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Always Running

3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 · rating details · 2,569 ratings · 370 reviews

The award-winning and bestselling classic memoir about a young Chicano gang member surviving the dangerous streets of East Los Angeles, now featuring a new cover.

Winner of the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, hailed as a New York Times notable book, and read by hundreds of thousands, Always Running is the searing true story of one man’s life in a Chicano gang—and his heroic s...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published September 6th 2005 by Touchstone (first published 1993)

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Sep 24, 2007 Matt Eckel rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found out about this book during my time working at Garfield. There were a lot of books in the classroom libraries about gang life, books of poetry by Tupac Shakur, stuff the students prefered as it had to do with, "you know, real life." Which was, in a way, bullshit. I mean, a few of them, maybe could relate to that, and the ones that could were sorry of the fact and didn't flaunt it. One kid I remember, his older brother had been killed in a gang-related shooting. He wasn't a particularly go...more

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Oct 15, 2007 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-of-age, young-adult, memoirs-and-journals, booktalk-this, non-fiction, multicultural-nonfiction

Luis Rodriguez speaks out of a virtually unheard experience: a young Chicano man who survived "la vida loca" gang culture in South San Gabriel. Rodriguez' writing is raw and brutally honest, but with a lyricism that will stop readers in their tracks. He gives voice to an unheard cry, and illuminates the heartbreaking cycle of poverty and violence that perpetuates gang wars. He neither simplifies the problem, nor admits defeat. His passion for reconciliation and true empowerment of minority commu...more

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Dec 17, 2010 Luz added it

ALWAYS RUNNING IS AN AMAZING BOOK
This book is about a young boy named Luis Rodrigues known as the author. It talks about Gang days back in the old days of Los Angeles. This book is based on his real life, some people dont realize how life is because they havent gone through or havent seen anything. Life in Colorado isnt the same as in the south or in other places. its very difficult to live in a time the way Luis did and other people as well. People dont understand that some people stay homeless...more

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Mar 13, 2008 chris rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: the kids I teach

This is a very vivid, literary memoir about growing up into the gang life in Chicano Los Angeles. It was recommended to me by a student who had read it in juvie, and I can see why he liked it. I think this book, for gang members still in their teens, probably could have a real affect on their lives. I found it to be plain good literature, and it made me think about some of the things that I have always thought about with gangs. For one thing, when I was younger, we always had a group of friends...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Yazmin Pliego added it

Always running is a book written by Luis J. Rodriguez telling his story of a young veteran gang of East L.A. who survived all the danger surrounding him. He experience incredible gang culture, he witnessed shootings, beatings, and arrests. He watched fear as drugs, murder, suicide, and acts of street crimes of friends and family members. Luis Rodriguez is the main character of this book who comes from poor family. He thought that getting involved with gangs was one of the ways he can protect him...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Joe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, teaching

A book about the barrios of LA and class/race relations in the 60s & 70s. Rodriguez winds up a leftist, a participant in a Marxist reading group, an organizer who takes militant actions to better the situations of his neighbors, friends, peers, and schoolmates. Except as seems to be all too common, Rodriguez refuses to admit his influences. The reading groups are titled just that: "Reading Groups." He quotes Marx, but he's high at the time and can't remember who said these amazingly powerful...more

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May 07, 2012 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked Always Running by Luis J. Rodriguez. This book discussed a lot of facts about gangs, violence, and rape that actually happened in Los Angeles. I love how this book informed me on how gangs actually formed and worked. Since Luis Rodriguez was in a gang for most of his childhood, he was able to describe in detail how he was accepted into gangs and why he chose to be in gangs. Of course, with gangs comes violence and rape. Luis witnessed many killings and beatings during his life. He was al...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-my-students-like

Rosie: I picked Always Running La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. I chose this book because one of my favorite topics is reading about how people over came their gang life into becoming a person before it was too late. I found this book to be very good and positive for people who are looking for a way out of the gang life. Seeing someone else’s accomplishments and becoming something that they never thought they would become is inspiring. This book is tough to read sometimes, but in the end, it was...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Cynthia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Who said that Gangsters didn’t have a intellectual side to them?... Well Luis Rodriquez proves that anyone can write. Rodriguez exposes his gangster “Vida loca”,in his Memoir Always Running.

In this memoir he tells a multiple series of stories from when he was born to the time his family ended up migrating in Los Angeles California. He speaks openly about his family struggle in poverty. He explains the meaning of gang nicknames. He exposes, gang life in a way not yet seen.

