If you're into House of Cards, chances are you finished Season 2 weeks ago and are highly anticipating Season 3. As filming hasn't even started yet, it's going to be a while before we find out if Stamper is really dead, if the Underwoods will get away with it and if the fun text bubbles will ever come back.

What to do while going through House of Cards withdrawal? I could make a whole list of silly, useless pastimes, but instead I'm going to give you one really high quality answer.

Read a book

about DC

noir style

Yup, turn off whatever other show you've gotten into (because, it's just not that good) and pick up one of these gems: You can even get them at the library. Like the gorgeous Watha T. Daniel Library in Shaw, if you live in Washington, DC. (Or even the library of Congress if you work on Capitol Hill. Christina totally gets her books from the library of Congress.)

I discovered DC Noir 2 while browsing in the library and the librarian was sweet enough to put DC Noir on hold for me (I think she thought it was a part 1 and part 2 thing).

"Nowhere in the country is the race, class, and culture divide more obvious than it is in Washington, D.C. And the conflict does not bubble below the surface--this American experiment is dissected and discussed, in-you-face style, everyday."                                                                      --George Pelecanos, editor of both books

D.C. Noir is a collection of crime/noir fiction style short stories that explore all four quadrants (NW, NE, SW, SE). Authors are diverse--including an incarcerated man, a police officer, actor and journalists, of various races and ethnicities. The stories take place in familiar places like Capitol Hill, not-so-familiar places like Benning Heights, giving locals and non-locals alike a new perspective on the district.

D.C. Noir 2: The Classics is filled with notable and historic writers that have either lived in or written about the city. WIth names like Langston Hughes and Edward P. Jones, it does not disappoint. The stories are in chronological order by date in which they were published originally and by neighborhood.

Best part, because they are all short stories, you can read them on a commute to work or over coffee without committing to a whole book. Since each story is totally different, you won't get bored. You can even stay up all night and read the whole book, if you are the type that watches a series start to finish.

The first story I read in D.C. Noir  2 was written in 1900 by Paul Laurence Dunbar titled "A Council of State". It's takes place on R Street N.W., where I am sitting right now.

Here's a sneak peak:

Part I

Luther Hamilton was a great political power. He was neither representative in Congress, senator nor cabinet minister. When asked why he aspired to none of these places of honor and emolument he invariably shrugged his shoulders and smiled inscrutably. In fact, he found it both more pleasant and more profitable simply to boss his party. It gave him power, position and patronage, and yet put him under obligations to no narrow constituency.

As he sat in his private office this particular morning there was a smile upon his face, and his little eyes looked out beneath the heavy grey eyebrows and the massive cheeks with gleams of pleasure. His whole appearance betokened the fact that he was feeling especially good. Even his mail lay neglected before him, and his eyes gazed straight at the wall. What wonder that he should smile and dream. Had he not just the day before utterly crushed a troublesome opponent? Had he not ruined the career of a young man who dared to oppose him, driven him out of public life and forced his business to the wall? Is this were not food for self-congratulation pray what is?

 

Intrigued? Need some political action? Check out these books and let us know what you think!

There are two kinds of pain. The sort of pain that makes you strong, or useless pain. The sort of pain that's only suffering. I have no patience for useless things --Francis Underwood

Happy House of Cards waiting time!