Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member
by Sanyika Shakur
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 421)
Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
People who don't overstand
Wow, my liberal guilt meter must already be on full because I fucking hated this autobiography. I encourage everyone to skim the other reviews to understand why it is so highly rated and who is doing the rating. However, I will not bite.
Ok, "Monster" Kody fucking shoots PEOPLE a/k/a HUMAN BEINGS without so much as a fore or afterthought. He writes about these murders as if they are "points" to be gained in a game and nothing more. I was expecting to see Kody redeem hims...more
Ok, "Monster" Kody fucking shoots PEOPLE a/k/a HUMAN BEINGS without so much as a fore or afterthought. He writes about these murders as if they are "points" to be gained in a game and nothing more. I was expecting to see Kody redeem hims...more
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11 comments
bookshelves:
90s,
biography,
contemporary
Read in January, 1998
recommends it for:
L.A. Natives, People interested in gang/prison culture,
I read this book when I was too young to understand this book. I was living in L.A. at the time, and Gang Violence was just starting to decline and fade into memory. It has the obligatory descriptions of violence, drug use and sex that are inherent to the gang life and that makes this an exciting read. That might not be a PC thing to say, but if violence, sex and drugs didn't sell there wouldn't be a music or a movie industry.
I understand where some of these other reviewers are coming from (...more
I understand where some of these other reviewers are coming from (...more
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Read in April, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who doesn't like to read
The book " The Autobiography Of An L.A Gangmember" was the most heartracing and action packed book I have ever read. after every page I was scared for Kody Scott a.k.a Monster. It seems every chapter he was either shot at or shot someone. The book displays the ways to join a gang and how the gang life actually is. How any moment can be your last. And how that should be the furthest thing in your mind. You have to be ready to die at any moment, and show no cowardice. This novel ...more
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Read in July, 2008
I'll be honest..I didn't really read this. I got up to page 46 and couldn't take it anymore. I've read articles, studies, and excerpts about gang life and all that. This was supposed to be an interesting account of one, maybe it was for back in the day. Where shall I begin? First of all the author spills into chapters, telling stories from different times throughout his gang activity. I never felt enlightened or opened to the "gang mentality", nor did he explain the technical aspec...more
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Read in February, 2008
This was a bit of an odd book. There were moments when I just wanted to put it down because it was moving slowly, was weighed down by the prose of someone trying way too hard, and reading the dialect of the dialogue was headache-causing at times. There were also moments where the book just flew by and I found myself getting involved with the characters, starting to feel like maybe I was understanding some of the allure that the Bloods or the Crips might have had for a young person. Of course,...more
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Read in May, 2008
I recently read Monster by Sanyika Shakur aka monster Kody Scott. This book was one of the best autobiographies I have ever read. From the beginning of the book through the end, this book was intense, violent, and addicting. Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down.
At first when I read this book I could clearly see the image because he describes things like there are: it feels like you are there with him. The way Monster describes shooting people, it’s so real and ...more
At first when I read this book I could clearly see the image because he describes things like there are: it feels like you are there with him. The way Monster describes shooting people, it’s so real and ...more
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Read in May, 2007
recommends it for:
Everybody
The book "Monster" was written by a gang member of south central L.A. He was in a gang called "Eight tray crips," he first joined this gang when he was 14 year old. Also the first time he put in work for his set he shot someone with a 12 gauge shotgun. The reason why im really interested in this book is because he was going through what i was going through and i was really excited to anther perspective of member. And that was because i've done as lot of bad things in life esp...more
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bookshelves:
socialandorpolitical
Read in January, 1998
One of the things I love and alternately hate is how wrong, mean-spirited, or negative people can be in writing on the Internet. I mean, I love the exchange of ideas, but one well-written shot of negativity almost got me to respond in anger, but to hell with it. It does no one any good. Besides, I think a lot few "liberal" cards need to be handed out. We need to start asking fr credentials and recommendations.
Sorry for the rant.. I read this book in 8th grade and bought the hardcov...more
Sorry for the rant.. I read this book in 8th grade and bought the hardcov...more
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Read in July, 1998
The initial reason I appreciated this book was the fact that it is set in my old neighborhood. There are references to places I've been to, so picturing the locations was easy and made the book more interesting.
I think I got through this book in a couple of days that summer. I loved that the author did not pull back any punches when describing gang life in his time. He was even honest about intimate, maybe embarrassing details.