Luis explains how liv...more Who said that Gangsters didn’t have a intellectual side to them?... Well Luis Rodriquez proves that anyone can write. Rodriguez exposes his gangster “Vida loca”,in his Memoir Always Running.

In this memoir he tells a multiple series of stories from when he was born to the time his family ended up migrating in Los Angeles California. He speaks openly about his family struggle in poverty. He explains the meaning of gang nicknames. He exposes, gang life in a way not yet seen.

Luis explains how living in the Watts and the Las Lomas barrio, very much influenced him in joining a gang at the age of twelve. He explains how living in LA it makes it seem so natural to join a gang at a very young age. He joins the gang and began living the "Vida loca" (crazy life). Where he spends most of his adolescence committing crimes with his crew. For example he gives in detail how they “put in work”. He tells us how his friends and him would steal from liquor stores and trailer trucks. But overall he remembers about how his crew became somewhat close to family. He tells stories about how they would call go on some kind of adventure. One he speaks about for example, the crew and him went to steal a local liquor store and how all of the four crew member except the one who was in the car got something very slick, and got in the car. But one crew member in particular Clavo got spotted by the sales clerk and got chased out the store. And in the moment of impulse he couldn't find the car!...

As Luis grew up and matured he realized that gang life wasn’t going to take him anywhere but either to the slammers, or deep six feet under. He got kicked out of his house but was allowed to live in his garage, there is where he find his passion of writing using a typewriter.. He begins writing poems and about his life. This talent was is recognized by his teacher that one day visits to his garage and sees his writing. He tries to get other gang members to see his way. But then they refuse. But he makes a effort to make peace with a rival gang. Luis Rodriguez also exposes how police at the time would try to provoke the two gangs to get them to fight against one another. This doesn’t hold Luis back he continuities to try to find a way out of this lifestyle. And he does. In his epilogue Luis explains why he wrote this book. He wrote this book for his son, trying to show him that gang life is not good. He dedicated his book to 28 people. Some whom where gangsters and that were killed. The message I got from this memoir is that,no matter how far gone you feel from the right path in life you can always find it just by doing the write path. And by not letting others influence you to a wrong way.
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Oct 26, 2011 Tanner rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Gang members, troubled teens, or anyone who wants a new perspective of gang culture.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The book Always Running is the shocking memoir of Luis J. Rodriguez. His account of his coming of age is inspiring as it is gut wrenching. He began getting involved with gangs very early on in life. Although many of the gangs he was involved in during middle school were simply innocent clubs. Later on the local gang culture started to have a surmounting presence in his life.
Even if you took out the horrifying details of murder, rape, gang wars, riots, police brutality, and betrayal, the statin...more The book Always Running is the shocking memoir of Luis J. Rodriguez. His account of his coming of age is inspiring as it is gut wrenching. He began getting involved with gangs very early on in life. Although many of the gangs he was involved in during middle school were simply innocent clubs. Later on the local gang culture started to have a surmounting presence in his life.
Even if you took out the horrifying details of murder, rape, gang wars, riots, police brutality, and betrayal, the stating of the events that took place in L.A during this time would be enough to infuriate and activate even the most dispassionate people.
Luis started committing felonies at an astonishingly young age. He was also doing hard drugs at a young age as well including heroin and aerosol. He also began drinking at around the age of ten. He was an accomplice in several shootings, robberies and murders. He had gotten into hundreds of fights; one of the fights actually caused him to have an obstructed jaw bone. Even though he had gotten into all of this trouble, he somehow made it out of the L.A gang scene.
Even though his morals are seemingly nonexistent during his gang years, he does in fact show several occurrences where he actually has them. One of which being the time he turned down the offer to rape an unconscious girl, which was surprising to me since he had already burned down a house and had used a gun against other people. Another instance of him showing morals was when he turned down an offer to smoke angel dust, even when other gang members were pressuring him to do so. He also participated in an extracurricular activity that promoted the interests of other Latin American students in a highly segregated school.
One thing that I found interesting in his memoir was the fact that he spent time in a county jail for hard criminals when he was only about 13 years of age. I also noticed that he's been repeatedly subject to police brutality. One officer actually had the nerve to attack and arrest him for telling the police officer to stop beating up a defenseless drunk woman.
The fact that this author has gone into the gang world and back shows that he is a man of true character. He's helped thousands of troubled teenagers with there problems whether it be drug addiction, gang influence, sexual promiscuity, or even domestic violence and abuse with this novel. There are tons of things I haven't covered in this review, so you'll have to read it if you want to know more. Overall this memoir is a thrilling eye opener to how modern day gangs really operate. (less)

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Aug 27, 2011 Adriana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: latino-author, teen

