My father was a Marine who fought in the Pacific in WW II. He was a very tough guy, but after the war, he lived his life in a quiet and reserved manner because he had nothing to prove. I know now that he internalized his war experience. George Pelecanos More Quotes by George Pelecanos More Quotes From George Pelecanos My senior year at College Park, University of Maryland, I took an elective class in crime fiction taught by Charles C. Mish. He turned me on in a big way to reading and books. I was lucky to have a teacher who changed the course of my life. George Pelecanos my-life me teacher life After college, I spent a decade working the kinds of jobs that I write about - bartender, shoe salesman, kitchen man - while voraciously reading novels. George Pelecanos man kitchen reading college Sometimes I think 'The Wire' said it all, and I might as well not write any more crime novels. George Pelecanos think crime said sometimes There are a lot of bars and shoe stores in my early books. George Pelecanos shoe books lot early The cliche is that Washington is a transient town of people who blow in and out every four years with the new administrations. But the reality is that people have lived in Washington for generations, and their lives are worth examining, I think. George Pelecanos new think reality people I do miss the Chocolate City of my youth. George Pelecanos miss city youth chocolate I really feel like people who want to change things need to go out and change it themselves and not look to politicians to do that. George Pelecanos feel look change people My goal is to get a real film industry started in Washington. An actual one, not where features come to town and shoot second unit for a few days. I would love to get something started here. Hire local crews. People could work year-round and raise their families here. George Pelecanos real work love people A lot of guys are walking around with a lot simmering beneath the surface, and sometimes it explodes. George Pelecanos lot surface walking sometimes My books are not for everybody. George Pelecanos books everybody
