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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
I'm choosing to abandon what is probably a four star book, but I just can't stomach reading this right now.
Thomas Mullen is a great writer. I really enjoyed [book:The Last Town on Earth|76336] and [book:The Revisionists|10789142]. In this one he tackles a little known part of Atlanta's history -- the 1948 instatement of eight black police officers, who were supposed to police black neighborhoods, but weren't allowed to arrest white people, to use a squad car (and so had to use the nearest call box to contact the precinct), to even set foot in the police headquarters (meeting in the basement of a YMCA instead), or to wear their uniform when they were off duty. Mullen didn't make any of this up and I'm sure the endemic racism and terrible treatment from other officers and judges is also historically accurate.
In the 88 pages that I was able to read, the n-word and other racial slurs were used hundreds of times. There's a crooked white officer who "owns" the black neighborhoods and routinely beats residents without provocation. His rookie partner has a conscience, but is afraid of tanking his career if he acts upon it. In one of the final scenes I read, two black officers have handcuffed black men who have been fighting. One has been stabbed by the other, but then threw a bottle at the head of one of the officers who tried to help him. The white officers show up, and instead of calling an ambulance, the crooked older cop kicks the handcuffed man in his stab wound. He refuses to let the black officers or his own partner call an ambulance from the squad car, even driving away without his partner (who does walk to a call box and call for an ambulance, while the two black officers -- one injured -- stay with the suspects). I felt physically ill reading this and other equally horrifying scenes.
That was 1948. How far have we really come? Not far enough. And I think this is a Really Important Book and that people need to see this glimpse of the not-distant-enough past, but I just can't right now. I need books that allow me to momentarily escape our current political clusterfuck.
Thomas Mullen is a great writer. I really enjoyed [book:The Last Town on Earth|76336] and [book:The Revisionists|10789142]. In this one he tackles a little known part of Atlanta's history -- the 1948 instatement of eight black police officers, who were supposed to police black neighborhoods, but weren't allowed to arrest white people, to use a squad car (and so had to use the nearest call box to contact the precinct), to even set foot in the police headquarters (meeting in the basement of a YMCA instead), or to wear their uniform when they were off duty. Mullen didn't make any of this up and I'm sure the endemic racism and terrible treatment from other officers and judges is also historically accurate.
In the 88 pages that I was able to read, the n-word and other racial slurs were used hundreds of times. There's a crooked white officer who "owns" the black neighborhoods and routinely beats residents without provocation. His rookie partner has a conscience, but is afraid of tanking his career if he acts upon it. In one of the final scenes I read, two black officers have handcuffed black men who have been fighting. One has been stabbed by the other, but then threw a bottle at the head of one of the officers who tried to help him. The white officers show up, and instead of calling an ambulance, the crooked older cop kicks the handcuffed man in his stab wound. He refuses to let the black officers or his own partner call an ambulance from the squad car, even driving away without his partner (who does walk to a call box and call for an ambulance, while the two black officers -- one injured -- stay with the suspects). I felt physically ill reading this and other equally horrifying scenes.
That was 1948. How far have we really come? Not far enough. And I think this is a Really Important Book and that people need to see this glimpse of the not-distant-enough past, but I just can't right now. I need books that allow me to momentarily escape our current political clusterfuck.
Jag blev faktiskt lite besviken. Det var intressant och förskräckligt att läsa om de nyutexaminerad svarta polismännens situation i Atlanta 1948 och det var väl det som var behållningen.
Själva deckarintrigen var ganska tråkig och jag tyckte inte om språket. Nu läste jag den på svenska så det är svårt att veta hur den är på originalspråket men jag tyckte inte om stilen. Jag tror att det var för att den var lite gammaldags "hårdkokt" a la Mickey Spillane eller så och det gillade jag inte helt enkelt.
Själva deckarintrigen var ganska tråkig och jag tyckte inte om språket. Nu läste jag den på svenska så det är svårt att veta hur den är på originalspråket men jag tyckte inte om stilen. Jag tror att det var för att den var lite gammaldags "hårdkokt" a la Mickey Spillane eller så och det gillade jag inte helt enkelt.
Took me a few chapters to get into it (not my typical genre), but then I was hooked. It is (unfortunately) very realistic fiction
Not a very flashy novel, quite the opposite, but with a captivating plot and a careful study of racial relations and prejudice in 1948 Atlanta.
A great story peopled with characters that really come to life. Darktown feels very relevant today exploring issues of race and politics from the 40’s that sadly don’t seem to have changed as much as they should have.
Very well written with the depiction of black men, and how oppressed they were in the times of Atlanta, during the states first black policemen. Sad to say, nothing has really changed, about racism, but the threads and paths are more woven and intertwined with conspiracies.
In 1948, Atlanta added eight black men to its police force. This was at a time when, as author Thomas Mullen explains, a 1947 Newsweek article "estimated that one-quarter of Atlanta policemen were, in fact, members of the Ku Klux Klan."
Those pioneer police officers were the inspiration for Mullen's new novel, Darktown, a blend of history, mystery and violence that explores and depicts racial tensions in post-World War II Atlanta.
In 1948, Atlanta added eight black men to its police force. This was at a time when, as author Thomas Mullen explains, a 1947 Newsweek article "estimated that one-quarter of Atlanta policemen were, in fact, members of the Ku Klux Klan."
Those pioneer police officers were the inspiration for Mullen's new novel, Darktown, a blend of history, mystery and violence that explores and depicts racial tensions in post-World War II Atlanta.
I’m not sure if this was a case of wrong book wrong time or if I really just didn’t like it. This had a noir feeling which is not my favorite genre. The characters also seemed fairly flat. Maybe I just didn’t get far enough along. I might revisit one day.
This was an excellent book to have an audio. The subtle nuance of tone and emotion enhanced the experience.
Based on real historical circumstances (In 1948, Atlanta added eight black men to its police force. This was at a time when, as author Thomas Mullen explains, a 1947 Newsweek article "estimated that one-quarter of Atlanta policemen were, in fact, members of the Ku Klux Klan.")
It also touches on the fact that black men who fought in WWII, came home to find themselves treated despicably. The mystery is good, with the racial background, made at times unbearable to read, because of the unbelievable cruelty and hatred of southern racists, and the fact that the law was on their side. It's impossible to know how horrible it was to live through it. The characters are very well developed.
It's just as timely today, unfortunately.
Based on real historical circumstances (In 1948, Atlanta added eight black men to its police force. This was at a time when, as author Thomas Mullen explains, a 1947 Newsweek article "estimated that one-quarter of Atlanta policemen were, in fact, members of the Ku Klux Klan.")
It also touches on the fact that black men who fought in WWII, came home to find themselves treated despicably. The mystery is good, with the racial background, made at times unbearable to read, because of the unbelievable cruelty and hatred of southern racists, and the fact that the law was on their side. It's impossible to know how horrible it was to live through it. The characters are very well developed.
It's just as timely today, unfortunately.
Insightful look at history of Atlanta's Police Department and struggle with racism