King Suckerman by George P. Pelecanos Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of King Suckerman
Book Review: A fun to read dissection of pop-culture criminal mentalities
Summary: 5 Stars
"Suckerman" cleverly evokes the late '70s atmosphere while providing psychological insight into the "macho" world of attitude behind small-time criminal mentalities--TV babies, as Matt Dillon called them in "Drugstore Cowboy." Call it a "comedy of Macho manners." I read "Suckerman" right after "The Brothers Rico" by Simenon, and though nothing compares with that, Pelecanos' hip and funny book didn't disappoint. Because of the obvious "Pulp Fiction" connection, I came fully prejudiced and ready to trash it but the man can do more than drop names and tittilate. Harlan Elisson wouldn't recommend just anyone, now, would he? Pelecanos offers much more than pretentious hack-Hollywood post-"P.F." masturbations like "Go" or garbage like "Thursday." The characters he creates are quite real and believable;they existed "back in the day" and still exist in slightly different,fashion-metamorphosed form. The style is deceptively simple, along the lines of masters like Fante or Saroyan and he does have some Bukowski- style "vulgar subtlety" if you look for it. As it is, he makes a hell of a good cheesburger and with a little more work might just turn out rare steaks like Simenon.Book Review: A major neo-noir novelist
Summary: 5 Stars
There are three unique values to this writer's noir novels. All shone very brightly in _King Suckerman_. First, Pelecanos recreates a Washington DC which makes the working class and minority (as opposed to administrative) city come alive. You know you are not reading about Baltimore, New York, or Philly, but Chocolate City in the 70s. This takes an extensive understanding of Washington's locales, people, traditions, and institutions. He's got the "spirit of place" down accurately. Second, he presents moral cruxes in a complex manner--you see the convictions unravelling, the loose ends in any well-thought out decision. However honorable a plan is, and however hard nosed and gutty a character's behavior is, it can be seen as flawed and fallible. This often makes the characters more rather than less interesting and commendable. Third, he recreates various shades of evil, from Wilton Cooper and B.J. to the layabouts and street louts, of whom one of his major characters, Dimitri, is not too far removed during the first part of the novel. Pelecanos is a major neo-noir artist.Book Review: Always A Price To Pay
Summary: 4 Stars
A crime novel with a "moral to the story"; Dmitri Karras, a pot-smoking, dope-selling, basketball-playing, fun-loving guy with no goals or direction. His friend is Marcus Clay, a Viet Nam vet trying to get started with a small record business. They cross paths with Wilton Cooper, an ex-con who picks up B.R. Claggett, an anti-social guy who kills without remorse. Wilton and Claggett go on a crime spree, killing several people, including Rasheed, a young clerk that worked for Marcus Clay. There's a final showdown and Dmitri learns that there's always a price to pay. This novel has excellent dialogue and characterizations of the 70's post Viet Nam, post hippie, marijuana days. It teaches that nothing is simple and easy. George Pelecanos' novels are instructive and entertaining and KING SUCKERMAN will not disappoint.Book Review: Awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the first Pelecano book I've read. But now I'm hooked. This is absolutely an unputdownable read -- fast-paced, fun, and brimming with real characters.Book Review: Below average for author, way above average for the genre
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read most of Pelecanos' work and, in my opinion, King Suckerman would rank as one of his weaker efforts. It's one of the earlier works and is worth reading for background on some characters who will show up in later books. It's also worth reading because it's a slam bam, gritty crime novel. It may not be one of the author's best books, but it's still one of the best crime novels I've read. As usual, Washington, D.C. is both the setting for the story and a living character in the book. There are plenty of tough and weak, cunning and stupid players in the twisting story. If you have a pulse and like crime fiction, I don't see how you can skip this book or anything else Pelecanos writes.