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Liked It “Excellent book. If you're a fan of the Wire or live anywhere near a metropolitan area this is necessary reading.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Just starting this. Seems very good so far. ”
Deni wrote this review Saturday, September 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“by writer of The Wire and Homicide”
paula w wrote this review Thursday, September 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Excellent book. If you're a fan of the Wire or live anywhere near a metropolitan area this is necessary reading.”
Jonathan D wrote this review Wednesday, June 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book keeps appearing and disappearing from my shelf because, while its amazingly well-written and interesting, I find it so true-to-life that I can only stomach it in parts. If you loved The Wire, you'll love it, but be prepared to be depressed.”
H. wrote this review Wednesday, July 23 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I read this in college, and I thought it was a really interesting, non-fiction, portrayal of inner city life. It was long, but it kept my attention throughout. It ranks up there with Random Families if you like this sort of book.”
eissme wrote this review Sunday, June 22 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“For "The Corner", journalist David Simon teamed up with former Det. Ed Burns to spend a year studying the lives of a group of Baltimore crack dealers, junkies, and community members. The book's goal, which it succeeds at admirably, is to look at the failed public policy of America's War On Drugs, and immerse you in the reality of its victims' lives. Victim is not a term I would have used before reading this book, but after understanding the socioeconomic background and everyday realities of "The Corner's" inhabitants, it's almost impossible to disagree with. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to avoid this type of environment NEED greater awareness and empathy if we're ever going to help combat it through political means and social change, as opposed to maintaining the goofy concept of a Civil War against our own people. Ignore what your radio and TV are telling you about our country's failed drug policy and pick up a book; "The Corner" is a good first step for the uninitiated.”
Spencer B wrote this review Wednesday, April 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The people in this book have stayed with me long since, especially Gary. If you told me before I read it that I would care, really care, about these people, as they struggled to pull the money together to get their daily fix, as well as periodically trying to kick, I would have said you were crazy. But I did. It's an amazing piece of writing. I highly recommend it. ”
Leslie E wrote this review Tuesday, February 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I loved this book. I had just started teaching at Rikers Island - a NYC jail - and this book was a great companion during those early days.”
Barnaby S wrote this review Tuesday, January 22 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“this is an amazing non-fiction book- it is a clear look at how drugs, poor opportunity and race conspire to keep people in ghettos- or not. Some amazing stories (true) that give you a heart for those who live in the poor areas of the city. It also calls the process of this book writing into question- one wonders about the authors- how they witnessed what they did- and maintained their innocence- or did they? ”
sunshyn wrote this review Wednesday, July 25 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
