The Wire: Truth Be Told

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Author: Rafael Alvarez
Publisher: Pocket
Category: Book

List Price: ~~$25.00~~
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Format: Bargain Price
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1

Dewey Decimal Number: 791.4572
ASIN: B0013L6E32

Publication Date: September 14, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Similar Items:

•	Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
•	The Wire - The Complete Fourth Season
•	The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood
•	The Wire - The Complete Fifth Season
•	The Wire - The Complete Third Season

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Created by David Simon, The Wire is told from the point of view of both the police and their targets. The first season focused primarily on the investigation of the Barkdale drug-dealing crew, while the second season examined the issues confronting the Baltimore waterfront and its unions, along with the continuation of the Barkdale storyline. The book will examine the themes and storylines of the first two seasons, as well as looking ahead to the show's direction for the third and future seasons, interspersing the stories of the real-life people upon whom the show's characters are based. The book will also have numerous photos from the show which capture the flavour of the local Baltimore locations. With an introduction by show creator David Simon, as well as contributions by bestselling and award-winning authors George Pelecanos, Laura Lippman, and Anthony Walton The Wire companion book will enhance the show's appeal for readers and fans.

Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

A fine companion to a brilliant and underrated series June 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

HBO's brilliant, riveting, and sadly underrated series The Wire wrapped up just a short time ago, which makes it all the more worthwhile to revisit or discover this hardcover companion to David Simon's critically acclaimed crime drama. Compiled by series writer and novelist Rafael Alvarez, The Wire: Truth Be Told features insightful commentaries from series creators Simon and Ed Burns, as well as essays by authors George Pelecanos, Laura Lippman, Anthony Walton, and Joy Lusco Kecken, and episode summarizations of the first two seasons of the series, concluding with the beginning of the third season. Peppered throughout the book are pictures of the actors and scenes from the series, as well as discussions of some of the characters' real-life counterparts, and tributes to late producer Robert F. Colesberry; who if it were not for his involvement, the show possibly would never have existed, let alone made it for five seasons on HBO. Though there are many insightful observations and interesting tales to be found here, as a Wire purist one may wish that there was just more included here. The book itself is a pretty quick read, but is an essential one nevertheless for devoted fans of what may very well have been one of, if not the, greatest programs to ever grace the television screen. All in all, The Wire: Truth Be Told is a more than fine companion piece to the beloved drama, and is by all means worth picking up.

4 out of 5 stars

On the best in TV January 29, 2008
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

I got this book just about the time the second season started. I read most of it, then put it down to do other things.br /br /Well "The Wire" is onto its last season so I thought I'd "review" as much of the series as I could, so I read the whole book. First, the series is superior--among the few "honest" television series I've ever noted. It's not feel-good TV like most of that medium are. But it's brutally honest. br /br /The major focus of the book is Season 2, in which Frank Sobotka, the head of Baltimore's longshoreman's union, does his best to keep the union afloat. Unfortunately to do so he must rely on some pretty shady characters many of whom do business with the drug dealers on which the series focuses. But there's also a summary of season 1, and even a preview of Season 3. br /br /There are also interviews with and comments by those who star in and produce the series. So you can learn that Bunk--played by Wendell Peirce, a Julliard grad--is based on a real Ballmer cop. And Bubbles, one of my favorite characters, played superbly well by Andre Royo, got a "street oscar": after make up, a Ballmer drug user approached "Bubbles," gave him some money and said, "You need this more than I do." Then there's the descriptions of the many actors who are actually from the streets of Baltimore!br /br /Some of the series' commentaries are by people I'm not sure who they are (forgive the poor grammar). But the commentaries are great so I don't care who they are. They could be fans, producers, or the man on the street. If what s/he says is well done, who cares?br /br /There's even a memorial to Robert Colesberry, one of the producers who dies unexpectedly after heart surgery at the tender age of 57. br /br /Well, I don't want to go on and on. I passed the book onto a lawyer friend who doesn't subscribe to HBO but who's become "hooked" on "The Wire" which he rents on DVD. Why only four stars? I have a bias against marketing. While I know it's a necessary element of today's economy, it takes up too much time/money in the culture, resources that could be better producing useful items. This book, while fine, and representing, again, perhaps the greatest series in TV history, still is meant to market the series. While I hope it did an effective job of that, I still dislike marketing.br /br /If you're as much of a "Wire" fan as I, get this and learn even more about a fine, fine series.br /br /

5 out of 5 stars

Not an ordinary book, just like the show! January 8, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful

The book is really a piece of art from the cover to the epilogue. ]br /br /A black and white book, with colorful and imagefull pages in the middle and with a detachable cover! Nice one, huh?br /br /And there really are some interesting articles about the cast and crew of the show as well as a very long and in-depth prologue from the big man David Simon himself. And yet most pages are episode reviews which are pretty valuable too, it's a must have piece for anyone who calls himself 'THE WIRE' fan.br /br /It's just a pity it covers the first two seasons and a bit about the third. I hope someone will mind to create a final book after the show's final fifth season finishes. Just like 'The Sopranos' released their final book after the finale.

3 out of 5 stars

First Timers Only December 29, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

As with the earlier review, because this book is mostly episode summaries of the TV series, it doesn't give die-hard fans any real production or factual background. There are some interesting sidebar sections about the writers, cast and the city that will appeal to fan interest. But if you've followed all the seasons and own the DVDs, this book won't add much to your appreciation.

4 out of 5 stars

One for the fans October 28, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This book will be the most rewarding if you're already familiar with The Wire as well as David Simon's earlier work (Homicide; The Corner).br /br /I thoroughly enjoyed the interviews (such as the one with a real-life drugs kingpin), background stories (like the tale of the "real Bubbles") and trivia (cameo roles, music picks etc.) They brought a lot more depth to the show and made me love it even more.br /br /Episode capsules from the first two seasons take up quite a bit of the book, but there's still plenty to discover for devoted fans. Those unfamiliar with the show should probably start with the DVD sets before picking up this book.

Copyright 2007 White Hat Communications.
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