Скачать или смотреть "Clockers" By Richard Price

Clockers is a 1992 novel by Richard Price that explores the world of drug dealers and police officers in a gritty urban setting. The novel is set in the fictional city of Dempsy, New Jersey, and follows the story of Strike Dunham, a young drug dealer who is caught up in a murder investigation. Through Strike's story, Price delves into the complex and often tragic world of the drug trade, while also exploring themes of poverty, race, and the struggle to find meaning in a world where opportunities are scarce.

One of the central themes of Clockers is the destructive impact of the drug trade on individuals and communities. Price portrays the world of drug dealing as a brutal and dehumanizing one, where violence and betrayal are commonplace. Strike, the novel's protagonist, is a young man who has been drawn into this world out of a sense of hopelessness and desperation. As the novel progresses, we see how his involvement in the drug trade leads to a cycle of violence and self-destruction that threatens to consume him.

At the same time, Price also shows how the drug trade affects the wider community, particularly in terms of its impact on families and children. The novel's opening chapter, for example, describes the shooting of a young boy in a playground, an event that serves as a catalyst for much of the novel's action. Through this event, Price highlights the way in which the drug trade destroys the innocence of childhood and leaves a trail of pain and suffering in its wake.

Another key theme of Clockers is the issue of poverty and its impact on people's lives. Price depicts Dempsy as a city that has been left behind by the wider world, a place where economic opportunities are few and far between. This sense of economic despair is particularly acute for the novel's African American characters, who are often trapped in a cycle of poverty and marginalization. Through Strike's story, Price shows how the drug trade can seem like the only way out for young people who have few options and little hope for the future.

Alongside these themes, Clockers is also a novel about the police officers who are tasked with dealing with the drug trade. Price presents a nuanced portrayal of these characters, showing how they are often torn between their duty to uphold the law and their desire to make a difference in their communities. The novel's two main police characters, Rocco Klein and Larry Mazilli, are both flawed but sympathetic figures who are struggling to do the right thing in a complex and often dangerous environment.

One of the most impressive aspects of Clockers is its use of language and dialogue. Price's prose is raw and powerful, capturing the rhythms and cadences of street life in a way that feels authentic and immersive. The dialogue, in particular, is a standout feature of the novel, with Price's ear for the vernacular of the drug trade and the police force creating a vivid and memorable cast of characters.

Overall, Clockers is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that offers a nuanced and compelling portrait of life in the inner city. Through its exploration of themes such as poverty, race, and the drug trade, the novel offers a searing indictment of a system that seems designed to trap young people in a cycle of despair and violence. At the same time, however, the novel also offers a glimmer of hope, showing how even in the darkest of circumstances, there is still the possibility of redemption and change.