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 30, 2011 Evanston Public Library added it

Shelves: nonfiction

We’ve seen the headlines, “Gang Violence: Teen Wars Bring Death To Two,” and “Youth, 17, Murdered: Victim Shot In Chest.” Non-fiction ALWAYS RUNNING by best-selling author Luis J. Rodriguez is a first-hand account of what leads up to gang violence and what proceeds. This former gangbanger even gives a shocking eye-witness description of the drugging and raping of young girls somewhere between 12 and 14 years old. Isolated as early as kindergarten, a teenage Rodriguez showed potential as a gifted...more

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Dec 17, 2010 Megan(: rated it 5 of 5 stars

The book always running is about a man, by the name of Luis J. Rodriguez and the struggles he had in his gang days of L.A. After his move from Mexico to America he faces many choices that sometimes may even lead to his death, or the death of other people. In America he also starts to deal with racism. He faces many struggles having to do with cops and the things they were doing wrong to him just because he was Mexican. As he grows however, and starts to get more involved in school, he revolves...more

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Dec 17, 2010 Raerae rated it 3 of 5 stars

Always Running is about Luis Rodriguez writing this book for his son to try to save him from having a gang life like luis did. Luis talks about his gang life when he was younger. He moves to The United States from Mexico with his family when he is a young boy. He doesn't live in the nicest neighborhood and he's scared of the gangs that shoot up his school. So he decides to get into a gang to feel some power but then he finds his life spiraling down and he has hard times with rival gangs and sho...more

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Dec 17, 2010 Jesus Rodriguez rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the book always runnig la vida loca gang days in LA, the auther talks about how he got into the gangs whe he was just a samll boy. He coments that he has been around death since he was 12 years old. He tells about how he was in between a war the Sangras vs The Lomas. how he would like to get out of that life but every time he got a litle bit away from that life he always seemed to get pulled back into that life. He tells of how he killed to save his own life. One of the things that gets luis...more

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Dec 17, 2010 Alejandra Jimenez rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was amazing I think other people should read it because it shows you how hard life could be with you. That it’s not always going to be good/wonderful it’s going to be hard sometimes like Luis J. Rofriguez said in this book when he talked about his life. And this could teach some kids that being in a gang is going to be hard to get in and to get out. Luis had a reason to get in a gang Im not saying it’s ok for a teen to get in a gang but in Luis’s possition there was no other way out to...more This book was amazing I think other people should read it because it shows you how hard life could be with you. That it’s not always going to be good/wonderful it’s going to be hard sometimes like Luis J. Rofriguez said in this book when he talked about his life. And this could teach some kids that being in a gang is going to be hard to get in and to get out. Luis had a reason to get in a gang Im not saying it’s ok for a teen to get in a gang but in Luis’s possition there was no other way out to survive but to join a gang. This book showed me lots of things that we have to apriciate what we have and not be asking for something we might not have money to get. Because look at what Luis had to go though his family didn’t have that much money yeah they had some but only to get something to eat. They couldn’t even buy new clouthes, shoes, or anything expensive. But like some teens now theybuy things they don’t even need. The book Always Running La Vida Loca: Gang Days In L.A. was a GREAT book and I think other teens should read it…… This also reminds me of a uncle that I had he was almost in the same sittuation that Luis is in my uncle Juan wouldn’t care about anything it was all about the (gangs, girls, drugs) but not his Familia only once in a while..

The book Always Running La Vida Loca: Gang Days In L.A. is about Luis J. Rodriguez life.So this is how it started off as when Luis was a little kid and his dad was going to leave Luis and his family so the dad could live his own life. But his mom cryed and cryed to her husband for him not to leave them. So his mother convinced him to stay. They went back to their home town where they lived for a while back then. That's when Luis and his brother Rano went to school but how they where Mexicans and didn't know any inglesh they sat Luis in the back of the room playin wit blocks. His brother Rano was placed in a meltal class.So they grew up and became teens and they wanted to play basketball and some cops cought them and chaced them, Luis and Raro ran and climed up the seling of the school. It was dark and they couldn't see anything and Rano decided to run and feal into a glass window and died instently. This book Always Running La Vida Loca: Gang Days In L.A. was a GREAT book...
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Dec 17, 2010 Kayla Coffin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Always Running can be a sad book and also disterbing at times. This book by Luis J. Rodriguez is about how when he was younger his family moved to america. This book explains about all of the tradages that happend in his life like him loseing someone that ment the world to him which was his brother. He gets involved with gangs and drugs. He starts getting into nothing but trouble. Through out the years he has grown up and began making right choices for himself.

