The White House announced today that President Barack Obama is bringing a handful of novels with him during his weeklong vacation, including Richard Price‘s Lush Life, Kent Haruf‘s Plainsong, and George Pelecanos‘ The Way Home. (He’s also bringing a couple of “serious” books.) All fine selections, and though I’d like to hear what he thinks of the books overall when he’s done with them, I’m also curious to learn what he thinks of this particular passage from Lush Life, in which Matty, a homicide detective, finds his plans to recanvass a neighborhood where a murder has occurred have been derailed thanks to a surprise visitor…
“Matty.” Yolonda holding up the phone. “Dargan from Berkowitz.”
Matty braced. Detective Dargan, Deputy Inspector Berkowitz’s Bad News Bear. “Hey, Jerry.”
“Yeah, hey, Matty, look, we just got word, the president’s coming into town tonight instead of tomorrow.”
“OK.” Matty waited for the other shoe.
“So, we’re going to need to postpone your recanvass.”
“What?” Matty tried to come off stunned. “Why?”
“The word from on high is to pull manpower from all units, including yours. No excusals.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I spent the last two days lining everybody up for this. You couldn’t have told me earlier?”
“We just found out ourselves.”
“How the fuck can you not know the president’s coming in until the day?”
“Hey,” Dargan said calmly, “I have nothing to do with this. I’m just the messenger.”
Fucking Berkowitz.
“Is he in? Let me talk to him.”
“Not a good idea,” Dargan said mournfully.
“And you’re taking people from my squad? It’s a seventh-day homicide recanvass. You can’t take my people.”
“No excusals,” Dargan said. “Sorry.”
“This fucking sucks. Let me talk to him.”
“Not a good idea … And Matty? Truly … Let it be.”
As he slammed the phone down, Yolonda snapped off her cell. “They’re pulling me and Iacone,” she said. “You know something? I don’t think I’ve ever been inside the Waldorf.”
markathitakis.com 
He won’t go wrong with Haruf. Love that book.
Agreed. If I had to pick, I’d say that it’s the best-written of the three novels. “The Way Home” isn’t my favorite Pelecanos by a long shot; “Hard Revolution” would’ve been a better choice.
Or with “Lush Life,” Price’s best by far.
Hrm. I think it’s a pretty close competition between “Lush Life,” “Samaritan,” and “Clockers.” All three are excellent, but I’d pick “Clockers” if forced to choose.
I was very interested to read your piece on President Obama’s choice of vacation reading.
I have dedicated my website to as many of the literary influences that have shaped this man.
He really is a devourer of books.