Book info

• Title
• Author David Simon
• Year
• Genres

Thoughts

I’ve not seen The Wire, but I was still interested in the book that the TV series was based on - because it seems like an original of those ‘on-the-job’ memoirs I’ve been fascinated by of late. Following one year in the Baltimore homicide police department, the book tracks a few cases, a lot of deaths but most importantly, the men who are in charge of investigating the two.

It’s rarely pleasant reading, even the touching interactions between colleagues are usually brought about by horrific circumstances. It’s the kind of book that just feels like TV, because it’s so far removed from the reality I know. Can people really be so awful to each other on such a regular basis?

Well, the answer is yes, and the book makes that perfectly clear. It’s an honest and surprisingly open portrayal of life in what must be one of the most difficult jobs on the planet.

Rating: Unrated