Always Running is not a bad book, b...more Always Running can be a sad book and also disterbing at times. This book by Luis J. Rodriguez is about how when he was younger his family moved to america. This book explains about all of the tradages that happend in his life like him loseing someone that ment the world to him which was his brother. He gets involved with gangs and drugs. He starts getting into nothing but trouble. Through out the years he has grown up and began making right choices for himself.

Always Running is not a bad book, but i honestly didnt enjoy it. I didnt enjoy it because its all about how he was always a follower and he was never a leader. I undestend he didnt make good choices when he was yournger and he has matured alot. To me thes book didnt really have a lesson to teach. It really only said that doing drugs was because of his family and i honestly think that you have thwe choice to say no to drugs and your family or friends dont force you to do them. But all in all it is a good book for people that are haveing problems with using drugs and how when you dont do them how much you and your life cam change.

A connectiion I have to this book is I had family members doing drugs and it killed me. Always going to a rehab center that the first time didnt do anything to help them quit. I always left crying because all I wanted is for them to come back home. I am very close to everyone in my family and haveing one person gone it not the same the house was then always full of drama and yelling and tears. The sibling I always told everything to was no longer there to keep my secrits or to comfert me when I was scared or upset. My siblings were always there for me and once they werent home I knew I had to be there for them. Like a year or two passed and my sibling could finally come home. Now their life is great they have a good job they are no longer doing drugs and I can still tell them everything. Her life really has changed and it changed for the better. My sister told me that she changed for herself but she also changed for me and the family and also because she wasn't happy with what she was doing to herself.(less)

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Dec 17, 2010 Amber Xue rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is about the boy called Luis Rodriguez, his family move from Mexico to L.A. His father was a principal in Mexico, but after they come to L.A. his father was just a Spanish teacher, and he was afraid of his father so much. His family was so poor. He had to go outside to find a job. When they arrived in America, he didn’t have any friends, he was lonely, because some people didn’t like Mexicans, and some bad guys always laugh at his mom. He must be so sad. And when he was ten, he saw Tin...more This book is about the boy called Luis Rodriguez, his family move from Mexico to L.A. His father was a principal in Mexico, but after they come to L.A. his father was just a Spanish teacher, and he was afraid of his father so much. His family was so poor. He had to go outside to find a job. When they arrived in America, he didn’t have any friends, he was lonely, because some people didn’t like Mexicans, and some bad guys always laugh at his mom. He must be so sad. And when he was ten, he saw Tino die by the police officer’s gun, after that he was afraid of police officers from that time he even didn’t like basketball any more. Luis is nickname “chin” because of his potruding jawbone. He looked up to his cousin, Pancho, because his though cousin Pancho models the gang life. Clavo takes a shotgun blast to the face and he is impacted by the shooting, so he wants out of the gang. Meanwhile Luis and a group of friends go to a “Gabacho Beach”, where they have an encounter with racism, the police start a fight with Luis and his crew, they fight back and get arrested .after that Luis has to find a lot of jobs, and works hard, because he needs that money to help his family. Soon he meet a girl whose name is Viviana, then they fall in love, but Viviana leave him for another guy who she likes. Someday when Luis saw a police officer beating a woman who is Licha, he stood up for her, then they fall in love, but at the end Licha said Luis was too young for her. While growing older Luis started to grow out of gang stage and started to move on with his life and start with something good.

At the beginning of Always running, I can understand Luis, because when he arrived in America, he didn’t have friends, it was same with me, that time was so terrible, and I think during that time he was so sad, This is also my favorite part in this book. I also like this book’s title---Always running, I guess it means Luis always move, he feel lonely here, he just want to stay by himself. He is so afraid of his father, but I don’t think that is a good thing, at that time he was a little kid, he needs more and more love from his parents, especially from his father, but he is not, his heart is far away from his dad. I can’t understand why Luis looked up his cousin Pancho, he has a lot of girlfriends, he’s like a play boy, I don’t think Pancho is a good influence. When Luis and a group of friends go to a “Gabacho beach”, the police fight with them, I feel so bad when I read there, because I think the police officers should protect people, and do their best to help people, but that police just beat them, it makes me not saft at all. As a young child, he has to find several jobs anf works hard to help his family. From that I think he is a little brave boy. As an exchange student to here, I met a lot of problems those I have never met before, I have to solve them by myself. I enjoy this book, Although I can’t understand all of them, but I think this book can make you grow up.
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Dec 17, 2010 Zahira Lopez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Always Running is a really great book to read. this book is based on a true story, which it tells us how the gangs in L.A where like. this story makes me realize that theres a lot of gangs here that act the same way as in L.A. i really really liked how the author Luis J. Roriguez chose to tell the story because he tells it in a really truthfull way that the readers could actually undersatnd whats really hapenning and how and why its happening which he makes the story actually sound real and it m...more Always Running is a really great book to read. this book is based on a true story, which it tells us how the gangs in L.A where like. this story makes me realize that theres a lot of gangs here that act the same way as in L.A. i really really liked how the author Luis J. Roriguez chose to tell the story because he tells it in a really truthfull way that the readers could actually undersatnd whats really hapenning and how and why its happening which he makes the story actually sound real and it makes you picture it in your head of whats happening. one thing that i really liked about this book was that the author really summerized the story really good like in the paragraph in chapter four pg.93 where chente was with viviana and they where in the top of a rooftop, which they where up there while chentes friends where getting in a fight while he was up there making out with viviana. the paragraph was really amazinb because it explained alot of what it was happening at that time in just five sentences.

