Customer Reviews
This is poetry for those who lived & survived East L.A.!! - By: , 20 Aug 1999 
When I opened 'Always Running' for the first time, something deep inside me snapped & I couldn't ignore recalling the memories of my long past daysin East Los Angeles. --IT READ LIKE POETRY-- The memories sang out with laughter & tears; with heartache & 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 streetsin 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, & always running from. But now, I can look back & embrace it for what it was; how it was & how I (we) survived. So that today, I can reflect upon that tragic time with strength & foster a different interpretation & understanding about life to my mis ninos. The lessons from the past hardened the soul, but provided the courage & determination to make a differencein my life. If your readers were products of the 60's or 70's, & remember rioting down Whittier Blvd.in East L. A. or perhaps inspired by Edward James Olmosin Zoot-Zoot, then they'll geniunely shed a tear or two at every turned page from this dramatic tale. Healthy reading! Muchas gracias, hermano!!!
Poor - By: , 27 Jul 1999 
the author seems to go to extremes to blame others for what happensin 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.
You don't have to be chicano to love this book! - By: , 14 Jul 1999 Far beyond a coming of age story, this book is a testimonial of the true heart of the inner city Chicano experience. As a teacherin 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 & successes of the latino community, particularlyin California. I have read this book many times & have loaned & lost as well. I don't care how many books I lend & lose, I purchase again. This one has a permanent home on my book shelf!
A must for Chicano literature enthusiasts. - By: , 06 Jul 1999 I loved this book. Being Chicano, I could relate very easily to the protagonist. Rodriguez's writing is so colorful & vivid that I was immersed into a world which I did not know.
An Amazing life story of a young man's life. - By: , 20 May 1999 Always Running was a very interesting life story of a man. He was a gang banger with drug problemsin his early years & turned into an passionate writer/poet, educatorin the community as he grew older. Finally, he found a way to express his feelings through writing, literature rather than being involvedin 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 experiencein the past. I can understand the hardships he went through for being a child of an immigrant family, being Latin American & growing upin a low income family.
I recommend this book to all who need inspiration & motivation to improve themselvesin their lives. It was amazing to read how he overcame those obstaclesin his life: quitting drugs, getting out of the gang, etc. Personally, I found lots of help from this book.
