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Hollywood Station

Book 1 in the series:Hollywood Station

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'Hollywood Station' by Joseph Wambaugh is a novel that delves into the lives of LAPD officers in Hollywood, focusing more on the personal aspects of the characters rather than just the crimes they are solving. The book presents a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by modern-day cops, set against the backdrop of a multicultural Los Angeles. Wambaugh weaves together gritty vignettes of cop's personal lives, showcasing the toll that being a peace officer in Hollywood takes on individuals. The writing style involves episodic vignettes that slowly build up to a shattering conclusion, all while maintaining a sense of humor and compassion towards the characters.

Characters:

The characters are a large and diverse cast of LAPD officers and criminals, each memorable with distinct personalities, motivations, and a mix of comic and serious traits.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by descriptive characterizations, dark humor, and a narrative that resembles an episodic television series.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot consists of various unconnected storylines, including a jewelry theft and the chaotic lives of LAPD officers, with a focus on personal and moral dilemmas.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary Los Angeles, specifically the Hollywood Division of the LAPD, which presents a culturally diverse and gritty urban environment.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, starting slowly with character introductions but picks up as the plots intertwine, although it can feel meandering at times.
“All I know about horses is they’re assholes, man. But we got the overtime there. You know my little Beemer? I wouldn’t have that if I hadn’t worked Metro. My last year in Metro I made a hundred grand...

Notes:

Joseph Wambaugh is a former LAPD officer and has written 16 bestsellers.
Hollywood Station is Wambaugh's first novel in 20 years, creating significant excitement upon publication.
The book features a large cast that includes police officers and a variety of criminals and drug addicts.
Characterization in the novel is described as superb, with each character being vividly portrayed.
Budgie, a character in the book, is a new mother who has to pump breast milk while on duty.
Hollywood Nate, another character, is a wannabe actor who thinks his police job is just a stepping stone to stardom.
The narrative includes a mix of humorous and serious themes, exploring the chaotic lives of both cops and criminals.
The main plot revolves around a jewelry theft tied to crystal meth addicts, though it's presented through various subplots without a tight central narrative.
Wambaugh's style blends humor with an honest depiction of the chaos in police work, reflecting real-life issues within law enforcement.
The novel is noted for its graphic language and scenes, depicting the gritty nature of crime in Los Angeles.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include graphic depictions of violence, drug use, language, and themes of police brutality.

From The Publisher:

For a cop, a night on the job means killing time and trying not to get killed. If you're a cop in Hollywood Division, it also means dealing with the most overwrought, desperate, and deluded criminals anywhere. When you're patrolling Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards, neither a good reputation nor the lessons of scandals past will help you keep your cool, your sanity, or your life when things heat up.The robbery of a Hollywood jewelry store, complete with masks and a hand grenade, quickly connects to a Russian nightclub, an undercover operation gone bloodily wrong, and a cluelessly ambitious pair of tweakers.

Putting the pieces together are the sergeant they call the Oracle and his squad of street cops. There's Budgie Polk, a twenty-something firecracker with a four-month-old at home, and Wesley Drubb, a rich boy who joined the force seeking thrills. Fausto Gamboa is the tetchy veteran, and Hollywood Nate is the one who never shuts up about movies. They spend their days in patrol cars and their nights in the underbelly of a city that never sleeps. From their headquarters at Hollywood Station, they see the glamour city for what it is: a field of land mines, where the mundane is dangerous and the dangerous is mundane.

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