I would really like for the people that like reading true stories, to read this book because it really makes you get into it and you wont stop reading it until you finish reading everything. this book just makes you think of how gangs use to get in truoble in the streets, and it also tells you how some of the characters get into gangs and how they grew up with their family in a really little city where theres just violence. this book also makes you think of the similarities of the gangs of L.A and the ones that you have in your country it just makes you realize of how gangs dont stop duing bad stuff theres just the same all over the world. like one thing is that the there arnt many gangs here where i live but theres is people that like acting all gaingsters just like in the story that just think they could do whatever they want in the streets. and thats all i could say about this really great book, which i think everybody that like true stories should read it and i promise you will never forget of how good and amazing this book was!(less)

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Dec 14, 2010 Carolina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I REALLY LIKE ALWAY'S RUNNING BOOK....
Alway's runing is a book that talk's about a real life from this guy name Luis Rodriguez the book is letting now the reader how Luis Rodriguez struggle in his life just by having a mistake joined a gang and getting in poblems with other gang's police and know when he got older with family.After he realiced and knew that been in a gang was not doing him no good he decided to get out of it and start to have an education so that he so that he can be succesfull...more I REALLY LIKE ALWAY'S RUNNING BOOK....
Alway's runing is a book that talk's about a real life from this guy name Luis Rodriguez the book is letting now the reader how Luis Rodriguez struggle in his life just by having a mistake joined a gang and getting in poblems with other gang's police and know when he got older with family.After he realiced and knew that been in a gang was not doing him no good he decided to get out of it and start to have an education so that he so that he can be succesfull in life and also give his family a better life.One ting he never though about was how could he even started to b a succesfull person just by been a poet an was even going to get him away from the street's.Eventhoug he had such a great improvement in his life Luis Rodriguez never thoughth those moment's where gone come back and special by his son jining a gang doing the same mistakehe hd donein life.
My suggestion for this book is that teenagers that are in jewbe should read ALWAYS RUNNING why well because no matter what you did to end up going yo jewbe they might of have a relation in some how with street's life or a gang.This book qold help them realize that just because yo joined a gang you cant get out of it.And make good choices in life so that when evr they might have a family they wont follow any of yoursteps or even go to the place you got to be.And just because many of them end up going to jewbe it does not mean anything when ever they get their chance to go out to be the sameperson in life they could go out and defently change for a good benefit for them and the people that are in their around's.This book in a way is compare to MICE AND MEN in thier advice when one of the characters hadn mental problems and not because of that he never gave up in his dreams eventhough he would realize thebad thing's he would do in life.Ovarall yes this book in awsome and it well make a change for you and in your life.
THIS BOOK IS REALLY INFLUENCIAL.....
I feel really proude to know that if you are in a gang you can change your life and make changes in you.Eventhough you have made bad mistakes in the past like Luis Rodreguz did you can still do it.
It makes good influence at the time you are reading the book.the good enfluences are that if your poor you can challege your self to do better.And gang's don't really matter in yourlife.When ever you want something no matter ehat and if you fight for it you will get what you want.You end u doing those things with challenges but their is something good coming after it you do the right thing!!!
Makes bad enfluence,here is one example when Luis Rodriguez would act cool nice and powerfull infront of the gir's when he was fighting was fighting with the other member of the other gang they where arguing aboute the bad decision he had done at that time was that he took out the knife and staved the other guy.that is one of the biggest enfluence i see in th book.It's enfluence because in the real life their are girls and guys that will do tht justo becme powerfull.we need to realize what's good for our life's an what's not.

