The Turnaround by George Pelecanos Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Turnaround
Book Review: Pelecanos--one of America's contemporary best writers!
Summary: 5 Stars
The descriptor "crime fiction" is always appended to Pelecanos' work but don't let that fool you--George Pelecanos is one of America's best writers today.
The Turnaround is a remarkable book, extremely well written, with dead-on characterizations of the types of individuals involved, all while avoiding stereotypes. The plot is well crafted and yes, some readers may figure out a couple of key points halfway through, but this does not take away from Pelecanos' revealing the key points of the story himself.
One thing I really like about his stuff is things don't usually end the way you'd expect them to, or the way they would if he was being formulaic. The fate of Charles Baker in this novel exemplifies this. That is how stuff happens in real life and that is why Pelecanos' works pack the punch they do.
If you haven't read Pelecanos this is a good book to start with. If you are a Pelecanos fan already, you will not be disappointed with The Turnaround!
Book Review: Probably the Best Pelecanos Novel I've Read
Summary: 4 Stars
Many prominent critics consider George Pelecanos to be the equal of great crime writers like Michael Connelly, Richard Price, and Dennis Lehane. Although he hasn't achieved the commercial success of those writers, Pelecanos has slowly been building an audience over the past decade. THE TURNAROUND should continue that trend -- this book is a very well done effort.
Unlike many crime novelists, Pelecanos does not construct tightly wound thrillers. Instead, he takes his time in telling his stories, and focuses a great deal of effort on developing his characters. Pelecanos is also unflinching in his desire to realistically portray street life in the District of Columbia, one of the least glamorous urban areas in the United States. His novels aren't light entertainment, but explore issues related to race, drugs and class in a head-on, uncompromising manner.
THE TURNAROUND deals with the modern-day consequences of a racial incident that took place in the early 1970s. This novel presents six major characters, three white and three black. Pelecanos, as usual, does a fine job of making these people come alive as flesh-and-blood human beings. The first half of this book is rather slow, as Pelecanos introduces his cast of characters and sets the stage for the story. But once the plotline gets moving, this novel becomes a very gripping read.
If I had one problem with THE TURNAROUND, it's the ending, which is a little more predictable and sentimental than I expected. The ending also contains a twist that an experienced reader will spot a mile away. But these are minor flaws, and the book is very effective overall.
I've read two other Pelecanos novels (RIGHT AS RAIN and THE NIGHT GARDENER) and I thought this was the best and most accessible of the three I've read. If you've never tried Pelecanos before, THE TURNAROUND is definitely a good starting point.
Book Review: Pros and Cons for "The Turnaround"
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros: Feels incredibly authentic and very DC; fans of HBO's "The Wire" (which Pelecanos also wrote for and which attracted me to this book) will recognize the style; often succeeds in maintaining suspense.
Cons: Ending feels too tied up and positive; writing often feels stilted.
Bottom Line: Pelecanos fans, whether of his other books or his work on "The Wire," will want to give this a read. Everyone else should begin with his earlier work. This is a decent read, but it's not the best thing I've read by a long shot.
Book Review: Redemption
Summary: 5 Stars
The streets and sounds of the nation's Capitol always play a central role in a Pelecanos novel and "Turnaround" is no exception. The plot covers three decades in the lives of six men, three white and the others black. In 1972, they were teenagers living in separate worlds but one event joined them at the hip forever.
Foolishly, the three white boys drove into a black neighborhood, tossed a pie at one of the black youths and hurled a derogatory epithet. As a result all their lives were changed. One white boy was shot dead, another maimed for life. Two of the black youngsters went to jail. The novel follows the lives of the remaining men toward a socially redeeming conclusion.
As well-written and challenging as any of this author's previous books, this novel is suspenseful and intriguing. The ending is unexpected and totally satisfying. Highly recommended.
Book Review: Reminds me of The Wire
Summary: 3 Stars
This is written by the same author who does The Wire episodes. It holds your interest but like The Wire it is fragmented and the dialogue at times mystifies me. It shows how the English language changes with each generation.