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The Corner: Bericht aus dem dunklen Herzen der amerikanischen Stadt by Ed Burns, David Simon
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
Oh good grief, is this ever a depressing book?
As we all know, there's drug dealing on the streets of most major (and many minor) cities in America. This book watches what happens in one such "drug market" in the mid-1990s, and the impact living in that society has on the people living there.
I found the book beyond depressing for a couple of reasons. Firstly, reading about seemingly nice people (and some iffier ones) being brought low by drugs isn't fun, I don't think, if you've got any ability to empathise with people. Secondly, I got depressed by (and angry at) the police. With the exception of a couple "beat cops," they didn't seem willing to do anything more than the most basic and rudimentary policing, and that's not what we pay our taxes for.
The other thing that it brought home to me is what John Edwards (the former US Presidential candidate) called the "Two Americas." I work in America for a good chunk of each year, and I was surprised and disgusted by the America I read in this book. I mean, we all know that drug dealing occurs, but a 24/7 open air drug market on the streets of Baltimore? Disgusting.
This is an interesting book. You'll get depressed by it, but it might open some people's eyes too.
As we all know, there's drug dealing on the streets of most major (and many minor) cities in America. This book watches what happens in one such "drug market" in the mid-1990s, and the impact living in that society has on the people living there.
I found the book beyond depressing for a couple of reasons. Firstly, reading about seemingly nice people (and some iffier ones) being brought low by drugs isn't fun, I don't think, if you've got any ability to empathise with people. Secondly, I got depressed by (and angry at) the police. With the exception of a couple "beat cops," they didn't seem willing to do anything more than the most basic and rudimentary policing, and that's not what we pay our taxes for.
The other thing that it brought home to me is what John Edwards (the former US Presidential candidate) called the "Two Americas." I work in America for a good chunk of each year, and I was surprised and disgusted by the America I read in this book. I mean, we all know that drug dealing occurs, but a 24/7 open air drug market on the streets of Baltimore? Disgusting.
This is an interesting book. You'll get depressed by it, but it might open some people's eyes too.
loujoseph's review against another edition
5.0
Just as solid as Simon's previous book, Homicide, this one forms the other half of what led to the Wire. Unlike Homicide, or less so, this book is basically a death march, the only surprise is when someone seems to start escaping from the neighborhood.
The tone feels a little forced at first, like the authors are trying to sound street, but it picks up after a while.
The tone feels a little forced at first, like the authors are trying to sound street, but it picks up after a while.
miq33l's review against another edition
5.0
I read The Corner on the recommendation of one of the podcasts I listen to - when I found out that much of The Wire was related to the book, I was intrigued - The Wire is a really good show - one of my favorite in fact.
It is a great book. I particularly liked the fact how it presented intimate, uncensored and unbiased view into the life of inner city neighborhood. The book made me reconsider the assumptions I had about what the reality of life in those areas is. Therefore, 5 stars.
It is a great book. I particularly liked the fact how it presented intimate, uncensored and unbiased view into the life of inner city neighborhood. The book made me reconsider the assumptions I had about what the reality of life in those areas is. Therefore, 5 stars.
lesley_cosh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
breschmidt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.5
Great and informative read. A little wordy in some spots- but overall enjoyed.
kristinvdt's review against another edition
3.0
A book that brings tears about the realities of the US.
j45rpm's review against another edition
4.0
In no way surprising but in every way distressing, David Simon and Edward Burns's focused look at West Baltimore (with the occasional broader look at the city as a whole) shows a broken city with no clear path to being healed. The authors repeatedly state that the drug war is responsible for teens and preteens being drawn into selling drugs and/or using them, and that legalizing drugs would somehow help (but they don't get into the details of how legalizing drugs would help the addiction-ravaged population of Baltimore. Legalization might take away much or all of the profits from standing on corners selling drugs, but it doesn't provide alternative jobs, it doesn't provide health care, it doesn't provide addiction services, etc.).
It was published in 1998-before the death of Freddie Gray and the ensuing riot-and before Baltimore hit its highest level of homicides in 2017 (343 murders). Things haven't gotten better. So it's a long read, a frustrating read, an in-no-way-uplifting read, but an engrossing one nevertheless.
It was published in 1998-before the death of Freddie Gray and the ensuing riot-and before Baltimore hit its highest level of homicides in 2017 (343 murders). Things haven't gotten better. So it's a long read, a frustrating read, an in-no-way-uplifting read, but an engrossing one nevertheless.
nssutton's review against another edition
5.0
this was a much tougher read than homicide, but so worth it. i don't recommend it as a desk read, as there were parts that were so emotional you kind of just want to be alone to think about it.
i find it hard to believe that i was the same age in the same year this was researched as some of the kids mentioned. i thought back to my own home life at the time and was grateful that even though shit was going down for me at the time, at least it wasn't like west baltimore.
i highly, highly recommend that wire fans read it AFTER homicide.
i find it hard to believe that i was the same age in the same year this was researched as some of the kids mentioned. i thought back to my own home life at the time and was grateful that even though shit was going down for me at the time, at least it wasn't like west baltimore.
i highly, highly recommend that wire fans read it AFTER homicide.
traciemasek's review against another edition
5.0
Hoping this will ease my Wire withdrawal.
This is the densest thing I've read in awhile (I was on that YA kick for longer than I intended), and while it was a little show to get back into the rhythm of reading non-fiction, it's been totally worth it. I'm down to the last 100 pages, and much like when I got to the 5th season of the Wire, I can't wait to see how it ends, but I'm also going to be really sad when I finish this book. It's really, really fantastic. A definite must-read for any fan of The Wire; honestly; it's just a really great book, and it'd still be fascinating and gut wrenching even if you haven't watched any of The Wire. But, really, you should watch The Wire.
I'm holding off on my star rating until I actually finish it, but I'm thinking it's going to get the full 5.
UPDATED: Oh, yeah, it gets the full five. There was one teensie part where they attempt an extended metaphor involving Vietnam that didn't quite work for me, but otherwise this book was virtually flawless for me. The book predates The Wire by almost 10 years I think, but it doesn't feel dated in the slightest. It doesn't read like your typical non-fiction book, but more like a super long, super awesome piece of editorial-style investigative reporting. And, I mean, that's what it's trying to be, so high five on that, Simon & Burns.
If you are a fan of The Wire, you'll notice where they got a lot of their inspiration for characters, themes, etc. I liked to think of them as little Easter eggs.
This is the densest thing I've read in awhile (I was on that YA kick for longer than I intended), and while it was a little show to get back into the rhythm of reading non-fiction, it's been totally worth it. I'm down to the last 100 pages, and much like when I got to the 5th season of the Wire, I can't wait to see how it ends, but I'm also going to be really sad when I finish this book. It's really, really fantastic. A definite must-read for any fan of The Wire; honestly; it's just a really great book, and it'd still be fascinating and gut wrenching even if you haven't watched any of The Wire. But, really, you should watch The Wire.
I'm holding off on my star rating until I actually finish it, but I'm thinking it's going to get the full 5.
UPDATED: Oh, yeah, it gets the full five. There was one teensie part where they attempt an extended metaphor involving Vietnam that didn't quite work for me, but otherwise this book was virtually flawless for me. The book predates The Wire by almost 10 years I think, but it doesn't feel dated in the slightest. It doesn't read like your typical non-fiction book, but more like a super long, super awesome piece of editorial-style investigative reporting. And, I mean, that's what it's trying to be, so high five on that, Simon & Burns.
If you are a fan of The Wire, you'll notice where they got a lot of their inspiration for characters, themes, etc. I liked to think of them as little Easter eggs.