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Nov 29, 2010 Walker Yirkovsky added it

I thought this book was really good. Its pretty much about him and what happened during his child hood. His best friend died trying to run away from the cops. His friend climbed on the top of the roof and fell through and died and he got caught. He started to be a drug attic and a criminal. He gotten in a lot of fights and got kicked out of school and tried coming back but he left again. He meet a girl at a carnival that he liked and did stuff with. She was from a different part of the neighbor...more

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Sep 28, 2010 Fernanda added it

Fernanda Flores

Kelly

Book Review

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Always Running

By: Luis Rodriguez

"Art is the heart's explosion on the world. Music. Dance. Poetry. Art on cars, on walls, on our skins. There is probably no more powerful force for change in this uncertain and crisis-ridden world than young people and their art. It is the consciousness of the world breaking away from the strangle grip of an archaic social order."(luisjrodriguez.com). Mr. Rodriguez narrates his experience, and the experien...more Fernanda Flores

Kelly

Book Review

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Always Running

By: Luis Rodriguez

"Art is the heart's explosion on the world. Music. Dance. Poetry. Art on cars, on walls, on our skins. There is probably no more powerful force for change in this uncertain and crisis-ridden world than young people and their art. It is the consciousness of the world breaking away from the strangle grip of an archaic social order."(luisjrodriguez.com). Mr. Rodriguez narrates his experience, and the experience he went through when dealing with his sons’ rebellious times. The story of this father and son takes place in Los Angeles, California. Always Running is a marvelous book because of all the learning you, as a reader, can get.

“It seemed a strange world, most of it spiful to us, spitting and stepping on us”.(19). In the book Mr. Rodriguez talks about his point of view based on his life experiences. He and his family and he came to the United States; Luis was just a child being thrown into an unjust world. I can relate to this book because I know people who have tried to come to the United States as immigrants but get their dreams crushed as soon as they step over the border. It is not easy; Luis grew up in poverty, and in a very bad neighborhood which led him to be influenced to the gang life.

“Power is what drives everything. Power and control equates to survival” (2). Rodriguez mentions this in his book because he sees how, even in the gang life; there is a struggle, a need, to have “power”. Power to be able to scare people, to make them be afraid of you. Power is gained in the gang life by striking fear in the people around you through being ruthless and violent; only then you are respected. Respect in Luis’s neighborhood is highly important; respect means nobody bothers you or pushes your buttons. This is still relevant now days. Luis was, in essence, already a gang member by time he reached his early teen years.

However, when he reached high school he started maturing and realizing that being part of a gang was not getting him anywhere in life . So he started trying to better himself and become a role model for others. By the end of his senior year he was in clubs, and was being respected because of his impressive ways of reaching out to other students. Fellow Hispanic students that were going through the same thing as he did, or who agreed with him based on personal experience of each of the individuals, were the most affected by him. “Now I was somebody they couldn’t dismiss –– somebody who had to be heard”(218).

In conclusion his book has touched my life to the point where I look up to him personally. I see him, and then I see myself following his steps to a successful life full of good experiences and knowledge. He connects to everyone in his book one way or another and I truly recommend this book to everyone. (less)

