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nderiley's review against another edition
3.0
It's very interesting hearing what DC was like during this period, especially as a current DC resident who frequents some of the discussed area. I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but found the story lost it's message toward the later half. While it was certainly Castaneda's redemption, I was honestly more interested in DC's redemption.
sjgrodsky's review against another edition
3.0
Three related stories, each strong on narrative (what happened) but weak on analysis (why did it happen, what does it mean). There were so many questions left unprobed and unanswered. What, for example, happened to the strawberries Ruben used and disposed of? What made Baldie tick?
But if you are a Washingtonian (Guilty. Born in the now defunct Columbia Hospital) you can't help but be fascinated. Ruben gets so much right. I especially liked his describing the PG county police as having a culture of brutality (I experienced a small, dilute drop at the University of Maryland), contrasted with Montgomery County's prosperous and refined environment. Yup.
The stories don't quite meld together and the last 50 pages, in particular, have a hurried, slapdash feel, with careless sentences and misspellings (example: "ledes" for "leads").
But I can only thank Ruben for being willing to venture into those rough neighborhoods and reporting what he saw. I would never have dared. It's not where you're likely to find a nice Jewish girl from Montgomery County.
But if you are a Washingtonian (Guilty. Born in the now defunct Columbia Hospital) you can't help but be fascinated. Ruben gets so much right. I especially liked his describing the PG county police as having a culture of brutality (I experienced a small, dilute drop at the University of Maryland), contrasted with Montgomery County's prosperous and refined environment. Yup.
The stories don't quite meld together and the last 50 pages, in particular, have a hurried, slapdash feel, with careless sentences and misspellings (example: "ledes" for "leads").
But I can only thank Ruben for being willing to venture into those rough neighborhoods and reporting what he saw. I would never have dared. It's not where you're likely to find a nice Jewish girl from Montgomery County.
danams16's review against another edition
Was supposed to read as summer reading going into first year at AU before author talk.
emgusk's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, here's the thing. I genuinely liked this book. I grew up in the D.C. suburbs and call D.C. home today. I remember much of the drug epidemic and clearly recall Marion Barry and the bitch setting him up. It was great to read about what happened from someone who was experiencing everything and living amidst it all.
But, man, and I mean man, were there no developed females in this book. None of the prostitutes he visits and has relationships with have any depth whatsoever. The one female editor is written as vindictive (although I'm not sure she was so off-base) and the author just mentions, off hand, a girlfriend or two every once in a while.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the homicide cop, Lou and the pastor, Jim. They are, great, interesting, well-written humans, who I'm glad to be on the planet with, and I'm pleased I was introduced to them in the book. Even the drug king pin, Baldie, was written as a full, and nuanced character.
But I disliked the way the author treated women in his book and I couldn't really get past that. Regardless, I'm glad he wrote the book, I'm glad he's sober and I'm glad we were able to learn from his experiences.
But, man, and I mean man, were there no developed females in this book. None of the prostitutes he visits and has relationships with have any depth whatsoever. The one female editor is written as vindictive (although I'm not sure she was so off-base) and the author just mentions, off hand, a girlfriend or two every once in a while.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the homicide cop, Lou and the pastor, Jim. They are, great, interesting, well-written humans, who I'm glad to be on the planet with, and I'm pleased I was introduced to them in the book. Even the drug king pin, Baldie, was written as a full, and nuanced character.
But I disliked the way the author treated women in his book and I couldn't really get past that. Regardless, I'm glad he wrote the book, I'm glad he's sober and I'm glad we were able to learn from his experiences.
lauraellis's review against another edition
3.5
Really interesting story; his use of prostitutes was the most troubling part. He never mentioned making amends for that.
jerrylwei's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story of DC in the 80s and 90s. Casteneda’s own struggle with addiction and his rise and fall at the Post was less interesting to me than Lou Hennessy’s struggle with the MPD bureaucracy and Marion Barry.
meredithw20's review against another edition
5.0
A very tight first two thirds of this book gives way to a more meandering tail end, but the dual personal and political angles kept me intrigued. I now work on the block where Mr. Castaneda used to cop crack, so IDing spots I see every day in his story was a peculiar, strange thrill. I read the book fairly briskly, but the frankensteined composition of the last 100 or so pages (it reads like a portfolio. A really GOOD portfolio, but fragmented) and the weak conclusion robs it of a star.
ashcobb's review against another edition
3.0
I would love to have heard more of the stories he actually covered on the night shift for the Post instead of his quest for crack (although I see how it was interwoven and ironical). I thoroughly enjoyed the second half of the book and the stories of crack hustlers, Marion Barry and Lou Hennesy (whom I never heard of). As a lifelong resident of the DC it was informative.
bgg616's review against another edition
4.0
My book group was honored by the presence of the author. While sometimes this could be intimidating, Castaneda is a searingly honest and open person, characteristics that likely make him such a great journalist. This is not always an easy book to read as Castaneda describes in depth his descent into crack and alcohol addiction. He arrived in Washington DC from LA at the height of the DC crack epidemic. Not only was crack endemic, but so was murder. For several years running, murder totals close to 500 deaths. Most of the victims were young African American men, and east of 16th St., one of the main streets that runs the total length of the District, and divided the wealthy mostly white part of the capital from the poorer, majority black section of the city. I use the past tense because runaway gentrification has changed the racial profile of DC. I work in a university immediately adjacent to the Trinidad neighborhood. This is a neighborhood that has experienced spikes of crime so violent that at times the police have barricaded the area, only admitting residents. Kitty corner to Trinidad, the neighborhood facing my university is now labeled by some realtors as Capitol Hill despite the fact that it lies 15 blocks north of the center of what is traditionally considered "the hill".
S Street Rising also tells stories that reveal the depth of the corruption of some parts of the DC government. At the center of these stories is the late Marion Barry, dubbed "mayor for life" in the 90's. Barry is infamous as the mayor caught smoking crack -the first but then followed by others, most recently Toronto mayor Rob Ford. The book doesn't mention that Barry rose to prominence in part because of his history as a Civil Rights leader. It is hard at times to reconcile the two Marion Barrys, but it is clear in this book that he also commanded a huge political machine, fueled by financial malfeasance, and corruption.
There are heroes in this story including the police captain, Leo Hennessy, and Pastor Jim who establishes a church on S Street, in the middle of a crack zone. Hennessy has enemies, and some with political power go after him. Pastor Jim sets up Manna, an organization that helps working class residents buy homes. Manna was enormously successful. It still exists but is struggling to survive in the face of escalating property values.
Anyone interested in urban America, and specifically in Washington DC will find this a fascinating read.
S Street Rising also tells stories that reveal the depth of the corruption of some parts of the DC government. At the center of these stories is the late Marion Barry, dubbed "mayor for life" in the 90's. Barry is infamous as the mayor caught smoking crack -the first but then followed by others, most recently Toronto mayor Rob Ford. The book doesn't mention that Barry rose to prominence in part because of his history as a Civil Rights leader. It is hard at times to reconcile the two Marion Barrys, but it is clear in this book that he also commanded a huge political machine, fueled by financial malfeasance, and corruption.
There are heroes in this story including the police captain, Leo Hennessy, and Pastor Jim who establishes a church on S Street, in the middle of a crack zone. Hennessy has enemies, and some with political power go after him. Pastor Jim sets up Manna, an organization that helps working class residents buy homes. Manna was enormously successful. It still exists but is struggling to survive in the face of escalating property values.
Anyone interested in urban America, and specifically in Washington DC will find this a fascinating read.