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Summary: Race Against Time
Review: In your time of need who should you depend on? In the book Always Running written by Louis J. Rodriguez, family is the most important subject. In the beginning of the book family was the main thing, when a family was going through trials and tribulations, like being out of work or homeless, they could depend on their family for a place o stay or even money to feed their kids. From reading this book, I now realize that family will make you do crazy things like wanting to leave your spouse, like characters in the book. It all happened over money, the father wasn't able to provide sufficient funds to feed his family and the mother was tired of being broke, she packed her and her kids close and headed back to Mexico, their homeland. As soon as she was about to get on the bus, the father came and begged her to come back home, and she did. Later on in the book, the family went through other problems, like their kids getting involved in gang activity, beginning to experience with drugs, and also going to juvenile hall. This section of the book is the section that I could most relate to. The reason is because when I turned 17, most of my friends were high school drop outs, or druggies. But even in this section of the book family is the main thing, because no matter what or how bad things got for the family, they always stuck together. For a normal family from Mexico, they went through it all, and still survived. Ups and down, employment to unemployment, having a place to stay to being homeless. Louis J. Rodriguez had a lot of experiences in this book that a lot of people can relate to. He gave descriptive events that happened, that people in everyday life go through. I feel that if people read Always Running, they will have a better understanding of what really goes on in the ghetto, and also learn why so many youth turns to gangs for support. I would recommend this book to anybody who is in a gang or that is thinking about joining one, it will make you think twice.
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Summary: Street Life
Review: This book is very exciting it tells a true story about barrio lifes. Getting into graphic details about "first times", gang shootings and ways they kill time by "natural resources". It never gets boring, always keeping you turning the pages. It shows the struggle a family goes through moving from Mexico to Los Angeles. The deaths and highs of being with your vatos from the barrio. Completely being down. I have to warn you if this is you type of book,it gets addicting.You'll love it from beging to end.Have fun reading it.
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Summary: At last, intelligence.
Review: From reading this memoir as a part of the required reading during my senior year, I received the same sense of pleasure that I found in reading Julius Caesar, Nicollo Machiavelli, Ayn Rand, Aristotle. . .etc. The pleasure was that of reading the words of a thinking, intelligent person, who looks upon his life with both pride and sorrow, shame and laughter, and finally, objectivety. To find a signpost into the mind of an intelligent man is a rare delight, and I am thankful to Luis Rodriguez for his memoir, for bringing that powerful, vital, passionate intelligence out into the open.
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Summary: dramatic and descriptive story of a crazy life, vida loca
Review: I really enjnoyed reading this book. im not originaly a book reader but i became onr with this book. the first time i read it, i was a sophomore in high school. i started the book but didnt finish it.i regreted it because all i heard was good comments about it. now that i finally finished it i was surpried how rodriguez went deep into his life and let the world know what a crazy life that he lived.i overall rate this the best book i ever read
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Summary: Short stories before, during & after gang life, of one man.
Review: I expected 'Always Running' to be a start to finish life on the streets ending in jail or death type story. This book surprised me in two ways; first, the story is not straight through, but more a mixture of short stories that blend into one whole story. Second, the writer doesn't end up... Well, read the story and find out what happens!
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Summary: This is poetry for those who lived & survived East L.A.!!
Review: When I opened 'Always Running' for the first time, something deep inside me snapped and I couldn't ignore recalling the memories of my long past days in East Los Angeles. --IT READ LIKE POETRY-- The memories sang out with laughter and tears; with heartache and celebration. It was as if someone else was there along with me, sharing the same experience. Suddenly, I wasn't alone. Not anymore. I pondered the idea that someone had stolen snapshots of my life. From high school moments at Garfield to running thru shadowed streets in White Fense territory that tempted only a fool to venture down. I experienced that life! That dark tragedy of twisted fate! Luis, you have helped me to bridge a gap between the past I desparetely wanted to forget. Ashamed, and always running from. But now, I can look back and embrace it for what it was; how it was and how I (we) survived. So that today, I can reflect upon that tragic time with strength and foster a different interpretation and understanding about life to my mis ninos. The lessons from the past hardened the soul, but provided the courage and determination to make a difference in my life. If your readers were products of the 60's or 70's, and remember rioting down Whittier Blvd. in East L. A. or perhaps inspired by Edward James Olmos in Zoot-Zoot, then they'll geniunely shed a tear or two at every turned page from this dramatic tale. Healthy reading! Muchas gracias, hermano!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Poor
Review: the author seems to go to extremes to blame others for what happens in east l.a.can he realy expect people to want to be around a pack of drugies,thieves & murderious gang bangers? its an insult to hard working latinos trying make a better life for themselves & thier familys.in mr.rodriguez case hes does a disservice to the mexican american commuity with his book.
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Summary: You don't have to be chicano to love this book!
Review: Far beyond a coming of age story, this book is a testimonial of the true heart of the inner city Chicano experience. As a teacher in a latino community, these experiences are all too real. In my classroom I see the 10 year-old Luis, with the pressures of the "la vida loca." My only hope is that they have the strength to endure as our author did. The book will give you a fantastic insight into the true problems and successes of the latino community, particularly in California. I have read this book many times and have loaned and lost as well. I don't care how many books I lend and lose, I purchase again. This one has a permanent home on my book shelf!
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Summary: A must for Chicano literature enthusiasts.
Review: I loved this book. Being Chicano, I could relate very easily to the protagonist. Rodriguez's writing is so colorful and vivid that I was immersed into a world which I did not know.
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Summary: An Amazing life story of a young man's life.
Review: Always Running was a very interesting life story of a man. He was a gang banger with drug problems in his early years and turned into an passionate writer/poet, educator in the community as he grew older. Finally, he found a way to express his feelings through writing, literature rather than being involved in gang activities. It was very intersting to read this book because the book has many scenes that are striking life experience of the main character. The character's life seem very unordinary, but somehow relates to my own personal experience in the past. I can understand the hardships he went through for being a child of an immigrant family, being Latin American and growing up in a low income family. I recommend this book to all who need inspiration and motivation to improve themselves in their lives. It was amazing to read how he overcame those obstacles in his life: quitting drugs, getting out of the gang, etc. Personally, I found lots of help from this book.
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