Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.

Book Description

By age twelve, Luis Rodriguez was a veteran of East L.A. gang warfare. Lured by a seemingly invincible gang culture, he witnessed countless shootings, beatings, and arrests, then watched with increasing fear as drugs, murder, suicide, and senseless acts of street crime claimed friends and family members.

Before long, Rodriguez saw a way out of the barrio through education and the power of words and successfully broke free from years of violence and desperation. Achieving success as an award-winning Chicano poet, he was sure the streets would haunt him no more -- until his son joined a gang. Rodriguez fought for his child by telling his own story in Always Running, a vivid memoir that explores the motivations of gang life and cautions against the death and destruction that inevitably claim its participants. At times heartbreakingly sad and brutal, Always Running is ultimately an uplifting true story, filled with hope, insight, and a hard-learned lesson for the next generation.

Customer Reviews:

Almost too realistic, yet a must read. .......2007-03-20

I heard this book was good, but didn't know how good it actually was until I read it. There isn't a dull page.

What's most alarming about the book is not necessarily the events that take place, as many movies about this lifestyle have been made since the book's first publishing, sort of numbing the harsh realities of gang life to even outsiders who grew up in secluded suburbs, but the age that Luis Rodriguez actually is when the events are taking place. Some of the day to day drama described in the book is so adult like that you can only picture the subjects of these tales being 18 to 25 years old, yet the reader is often reminded that the author was as young as 14 when some of them took place.

What may also separate the stories told in this book from the stories told in typical 1990s west coast gang folklore, from hip hop to film to books like 'Monster', is the sexual situations Mr. Rodriguez describes that he took part in and witnesses, again, in some cases as young as 14. Some are romantic, and almost remind the reader of a time when romance was first discovered in their lives, yet there are some that are so disturbing that the reader is quickly brought down to earth, reminded that love and romance in a violent, drug infested environment is far different from the kind most Americans have grown to know, that is dictated by Hollywood fairy tales.

Luis Rodriguez finding his outlet from the gang life through art and writing could give hope to any current gang member who happens upon this book. It's one thing for a suburban high school teacher to tell a 'homeboy' that he can express his views through art, it's another for an older 'homeboy' himself to tell him.

A must read for everyone, from suburbanites with little knowledge of the gang life who would like another version than that given by media outlets and law enforcement agencies, where the knowledge tends to be limited to crime reporting and identification of territories and monikers, to kids and adults wrapped up in the gang life, and just looking for any story that can inspire them or give them some kind of direction to a better life.

The Definitive Account of Barrio Life........2007-02-19

What more is needed to say about this memoir? This is singlehandedly one of the most powerful memoirs I have ever read and that goes without saying. I was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, the same one that Rodriguez builds and describes and I can honestly say he is completely spot on. About? Everything. The racial, identity, and sexual struggle that Rodriguez weaves in this story is compelling and really grabbed me and immersed me into his life. This memoir says what there is to be said, and it says a lot.

best book ever.......2007-02-09

this os the best book i have ever read next to tommyland very different but bolth very good books

Poorly written.......2006-12-13

I suppose one of the editorial reviews summed it up nicely.

"...Mexican funerals, rapes and arrests, but his writing style renders much of that rich material forgettable."
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

I was very much interested in the topic, yet the rambling, writing style of Luis Rodriguez
made for a disappointing experience.

Always Running.......2006-12-07

We believe that every teen should be given the opportunity to read Always Running. Luis J. Rodriguez grew up in East L.A in the 60's and 70's. This book is his life story describing all the situations he went thru as a cholo; the sex, drugs, violence, and parties. His style of writing is hypnotizing due to the vivid descriptions that create an amazing picture in your mind. As a result, you won't want to put the book down. However, readers beware; Always Running contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find as inappropriate.

ALWAYS RUNNING: LA VIDA LOCA: GANG DAYS IN L.A.

Average customer rating:

I can't believe how RARE this edition is!

ALWAYS RUNNING: LA VIDA LOCA: GANG DAYS IN L.A.
Luis J. Rodriguez
Manufacturer: New York: Touchstone Book, 1993
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KO22OI

Customer Reviews:

I can't believe how RARE this edition is!.......2007-09-18

My daughter Holly asked me to list a few books that she had on [...]. When I went to list this book I was amazed to discover that this specific printing was not available at all. I presume that the cover illustration by Julie Scott has caused some sort of controversy -- a cartoonish caricature of a Latino with angel wings, striking a pose with doubled fisticuffs, and one raised eye that is cautiously peering over a shoulder. Did I mention the "black" tatoo of a cross on his right bicep (we all know the origin of "black" tatoos, don't we!) You may have to look high and low for another copy of this edition. Or look no further and get this sole (or should I say "solomente"?) offering.

