
However, outside of a vindictive street thug run
amok, his secondary characters, while colorful
and plentiful, are not as fleshed out as they
could be considering the role they play to the
overall plot.
Still, Drama City is a novel begging to be
adapted into film, with Morgan Freeman's
concentrated depth and Eva Mendes' grit,
abandon, and beauty. For those who have not
read Pelacanos previously, this will certain earn
him new fans. For his established following, this
may not be a knock-out-the-park home run, but
it certainly steals third. Easily. P&A
there is a scene in which a group of substance
abusers share their personal tests and
heartaches with each other during a
mid-afternoon Narcotics Anonymous meeting.
The monologues are quiet, heartfelt, and in a
language so real in its urban lingo, that the
scene comes off gritty and philosophical
simultaneously, and in spots, nearly too painful
to read.
But this scene, and a scene in which a young
and albeit naive street thug contemplates outer
space and a career as an astronaut mere
moments before a sudden and shocking
disruption of violence, only proves Pelecanos'
enviable talent as a storyteller.
Drama City is nothing short of fascinating and
riveting, a crime novel among his many that
effectively captures the beat, rhythm, voice and
havoc of the mean streets of Washington, D.C.
The author offers these dimensions
unflinchingly, requiring the reader to delve in
and learn the language, lifestyle and code of
this urban habitat that exists within the
neighborhoods of our nation's capital.
At the center of this story is Lorenzo Brown, a
Humane Society officer who cruises the streets
looking for mistreated dogs, and Rachel Lopez,
an overworked and diligent parole officer. Each
has a past--and present--that betrays their
daytime personas. For Brown, it involves
violence, the streets, and a stint in prison. For
Lopez, it involves death, and a nightlife that is
hard, fast and draining.
Lopez is Brown's parole officer, and they have
become close enough to be friends. But the
streets and dangers of Washington bind them in
a cruel twist of fate, and in a denouement that
builds from a steady pace to a violent and
heart-pounding conclusion. Pelacanos'
protagonists are solid creations, complex and
likeable both, with understandable demons that
guide and sometimes cloud their judgment.
However, outside of a vindictive street thug run
amok, his secondary characters, while colorful
and plentiful, are not as fleshed out as they
could be considering the role they play to the
overall plot.
Still, Drama City is a novel begging to be
adapted into film, with Morgan Freeman's
concentrated depth and Eva Mendes' grit,
abandon, and beauty. For those who have not
read Pelacanos previously, this will certain earn
him new fans. For his established following, this
may not be a knock-out-the-park home run, but
it certainly steals third. Easily. P&A
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