In the book, the author's son Ramiro - who had previously joined a gang in L.A. - tries to warn readers against gang affiliation.
This book is based on his own experiences, and is a cautionary tale for children. It was a New York Times Notable Book and won the Carl Sandburg Literary Award.
Luis J. Rodriguez's autobiography
Luis J. Rodriguez's autobiography is a remarkable story of survival and renewal. After spending most of his life in gangs, he grew into a creative person who focused on the advancement of Chicano people. He even dedicated his autobiography to his son, who died in a gang. The book's underlying themes are a blend of hope, renewal, and biting humor.
The story also offers a look at a contemporary Chicano community.
Always Running follows Luis's life from the barrio of L.A. to the gang life in Chicago.
Rodriguez grew up in a community that was racially divided, and his family is constantly told he is not an American, cannot speak Spanish, and must hide his identity. As a result, his identity is linked to being a Mexican and a non-American in America. As a result, he often breaks new toys from local charities.
The autobiography tells Luis' life story in episodic fashion, with bits of poetry sprinkled throughout.
His childhood was difficult, and his father was put in jail for unspecified reasons. As a young teenager, he had to move frequently between Los Angeles and Mexico. He had a hard time finding a job, and he was forced to join a gang. His life in Los Angeles became even worse, as he was surrounded by La Vida Loca - the crazy life.
Robert Rodriguez's review
Always Running is the story of Rodriguez, a Chicano poet and former gang member. In the book, he explores gang life, explains its consequences, and warns against the violence it inflicts on the young. In the United States, it has become a national bestseller, and has been included in school reading lists. However, because of its subject matter, it has also been a source of controversy.
This genre-bending film pays homage to cheap 70s schlock films, while it is packed with titillating gore and plenty of violence.
The film also combines elements of Tarantino's films with Grindhouse features. The result is an action-packed film that has many of the hallmarks of a Tarantino flick, but with far more quality.
This movie's fun energy is contagious. While it is not a serious film, it does not take itself too seriously, and maintains its giddy love of the game.
Book discussion
Always Running is a very personal memoir that focuses on growing up and becoming a person. The author aims to share her story with other teenagers and discourage them from making the same mistakes she did as a teenager. While her story is harrowing, it is also filled with hope and insight. Ultimately, it's a book that will make readers question their own motives and the ways they live their lives.
Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc
This review will cover the main points of the novel, "Random Family," by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc. While the book is a scrupulously honest portrait of life in the inner city, it does not resort to sentimentality, as in the work of Jonathan Kozol. It never underplays the cruelty, betrayal, or neglect experienced by its characters. Instead, the characters are treated like independent actors, and the reader is left to draw their own conclusions.
Random Family is a powerful novel about a family of unloved people in South Bronx.
The characters struggle to cope with their unhappiness and lack of love. One of the main characters suffers a brutal beating from her mother and is rushed to the hospital by her mother's boyfriend. She later finds out that she is pregnant with twins. Cocaine, sex, and children are all sprinkled throughout the book.
The story follows the lives of a Puerto Rican family in the South Bronx for over a decade. It begins in the mid-'80s, during the crack epidemic, and ends in 2001. While this novel is not the first book to chronicle life in an inner-city community, it is among the most intimate and detailed.
