Tuesday, July 02, 2019
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Shame The Devil by George P. Pelecanos (Dell Books 2000)
"Yes. How about you?"
"Well, I'll tell you. I've lived in New York and some other glamorous places, too. But it was always my dream to come to a small town like Edwardtown to build a congregation from the ground up."
And to fleece the local hayseeds for everything they have.
"I moved around a lot," said the reverend, "searching for I didn't know what until I came here."
Failure.
"And because I never had a wife or children of my - "
Faggot.
" - this congregation has become my family. I'd like very much for you to become a part of that family."
Salesman.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
A Firing Offense by George P. Pelecanos (Serpent's Tail 1992)
This was late in '79 or early in 1980, the watershed years that saw the debut release of the Pretenders, Graham Parker's Squeezing Out Sparks, and Elvis Costello's Get Happy, three of the finest albums ever produced. That I get nostalgic now when I hear "You Can't Be Too Strong" or "New Amsterdam" or when I smell cigarette smoke in a bar or feel sweat drip down my back in a hot club, may seem incredible today - especially to those who get misty-eyed over Sinatra, or even at the first few chords of "Satisfaction" - but I'm talking about my generation.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
The Sweet Forever by George P. Pelecanos (A Dell Book 1998)
"Karras crossed the avenue, approaching Stefanos and the kid from behind. As he neared them, Karras saw the televisions in the window were all tuned to the same image: Len Bias, wearing that jazzy ice green suit of his, standing out of his chair at the calling of his name.
All right, it was news. But why were they running the draft highlights again, two days after the fact?
"Nick?" said Karras.
Stefanos and the boy turned their heads. The black kid was crying freely, tears running down his cheeks.
"Dimitri," said Stefanos, his eyes hollow and red.
Karas felt hot and suddenly nauseous in the sun. He backed away to a government oak, leafy and full, planted by the curb. Karras stepped into its cool shade.
He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. It was better there, standing in the darkness pooled beneath the tree.