Rating: 
Summary: Good Book But.....
Review: This is a good book but I fail to see the conclusion or any real points the author was trying to make. It was a pretty good read but it had disapointing take away.I recommend the Cross and the Switchblade, Run Baby Run and The Last Street Fighter.
Rating: 
Summary: Powerful Book
Review: I got this book from my boyfriend for my 18th birthday. I've heard my friends rave about this book ever since I was in middle school, and I could not wait to read it. This book met everyone of my expectations and more. This is one of the most powerful and moving book I've read and it opens up a world that most people have never even heard of. As a teen, it was easy to relate to some of the feelings and events in the book. This is definitly a book that everyone needs to read.
Rating:
Summary: A great book for everyone
Review: I really liked this book. I kept going home after work to read it. I would recommend it to everyone. I am glad he wrote this. I feel like I know him.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book
Review: This book was the best one I ever read. It had everything sex, drugs and, most importantly love. I recomend this book to everyone, you could tell that the author is being really truthful, he wrote this book with such feeling that it even made cry in some parts. Even though this book didn't help his son I know that at least he tried and that's what counts. My brother was thinking of kicking it with gangmembers, but when I told him to read this book he realized that it's not good. I know that if other people like my brother read this book they will think twice of what they want to do.
Rating:
Summary: Luiz never saved his son who was sentenced to jail
Review: I've read an interview with Luiz Rodriquez after reading this fascinating book. I just wanted to point out - this book didn't help his son Ramiro - he ended up in jail for attempted murder. Luiz said people critisize him for that but he believes that if this book can help others, it's not written in vain. I think this is a great, honest, realistic book. You can tell the author put his entire soul into it. I like his transitions and analysis. I liked the part where he started talking about love, moved on to young girls getting pregnant and then, as a result of it, the ruined lives of unwanted, unloved kids. We never really think that all the evil in the world can be an outcome of love. "The babies wail for feeding, for touch and the internal knowledge of being special, wanted. If it doesn't come as soon as they commence the bleeding, they ache for what they never had, with an emptiness which is never filled" I think it was his major pain throughout the entire life - that "emptiness which is never filled".
Rating:
Summary: Always Running
Review: Book Review
Always Running
By: Luis Rodriguez
Reviewed by: Erick Villalvazo Have you ever thought about being in a gang? Well, in the book "Always Running" it tells how life in a gang can be so dangerous. When Luis came to the United States he was an immigrant and he had trouble finding friends. He was so desperate and lonely that he made friends with teens in the Lomas gang. Later on he got jumped into the Lomas gang and after so many fights, shootings and trouble he wanted to get out of the gang but his friends wouldn't let him.
When Luis was thirteen he was already in a gang. In school Luis was involved in many fights. He was suspended from school many times and was expelled once. He was also involved in many shootings. Many of his friends died in drive-by shootings from rival gang members. By being in the gang Luis was in trouble all the time. He was in jail many times. His mom was tired of visiting him in jail. His mom tried to help him by talking to him but he just wouldn't listen. Nobody could change his mind.
When Luis was seventeen he began to think about the future. That's when he realized that being in the gang wouldn't have no future for him. Then he decided to get out of the gang. He didn't hang out with his friends anymore and decided to change for good.
The life lesson of this book is not to join a gang. It only gives you trouble and you might get killed or end up in jail. If you are thinking about joining a gang I think you should read this book first so that you learn what can happen to you if you join one. Think about it twice before you join a gang.
Rating:
Summary: Pure truth!
Review: This book keeps you away from your TV. It does not beat around the bush. It talks about an imperfect system in which we all live where racism, drugs, poverty, injustices, brutality, rapes, killings, and gang life is as common as the news you will see today. The author relates his own personal life which makes it more credible. He relates how gang life entangles many young ones and little by little leads them to destruction. You will gain lots of insight for you'll learn how gang people think why they do what they do and what leads them to commit the unthinkable. What impresses me most about this book is the fact that this guy is able to escape the death entanglement of this world which I compare as a diabolic spider web with its many filaments or threads which work like a magnet attracting the inexperienced and leading them to the very brink of the so called hell. A web thread could be the violent gang life. So if you want to know what it is to get out of the claws of death simply read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Always Running
Review: Inna Sergeeva
04/08/02
Always Running
Luis Rodriguez is the author of this famous and best-selling book. It is based on his biography that took place in Watts and East Los Angeles in the 1950's to the 1990's. Watts was an old community, primarily made up of black and Mexican people. It was a ghetto where country and city mixed together. East Los Angeles was also a run down community with a high rate of crime.
Ramiro, Luis' first child, has gone off again. He reminds the author of his gang days. The author fears Ramiro will cause harm to himself if nothing is done. In the preface the author talks about his family and about his life as an early journalist. The author also says that in writing the book Ramiro will change.