Average customer rating:

Thirty-Nine Clues with a few More Added in for Good Measure

A rare treat for fans of the classic murder mystery

An absolute delight!

WONDERUFL 1930ýS FLAIR AND A GOOD MYSTERY

fantastic who-done-it
Affair of the 39 Cufflinks, The
James Anderson
Manufacturer: Poisoned Pen Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

British Detectives | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Affair of the Mutilated Mink, The (Missing Mysteries)

Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy, The

Murder at Shots Hall

Murder at Beechlands (Rue Morgue Vintage Mystery)

Who Killed the Curate?

ASIN: 1590582918

Book Description

Who ever tires of the zany British country house murder?

"But Lavinia, I don't want people staying here," said the Earl. "After the last two house parties, we agreed no more."

"This wouldn't be a house party, George, it's nine guests for one night."

"But the last two times we've had people here it's been disastrous."

"This is quite different. These people are family, not spies and jewel thieves and blackmailers and film stars. And when one occupies an historic house such as Alderley, one cannot shut its doors, because of a few unfortunate incidents."

Lord Burford's misgivings were understandable. After all, the "unfortunate incidents" had been murders. But these people were travelling a long way for the funeral of an elderly relative. There was nowhere else for them to stay in the village, so the Earl really had to offer them accommodations at Alderley, the Burfords' Carolean mansion.

Things started to go wrong when one of guests claimed she had knowledge that would ruin the others' reputations. But nobody took that seriously.

Until, that is, she was found murdered...

Lord Burford had never been so relieved as when Chief Inspector Wilkins arrived. Again!

The Affair of the 39 Cuff Links, lighthearted sequel to The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy and The Affair of the Mutilated Mink, delighfully captures the atmosphere of the 1930s country-house mystery.

Customer Reviews:

Thirty-Nine Clues with a few More Added in for Good Measure.......2006-12-08

The Earl of Burford and Lavinia, his wife, host a gathering of sorts at their estate for the beneficiaries of Aunt Florrie's will as she wanted to be buried on the country estate and because of a scheduling conflict with the attorney, everybody must stay overnight.

There has been murder at the past on the Earl's estate and son of a gun if there isn't murder again. This time a woman named Claire, who had been telling everyone she knew stuff she shouldn't and that she wasn't going to be shy about revealing it. Apparently many of the overnighters had something to hide, so there are a lot of potential killers among the group.

There were thirty-nine cuff links found around Claire's body. A clue, do you think? Well, thirty-nine clues in this delightful little mystery that kept me reading away nonstop. This is a delightful cozy that will have you looking for more by James Anderson. I just love these kinds of stories, where the murderer is right under my nose and I have to keep guessing throughout the story.

A rare treat for fans of the classic murder mystery.......2006-10-29

For fans of old fashioned British murder mysteries, James Anderson's Affair novels are a rare find and a real treat. Set in England in the 1930's, these clever mysteries combine tongue-in-cheek humor with ingeniously complicated plots.

For those that haven't read Anderson's first two novels in this series, I highly recommend The Affair of the Blood Stained Egg Cozy and The Affair of the Mutilated Mink Coat.

More than 20 years passed between Mink Coat and 39 Cuff Links (I'm not sure why Anderson deprived us for so long). As welcome as it was to discover 39 Cuff Links, I have to admit it does fall a little short of the first two novels (although it is still very good). The plot isn't nearly as complicated (no jewel thefts or international spies this time around). As a result, I found this mystery a little too easy to solve. While this may be good for my self esteem, I would have preferred a solution that was a little more `over-the-top' like those in Cozy and Mink Coat.

39 Cuff Links doesn't have quite as much tongue-in-cheek humor as the first two novels. Chief Inspector Wilkins, while an amusing presence (he schedules his investigation around meal times to ensure he is invited to dine) was more entertaining in the first two novels. His frequent laments about his ineptitude at crime solving provided humor to the first two novels but given his success in solving the previous two murders, everyone quite a bit more confident in his abilities this time around.

The Affair of the 39 Cuff Links isn't as strong as the first two Affair novels, but that shouldn't been seen as harsh criticism. It's just that the first two were so good. The Affair of the 39 Cuff Links is a clever mystery and an enormously entertaining read, a rare treat for fans of a good old fashioned who-dun-it.