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Jun 02, 2010 Blacknessatyourservice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Always Running: La Vida Loca is a story about the author, Luis J. Rodriguez. It recounts the life of Luis Rodriguez as he grew up as a rebelling youth. In his youth, he lived a life of drugs, and crime. He also lived a rough life, of racial discrimination because of his Chicano heritage. He committed crimes from as early as age 7, stealing from stores with his brother Rano. However, his brother Rano was very abusive to him, often beating him up in front of other neighborhood boys. All this prob...more Always Running: La Vida Loca is a story about the author, Luis J. Rodriguez. It recounts the life of Luis Rodriguez as he grew up as a rebelling youth. In his youth, he lived a life of drugs, and crime. He also lived a rough life, of racial discrimination because of his Chicano heritage. He committed crimes from as early as age 7, stealing from stores with his brother Rano. However, his brother Rano was very abusive to him, often beating him up in front of other neighborhood boys. All this probably contributed to his decision to join the East LA street gang, “ Los Cholos”.
In the book “Always Running” I felt like I could feel the characters need to make the decisions they did. I cant really relate to these characters, but I feel where they are coming from. If I was living in the impoverished neighborhood in East LA, I don’t know if my choices would have really differed from those of Luis Rodriguez. If I was living in a dangerous place, I think I would do anything necessary to protect myself. If many people around me had weapons like guns and/or knives I would probably pick up a weapon or two myself. Also, if I was able to, I would join the gang because of the immense amount of respect I would earn. If I joined a gang such as the Latin Kings, and eventually worked my way to becoming a leader of a certain sector of the gang, I would virtually be untouchable, and maybe that is what Luis and his peers were thinking of when they made their decisions.
While reading always running, I didn’t only take the information about gangs and gang life from it. I also took the racial element. For example, when Luis was seven years old, he and his brother Rano were sent to the store to get groceries. They decided to venture out of the barrio and into a white neighborhood store. They marveled at first, at the wide selection of food and drink they had to choose from and loved it until after they paid and made it outside. A group of white kids on bikes immediately bum rushed Luis and Rano, knocking their groceries into the street, crushing them, then cursing and yelling racial slurs at them while they beat the up. After this, Rano made Luis swear not to tell his friend that he cried, to keep his “image”. Another very racist part of Luis’ life happened at the beach. He was with his people at the beach, throwing his female friends into the water with his guy friends, when all of a sudden, a group of 4 or 5 white men call out “BEANERS” this is sort of like “nigger” but to a Chicano not an African American. This slur provoked the group, including the girls. Some broke beer bottles to use as weapons or pulled out switchblades and walked up to the men. Then, all of a sudden, three pull a gun and one flashed a badge and scream “LAPD”. Then, instead of just putting them into the car, they decide to keep the group of Chicanos on the ground, kicking sand into their faces, saying racial slurs and padding them down until they found a real reason to detain them. It turns out, one had a load of reefer on him, which led to them all being booked.
Though this book does touch on quite a few touch sub-subjects the broader subjects are what I found the most connection to, though I don’t really connect directly to the characters. This book was written for Luis J. Rodriguez’ son,Ramiro, who is currently serving a 28year prison sentence for 3 counts of attempted murder. Luis tried his hardest to keep his son away from the gang life, but all his efforts failed. I would really rate this book a 9 out of 10. At certain parts, its difficult to follow, but overall it told a great story of a great man, who has turned into a successful author and poet.

Tyler Blint Welsh Class 807
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Jul 11, 2009 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

I HATE LA. THIS BOOK WAS A REAFFIRMATION OF MY DISDAIN.

I'm glad the main character straightened out his life, but I still hated him. I hated the decisions he made and the drugs that he took. I truly dislike that he chose to live his life that way. I'm sorry that it took him that long to make positive decisions in his life. I understand the experiences that he had made him who he is today, but too many people are pulled in by undertows that they can't escape. Everything about him sounds like he...more

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Dec 16, 2010 Kala23 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought the book was boring, but twords the end it got a little better. I liked how Luis wasn't scared to admit that he did alot of things wrong, if more parents did that i dont think that our youth would be as messed up. I like how he made the conection from Hispanics and African Americans, we really have alot in commen and its a shame that in these times some of us still cant manage to get over race. I did not really like Luis went from memories of childhood to memories of young adulthood, i...more

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Nov 05, 2009 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

The reason I chose to read this book about gang life in East L.A. was because I have close friends that have been influenced by gangs. My viewpoints about gangs are different to friend's viewpoints on why they remain in them. After reading what it's like to be in one, it's scary to know what they have to go through everyday and what they live for.
One scene in the book that stroke me the most was when the main character rebels against his high school where white people dominate all school acti...more The reason I chose to read this book about gang life in East L.A. was because I have close friends that have been influenced by gangs. My viewpoints about gangs are different to friend's viewpoints on why they remain in them. After reading what it's like to be in one, it's scary to know what they have to go through everyday and what they live for.
One scene in the book that stroke me the most was when the main character rebels against his high school where white people dominate all school activities. The protagonist groups many of his friends from school and speaks up about how the Hispanics are not equally represented in the school. One way that he tries to fix the problem is by adding a class about Latino culture and why it should be valued. The way he stood up to represent the minority group at a dominantly white school made me really appreciate what people of his background can do in order to gain respect and equality. I fall in a similar situation as he does, except I'm not involved in any gang activity, but rather his ethnic background and the way we're represented in society. We're both Mexican and I know what it's like to go to a school where you fall into the minority group. Maybe this would be different if I attended a school where there are many other Hispanics, but I don't and in order to be represented in my community, I have to speak up and not be afraid of sharing out my viewpoints. I look up to the protagonist of the book because he wasn't afraid to speak his thoughts out to his school. He exclaimed what he felt needed to change i the school so others can actually understand what it's like to be a minority.
This book not only did it influence me to be a bigger leader, but it gave me better understanding of what people involved in gang activity go through and their struggles. As I read the book, I thought of how teenagers fall into these gangs and the way it transforms their lives. I also understand why teens go into gangs because gangs are what they call their families. Sometimes the location of where they live influences many of them to find refuge withing a gang and eventually leads to the way they live. Overall, this book fulfilled my understanding on what it's like to be involved in gang activity and the way it affects them.(less)

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Apr 12, 2009 Caitlin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009

This book is on the ALA's list of 100 most frequently banned books of 1990 through 2000.