Always Running is the author's autobiography about moving from Mexico to Los Angelos. His family was poor and hoped to succeed one day. He did poorly in school because he and his family did not speak English. As the author grew up he experienced prejudice because he was Mexican. At ten he and his friends created 'clicas' (gangs) which they called Thee Impersonations. Luis Rodriguez was a young East L.A. gangster that had witnessed countless shootings, beatings, arrests, murders, suicides, and senseless acts of street crime by the age of twelve. Facing many tough times in his life, Luis turned to violence and gangs to get away from his problems. He felt closer to his fellow gang members than to his own mother, father, sisters, and brother. As a child, Luis never seemed to fit in: not even at school. He came from a dysfunctional family. At thirteen the author was already into drugs and gang violence. Throughout the book Luis Rodriguez talks about friends, school, gang fights, problems at home and his love life. At fifteen he was arrested and made to work. Towards the end of the book the author meets Licha who inspired him to change. By the time he turned eighteen years old, he had seen twenty-five of his friends either killed by rival gangs, police, drugs, car accidents, or suicides He decided to leave for San Pedro but ended up living in Chicago. He discovers that he has no future living in the streets and decides to turn his life around.
To me this book is inspiring and I think that everyone especially teenagers should read this book. It is a sad and true story about a former gang member who leaves his memoir for the next generation. Reading Always Running is like being in it and will surely encourage others to turn their lives around.
This book really made me think about how much I take for granted. From reading all about Luis's problems and realizing how tough it was for him to grow up, I feel very lucky. I saw that Luis had built up his self- esteem and courage, even after experiencing life and reality the "hard way." Luis knew that by thinking positive and being strong, he could turn his life around. I know it must have been hard for him to leave his gang because it was his only known. This book does have a lot of controversial material in it. There is a lot of profanity, drugs, and violence involved throughout the entire book. This book also contains many descriptive images of sexual activity and many vivid images of gang rivalry fights (shootings, beatings, murders, and arrests). I would recommend this book to teenagers who are surrounded by gangs, those who are acquainted with youngsters that are involved in gangs. Because this book would be a perfect example for youngsters who are involved in gangs and think that is no way out. It could motivate those who try but can't break free from years of violence and desperation. After reading this book, reader will realize that anything is possible in life: even someone as violent as Luis can end up being a famous writer and help others to escape from the dark world.
Rating:
Summary: Always Running
Review: Inna Segeeva
04/08/02
Always Running
Luis Rodriguez is the author of this famous and best-selling book. It is based on his biography that took place in Watts and East Los Angeles in the 1950's to the 1990's. Watts was an old community, primarily made up of black and Mexican people. It was a ghetto where country and city mixed together. East Los Angeles was also a run down community with a high rate of crime.
Ramiro, Luis' first child, has gone off again. He reminds the author of his gang days. The author fears Ramiro will cause harm to himself if nothing is done. In the preface the author talks about his family and about his life as an early journalist. The author also says that in writing the book Ramiro will change.
Always Running is the author's autobiography about moving from Mexico to Los Angelos. His family was poor and hoped to succeed one day. He did poorly in school because he and his family did not speak English. As the author grew up he experienced prejudice because he was Mexican. At ten he and his friends created 'clicas' (gangs) which they called Thee Impersonations. Luis Rodriguez was a young East L.A. gangster that had witnessed countless shootings, beatings, arrests, murders, suicides, and senseless acts of street crime by the age of twelve. Facing many tough times in his life, Luis turned to violence and gangs to get away from his problems. He felt closer to his fellow gang members than to his own mother, father, sisters, and brother. As a child, Luis never seemed to fit in: not even at school. He came from a dysfunctional family. At thirteen the author was already into drugs and gang violence. Throughout the book Luis Rodriguez talks about friends, school, gang fights, problems at home and his love life. At fifteen he was arrested and made to work. Towards the end of the book the author meets Licha who inspired him to change. By the time he turned eighteen years old, he had seen twenty-five of his friends either killed by rival gangs, police, drugs, car accidents, or suicides He decided to leave for San Pedro but ended up living in Chicago. He discovers that he has no future living in the streets and decides to turn his life around.
To me this book is inspiring and I think that everyone especially teenagers should at least look at the book. It is a sad and true story about a former gang member who leaves his memoir for the next generation. Reading Always Running is like being in it and will surely encourage others to turn their lives around.
This book really made me think about how much I take for granted. From reading all about Luis's problems and realizing how tough it was for him to grow up, I feel very lucky. I saw that Luis had built up his self- esteem and courage, even after experiencing life and reality the "hard way." Luis knew that by thinking positive and being strong, he could turn his life around. I know it must have been hard for him to leave his gang because it was his only known. This book does have a lot of controversial material in it. There is a lot of profanity, drugs, and violence involved throughout the entire book. This book also contains many descriptive images of sexual activity and many vivid images of gang rivalry fights (shootings, beatings, murders, and arrests).
Rating: 
Summary: I like it!
Review: When I first bought the book, I thought it was just another one about gangs, drugs,sex and violence. Once I started to read I realize that it was. However, it wasn't just that cought my attention. It was the powerful message. Luis book does a great job at informing the people about what is really like to grow up in an gang infested community. He shows the reader that is possible to survive a world where commiting crime after crime is part of survival. As a young person Luis involvement in gang activity, survived all the obsticle he faced. He also shows historical events from his point of view. At a time when he didn't think about making through one more day. He is a survivor whose willing to share with the rest of world his knowledge. Althought he was not able to keep his son Richard out. He tried everything he could. But the message he conveys will probably help save other people's children, so they do not have to go throught the same path.
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