Hopefully, Anderson won't make us wait another 20 years for the next one!

An absolute delight!.......2005-04-09

I am so pleased Poisoned Pen published Mr. Anderson's 3rd book and have reprinted the first two books. I'd waited a long time for this book and was not disappointed. Although written last year, it is a classic 1930's style British manor-house mystery, right down to the gathering in the library. This was absolutely delightful.

WONDERUFL 1930ýS FLAIR AND A GOOD MYSTERY.......2004-06-05

The Earl and the Lady are cultured . . . and evidently cursed. Each time they have a house party, a house guest is murdered. The rumor stems from the Eighth Earl and the words of an angry gypsy. Curse or not, having guests in Alderley, his 17th-century county home, is far from the Earl's mind, until Aunt Florrie dies. With the funeral taking place on the property, the lawyer requests the use of Alderley to read the will. Much against the Earl's approval, a will reading turns into a stayover, and soon, a murder.

Aunt Florrie likes talking about her funeral plans with her companion, Jean. She has changed her will and knows her time is most likely near; after all, she's ninety-six. Florrie promises that everyone will be remembered in her will, in some way or another. Florrie also warns Jean not to conjure her up in a séance . . . although she believes it wouldn't take one for her to reappear at Alderley. It was one of the most exciting places she's visited. Someone who does reappear at Alderley is Detective Chief Inspector Wilkins, once a victim is found.

Anderson seems to be a perfectionist when it comes to setting up a mystery. In the first nine chapters, family members are brought up by the aunt, then the reader is updated on each member's life. It's an entertaining overview of Florrie's relatives, and just the beginning of the layers and twists.

I read and enjoyed Anderson's last two British mysteries. They were hard to solve and carried that wonderful 1930's flair. Anderson has a wonderful gift of conjuring up the Thirties era in his characters and their surroundings. However, for me, The _Affair of the 39 Cufflinks_ didn't quite have that locked-door effect that Anderson's first two mysteries did, but the mystery was still complicated enough. _The Affair of the 39 Cufflinks_ is definitely another entertaining read. I highly recommended it, as well as _The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cozy_ and _The Affair of the Mutilated Mink_.

Brenda @ MyShelf.Com

fantastic who-done-it.......2003-12-26

Every time the Earl and Countess throw a house party, somebody prominent gets murdered and the whole affair becomes a media event. Lord and Lady Burford have not sponsored a social event in their Carolean mansion Alderley in over six months, but when a distant relative asks, they agree to have the reading of a will read in their home and have the heirs stay overnight.

When the will is read Clara Saunders is furious that she is left with only 100 pounds and she believes that the other beneficiaries conspired against her. She threatens to reveal their dark secrets before retiring for the night. Hours later, she screams; when the houseguests go to investigate, they find Claire smothered to death. Since the alarm was already set, and there is no evidence of an intruder, the killer must be one of the guests. The police have to discover who had a secret they would kill to keep quiet.

James Anderson has written another fantastic who-done-it that takes readers in Great Depression England inside a comedy of manners who-done-it. The characters (police, suspects, and servants) are eccentric in an endearing way and readers will hope that the killer is not somebody they like. Fans of British closed door cozies will want to read this delightfully funny historical mystery.

Book Description

Thomas McGuane's high-spirited and fiercely lyrical new novel chronicles the fall and rise of Frank Copenhaver, a man so unhinged by his wife's departure that he finds himself ruining his business, falling in love with the wrong women, and wandering the lawns of his neighborhood, desperate for the merest glimpse of normalcy.

The result is a ruefully funny novel of embattled manhood, set in the country that McGuane has made his own: a Montana where cowboys slug it out with speculators, a cattleman's best friend may be his insurance broker, and love and fishing are the only consolations that last.

Customer Reviews:

Take that fork!.......2005-09-01

This is the funniest novel I've read since finishing Don Quixote sometime last month. I feel I ought to single out for particular notice Chapter 34, wherein a drunken Frank abducts Lucy and precipitates a riotous vehicular escapade. This episode constitutes about as polished a piece of comedy as I've ever encountered in any of the books I have read and, like I said, I've just finished Don Quixote. Ozell's revision of the translation of Peter Motteux as a matter of fact. Take my word for it, the unfairly maligned Motteux puts Tobias Smollett in the crapper. For what it's worth, Mister McGuane actually alludes to Cervantes' great masterwork twice during the course of his own inimitable relation: once a tad obliquely, when Frank briefly visits Alaska and is tossed in a blanket by a bunch of tanked-up Eskimos, recalling Sancho Panza's similar treatment outside the Inn at the hands of four Segovia Clothiers, three Cordova Point-makers, and two Seville Hucksters, all brisk, gamesome, arch fellows; and once rather more directly, when a Buick Frank had purchased from June is described as being as loose-jointed and ungainly as Rozinante. Well it's all a circle really, isn't it?