This is a memoir of gang life & of growing up poor and Chicano in East LA in the '60's & 70's. It's also about learning who you are and finding ways out - through writing, through painting, & through social activism.

Rodriguez is primarily a poet and writer of short stories & it shows in this collection of snap shots of moments from his past. For those wanting a standard tale with a classical t...more This book is on the ALA's list of 100 most frequently banned books of 1990 through 2000.

This is a memoir of gang life & of growing up poor and Chicano in East LA in the '60's & 70's. It's also about learning who you are and finding ways out - through writing, through painting, & through social activism.

Rodriguez is primarily a poet and writer of short stories & it shows in this collection of snap shots of moments from his past. For those wanting a standard tale with a classical throughline and neat conclusions, this book will disappoint.

I enjoyed the author's imagery and the ways he plays with the genre of memoir. What is memory? What do we remember? How do we remember it? For me so much of my memory is just what he provides - little snapshots of moments in time.
From a political/social perspective, this book does a good job of elucidating the reasons kids join gangs and the possible paths out. He talks about gangs as a kind of mass suicide & that's an idea that stuck with me - all these kids looking for family & hating themselves.

In one of those funny moments where influences collide that can happen while reading, I kept thinking of another gang memoir that I read when I was younger. I remembered that it was written by a Puerto Rican guy that grew up in Spanish Harlem & was also about all of the ways that books saved him, but I couldn't remember the name of the book. It was right there on the tip of my tongue. I could remember that the author was named Piri, but that was all. Then I turned a page & there it was - Down These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas - turns out Luis Rodriguez read that one, too.

This book is also full of shades of Sandra Cisneros - a Chicana writer & poet whose work I've read off & on since her first book - The House on Mango Street. Like Cisneros, Rodriguez' work is full of rhythm & bright color.

I liked this book a great deal, although I don't think it offers any long-term solutions to these problems. Like The Corner, David Simon's killer tome on life on a Baltimore drug corner, this book illustrates the condition. Perhaps education really is the only way out, but to get there we're going to have to spend some money & stop using our educational system to ghettoize people based on class, race, income level, & the phase of the moon on Fridays when the cat's too tired to sing.

The world is a complex & beautiful place & in the end maybe only words can save us. (less)

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Dec 17, 2010 Savage316 rg12211993 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Always running was a good book at times it can be intresting and disturbing but its the truth of gangs that most people wouldnt know.the book is about luis rodriguez and his hard life in la and gangs it starts with luis's family moving to america to LA.In La luis makes some wrong choices in joing a local gang and does alot of stuff he regrets the book was written in focus to his son in which he wrote the book to tell his son about the truth of gangs and how there not always how they say they are...more

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Jan 22, 2008 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

I REALLY liked this book. I think Luis Rodriguez is a good writer. It really made me see a Chicano's perspective growing up thru the history and development of Mexican gang life in LA. I even made a low rider oldies mix cd after I read this book reminiscent of my junior high days, haha...I took this book to the juvenile hall that I worked at and the cholitos enjoyed it as well. It's cool to read books by people who grew up in LA and write about it.

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Dec 17, 2010 Sebas rated it 5 of 5 stars

I LIKED THIS BOOK
This book is about a man named Luis J. Rodriguez who was introduced to the ganglife when he was twelve years old and now his son is getting involved in to the ganglife. luis doesn't want his son to go through that because he went through the gangs and he fought to stay away from the street to get a good education and to become a poet.

Always Running reminds me of a book that i read it was called My Bloody Life it was about a little boy who also turned to the ganglife because he t...more

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About Luis J. Rodríguez

Luis J. Rodríguez (b. 1954) is a poet, journalist, memoirist, and author of children’s books, short stories, and novels. His documentation of urban and Mexican immigrant life has made him one of the most prominent Chicano literary voices in the United States. Born in El Paso, Texas, to Mexican immigrant parents, Rodríguez grew up in Los Angeles, where in his teen yearshe joined a gang, lived on th...more

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Books by Luis J. Rodríguez

It Calls You Back: An Odyssey through Love, Addiction, Revolutions, and Healing

East Side Stories: Gang Life in East L.A.

Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times

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“cry, child, for those without tears have a grief which never ends.” — 16 people liked it

“You 'will never belive it.” — 4 people liked it

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