Books To Read – May 2011

It’s that time again.  Here are my May 2011 must-reads.

Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets by David Simon

If you are a fan of The Wire, a series on HBO that aired a few years back, this is the book that inspired that series.  If you are not a fan of The Wire, you should become one. Rent the DVDs from Netflix and enjoy.  It is simply some of the best drama you will ever watch.  I wish I had known about the book first, because it does a tremendous job of introducing you to the gritty life on the streets of Baltimore.  The characters in the book make the show come to life.  It is very well-written, and if you want to understand and appreciate the life of a police officer in a rough and tumble US city, I highly recommend this book.

Living on the Black by John Feinstein

If you read this blog, you know that I am a huge fan of John Feinstein.  I have read nearly every book he has written, and this one is near the top of the list.  Feinstein spends a season with Tom Glavine, then of the NY Mets, and Mike Mussina of the NY Yankees.  I grew up watching the Yankees and Mets due to my proximity to New York.  I despised the Mets and loved the Yankees (still true today).  This book, however, has nothing to do really with the teams.  It is about two amazing pitchers near the end of their careers.  Tom Glavine is most well-known for his years with the Atlanta Braves, but finished his career with the Mets in pursuit of 300 wins.  Mike Mussina spent most of his career with the Baltimore Orioles, but finished with the Yankees.  I like understanding what it takes to be the best at something, and Feinstein helps paint the picture of life as a pitcher in Major League Baseball.