Great stuff.......2003-01-11

Thomas McGuane is a remarkably gifted writer and here he is at the top of his form. This book captures the beauty and the tragedy of the west, is full of characters who are real and pathetic and loveable and maddening. The territory of Western pathos and failed relationships covered briliantly by Richard Ford, but McGuane in this book brings a consistent over the top humor and sense of the ridiculous which distinguishes him sharply from Ford. Picaresque bar fights alternate with lyrical descriptions of the fishing streams of Montana, the protagonist's series of soulless affairs constrasts sharply with his desperate love for the wife who has left him. The book is fascinating, and beautiful, and terribly funny.

Difficult to put down........2001-04-09

McGuane is easily among our most talented contemporary authors. There were times that I caught myself laughing out-loud as well as smiling at truly remarkable descriptions written with such skill that I felt as if I were standing in a river somewhere in Montana. He is able to pull the reader into his world of complex and entertaining characters that operate in an equally wonderful backdrop of Montana's ranches, rivers, and small towns. If you are a fan of other McGuane titles such as "Nobody's Angel" and "Keep the Change" you will not be disappointed with "Nothing but Blue Skies." I can't think of higher praise than to be truly sad to turn the last page and realize that such a beautifully and skillfully written story is over.

Nice Read, worth your time.......2000-05-03

This was my first, but will not be my last, novel by Thomas McGuane. Frank Copenhaver, the central character, has hit a rough patch in his life. His anchors have left him. In the opening scene he is taking his wife to the airport. She is leaving him. After some brief background info, McGuane lays before us a man who's life is torn out from underhim and who doesn't really seem to know how to get back on track. Ultimately it is a story of betrayal, love and relationships. Husband and wife and daughter. In between there are great descriptions of Montana flyfishing. Although not as good as The Shipping News by Annie Proulx, this book does come pretty close.

Absolutely enjoyable........1998-04-25

I simply can not stop reading this book. Since buying it, I have reread it so many times that I will soon need to buy a new copy. If you are looking for a novel that is funny, sad, moving, painful, unforgetable, very readable, and unbelievably enjoyable, then get this book. My only warning is that you will soon need to buy a new copy for display.

Average customer rating:

What if the conspiracy theorists were right?
Great Holt
Not for me

Nothing but Blue Skies
Tom Holt
Manufacturer: ATOM
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 184149058X

Customer Reviews:

What if the conspiracy theorists were right?.......2006-09-10

All of them?

That includes the death cult worshipping Princess Ann with human sacrifice - humanely, of course. It also includes the fanatical weather forecasters in search of the air dragons who make them look like such ninnies (not that they need much help). It also includes a secret government laboratory in the Australian desert, with Holt's usual assortment of marginal personalities and bizarre coincidences.

It's good entertainment, in a wandering kind of way. Pratchett fans will appreciate the humor - but will be likely to appreciate Pratchett even more for the comparison.

//wiredweird

Great Holt.......2004-11-12

Whew! Finished it! I suggest you read this book with about 200 bookmarks, or a notepad and pen ready - I wasn't two pages in before telling myself to remember this funny bit, that funny line.

It's fantastic - You almost want him to slow the pace of the action, to properly appreciate all the good bits that are slipped in with the action. The one liners or the musings on workings of man, and just Why the weather drove the English to build an empire.

There are stilted men in grey suits wandering around trying to gather up another Ark. The weather men are revolting. A dragon has fallen in love with a human, and Murdoch is trying to take over the world. Again.

Complete chaos ensues, and the characters are trotting in and out so fast it's all a whirl to hold them together - old chums and new torturers, it's brilliant.

I have been reading a great deal of (here it comes...)Pratchett, and Tom Holt is completely different yet... the similarity is most apparent in their despair on the inadequacies of agencies and individuals.. or is that masses?

Is it a treatise on fatherly love?

Or the fallibility of human love?

Is it more concerned with exactly how whacked the English are?

Or is it intended as a showcase for Australian adventure?

Do we really spend a third of our lives sleeping?

