pickFascinating, heartbreaking, sobering nonfiction read about Detroit intertwined with the history of Charlie LeDuff‘s family. Part memoir, part dissection of what went wrong in Detroit, this book reads like a bad detective novel masquerading as urban studies. Charlie himself is not particularly likable & not always believable, but he tells a good story. Best of all, Detroit has come a long way since this book was written. An entertaining book.
pickTwo recent audiobook listens. There was more humor in Detroit than I expected. Really liked this one. The Feather Thief was SO boring until it got to the 80% mark. Then it got exciting, then it went back to boring. Still, it was worth the read.
I'm not sure if anyone without ties to Detroit would feel the same, but I'm looooooving this book. While documenting the corruption and ruin, I get the impression this is also a love letter to a city he calls home. As someone who was born in Detroit, and spent much time there in the places he talks about while growing up, I'm feeling nostalgia and sadness at the same time. #Detroit #nofilter #ItReallyLooksThisBad 😔
pickAmazing the book. The narrator has a voice that fits the story perfect. A journalist returns to Detroit, where he grew up, and examines how Detroit got to be what it is. The corruption, the violence, the decay. It heartbreaking. The people that just want their city to give a sh*t about them.
An hour and a half in and my heart is breaking for what has become of Detroit and Michigan
Less than 15 minutes into this audio and HOLY CRAP! More #audiostitching today with hot coffee instead of cold premixed
Another Kindle sale $1.99 ($7.49 for audio add on). Might only be interesting to Michiganders and economics lovers 😊
pickThis is an excellent, fast-paced nonfiction read. If you liked Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, this is definitely one you don't want to miss. I don't know if he has another book in the works, but I'm already looking forward to it if he does. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just started this audiobook and I'm ADDICTED.
It's so good, but it brings up some interesting moral questions.
Is only focusing on the bad aspects of life and Detroit capitalizing on someone else's misery?
Or is it giving voice to stories that have historically gone ignored?
Is it highlighting a social problem to make people care or is it frightening people away from a city that's experiencing a resurgence? Very interesting...
pickThis was a fascinating, heartbreaking look at a city often ignored by many.
I just watched 8 Mile last night, and I'm reading this today. Coincidence? I THINK NOT! #litsyatoz
The STFU Award goes to the best audiobook (cos I'm listening to this... Ssshh!)
This year it goes to Detroit. Listening to this is like spending a night bar hopping in Detroit with LeDuff: first you meet the regulars & working stiffs; then you meet the grifters & scammers; eventually you're left with the thugs. At 4 am when dawn is near, the sparse light is not kind to the bones of this city. But LeDuff dares you to love it anyway.
#bestof2016
#seasonsreadings2016 I haven't read the LeDuff yet but The Turner House was my favorite work of fiction in 2015. #FictionNonfictionPairing
#TBT apparently I was really in the mood for not-so-light-and-happy nonfiction. China Rich Girlfriend tagged on makes sense after these topics (though I followed it right up with Columbine in December). My reading this year has been more sporadic and all over the place in terms of topics and genre.
The only difference between Detroit and the Third World in terms of corruption is Detroit don't have no goats in the streets.
Detroit | 