All I can definitively say is: it's your call, reader.

kotori ojadis@yahoo.com

Not for me.......2004-04-19

Recommended by friends who know my affection for Robert Rankin books I was expecting something similar, if a little less surreal. I was disappointed. Very put-able down-able, sporadically funny but not enough to make up for the lack of flow, I got the impression the author wrote this when he had nothing better to do. Maybe I picked the wrong book for my first Tom Holt, as were it more consistent in its humour, it would have been far more enjoyable.

Average customer rating:

Collaged Dada-ish Dreamscapes

Nothing But Blue Skies
Beth Nelson
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0811823342

Book Description

Conjuring dreamy images of languid summer afternoons and grand voyages abroad, Beth Nelson's spare collages take you to a world where the days are long and the atmosphere’s serene. Nothing but Blue Skies speaks to the enduring mystique and romance of travel.

Customer Reviews:

Collaged Dada-ish Dreamscapes.......2000-05-09

In _Postcards From the Basque Country_, Beth Nelson introduced us to her totally random, sometimes image-saturated mind. It laid those images in front of us like an accidental scrapbook.

With these cards, she makes her collages mobile -- able to be sent through the magic of the postal service on to those who love and understand you. Personally, I kept them, and have plans to buy another set for sending. They're just that good.

For anyone who thinks in sort of non-linear patterns, who sees the beauty of a flying car or an old photograph, or who can appreciate art -- this is the card collection to pick up. Grab it quickly, and buy extras. I guarantee you'll need them.

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Nothing but Blue Skies
Thomas McGuire
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GRA1L0

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Nothing but blue skies
Rafael Gurvich
Manufacturer: Snapping Turtle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0731627776

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Nothing But Blue Skies
Thomas McGuane
Manufacturer: Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NVDPSA

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Nothing But Blue Skies -
Thomas McGuane -
Manufacturer: Vintage Publishing -
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PRUR8I

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The New Yorker Festival: Antonya Nelson and Thomas McGuane
McGuane, Antonya, Thomas Nelson
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B000K2Q76E

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Nothing but blue skies for new Wilco guitarist.(Movies - Articles): An article from: Winnipeg Free Press
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000UZ9S5I
Release Date: 2007-08-10

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on August 9, 2007. The length of the article is 764 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Nothing but blue skies for new Wilco guitarist.(Movies - Articles)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 9, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: E9

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

What if the conspiracy theorists were right?

Nothing But Blue Skies

Manufacturer: ORBIT (LITT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GW7UEG

Customer Reviews:

What if the conspiracy theorists were right?.......2006-09-10

All of them?

That includes the death cult worshipping Princess Ann with human sacrifice - humane, of course. It also includes the fanatical weather forecasters in search of the air dragons who make them look like such ninnies (not that they need much help). It also includes a secret government laboratory in the Australian desert, with Holt's usual assortment of marginal personalities and bizarre coincidences.

It's good entertainment, in a wandering kind of way. Pratchett fans will appreciate the humor - but will be likely to appreciate Pratchett even more for the comparison.

//wiredweird

Book Description

From identifying your triggers to improving your relationships — manage your emotional wellbeing

Struggling to cope with anxiety and/or depression? Have no fear — this hands-on guide focuses on helping you pinpoint the root of your problems and find relief from your symptoms in a detailed, step-by-step manner. With concise, eye-opening exercises, you'll understand how to assess your current situation, remove the roadblocks to change, face your fears, and improve your view of yourself and the world around you. You'll see how to take direct action to alter negative or distorted thinking, lift your moods, and adopt positive habits that will lead you toward a more joyful, meaningful, and connected life!

Discover

How to improve the way you feel about yourself
Skills to face and overcome what makes you anxious or depressed
How to determine whether medication is an option for you
Practical ways to prepare for and deal with setbacks

Download Description

Practical exercises and action plans to help people overcome anxiety and depression Over 35 million Americans suffer from depression severe enough to warrant treatment at some point in their lives, and many people who are depressed also suffer from anxiety. In this new Dummies Workbook, the two clinical psychologists who wrote Depression For Dummies (0-7645-3900-0) and Overcoming Anxiety For Dummies (0-7645-5447-6) show people step-by-step how to put the lessons of these books into practice. They offer a wide variety of hands-on exercises and techniques to help people alleviate symptoms, remove roadblocks to change, and regain control over their lives, whether they're working on their own or under the care of a mental health professional. Charles H. Elliot, PhD (Albuquerque, NM), and Laura L. Smith, PhD (Albuquerque, NM), are practicing clinical psychologists and faculty members at the Fielding Graduate Institute.

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