It seems to me that many people feel worthy of criticizing and...more
I think I got through this book in a couple of days that summer. I loved that the author did not pull back any punches when describing gang life in his time. He was even honest about intimate, maybe embarrassing details.
It seems to me that many people feel worthy of criticizing and...more
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bookshelves:
could-not-finish
Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
nobody
Eh. I have heard lots about this book over the years, and it's a frequent request at the library. Fans of the book tout is "authentic," which it certainly is, but I can't get past the self-indulgent author's annoying pseudo-intellectual soapbox rants. It also annoys me the way the author constantly uses the term "overstood." I know, petty, but still. The book is an interesting look into the psychology and culture of gangs, and I am finding it moderately engaging, but I h...more
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recommends it for:
Every1
The book Monster, was the best book ive ever read. there was moment in the book that could relate to. Me reading this book i look at him as a ganster when he was younger. he started gangbanging at age of eleven. he started to shoot ppl at a young age. when i was eleven years old i was still running around playing outside. i didnt even know about gangs when i was younger. he got his name because the way he shot ppl up. he was just a monster with a gun. Monster Kody Scott has been in and out of...more
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Read in October, 2006
Although I read this book for a sociology class, I would probably read it again. I never understood why people would join a gang, what could posses someone to violently murder a stranger - for having the wrong friends - and treat jail like a vacation. This book gives a very honest account of a former gang member's exploits and his reasoning behind them.
Also, I was intrigued at the "change of heart" that occurred near the end of the book. Did Sanyika really become less violent, or w...more
Also, I was intrigued at the "change of heart" that occurred near the end of the book. Did Sanyika really become less violent, or w...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Eva by:
book club member recommends it for: street-lit readers, some memoir readers
I have yet to join a gand, hehe, but this seems like a good portrayal of what the life would be like. I did like that he didn't seem to be glorifying the gang life but at the same time the few racist remarks included bothered me. Probably what bothered me most of all was his likening the gang to the army and military, likening a drive-by shooting to a war, things like that. Overall it was a good book with a good story, good ending, good lessons, and good writing.
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bookshelves:
memoirs-biography
I was really into this book but at the begining but I think it kind of fell apart at the end.
he Starts off by writing about being in a gang in a very self-critical and very honest way that I really aloud me to get into his head. It's when he became politicised, the part I though t I would like best, that the book gets weak.
Writing about his politics he just seems to be towing the Party line and the story looses the personal element that made it so good.
he Starts off by writing about being in a gang in a very self-critical and very honest way that I really aloud me to get into his head. It's when he became politicised, the part I though t I would like best, that the book gets weak.
Writing about his politics he just seems to be towing the Party line and the story looses the personal element that made it so good.
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This book is like whatever. I learned a few things about gang life, kind of felt funny about how unapologetic he is and kind of felt like he was pretty long-winded. This is a really good book for young adults who have a hard time getting interested in reading. Teacher friends use it a lot.
Check out Assata's autobiography instead (or in addition to).
Check out Assata's autobiography instead (or in addition to).
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Read in January, 1999
Definitely not a perfect book, but well worth the small amount of time it takes to race through it. maybe I had been extremely ignorant up to the point when I read it, but I had no idea there was serious (and I mean *serious*) gang violence before the drug trade became serious business. All-out war over "territory"?? Crazy, but apparently true.
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bookshelves:
young-adult-fiction
boys love this book, it's always checking out, so i had to see why. it's understandable, especially given that i work near a large urban high school. as far as memoir goes, not the most reliable voice in the world, but i'm not sure it matters when getting boys to read for pleasure. still, would make for an interesting teen book club discussion.
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Read in December, 2007
Basically at page 150 I called three separate friends to kvetch: "I can't believe this dude has TWO HUNDRED MORE PAGES worth of crap to spew. Honestly."
Honestly.
It didn't really get better, but I have scrawled a few notes in it and could see myself referencing the autobiography in the future for some kind of thesis.
Honestly.
It didn't really get better, but I have scrawled a few notes in it and could see myself referencing the autobiography in the future for some kind of thesis.
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Read in January, 1993
Compulsively readable, this book gives more insight into the life of a young, inner city teenager than you really want. It's horrifying in a compelling, touching way. Very harsh, interesting and well written. My copy is beloved and beat to hell from all the times I've loaned it out. A book I make sure everyone returns to me!
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Read in October, 2005
Holy. Shit.
I don't think I could ever forget this autobiography, even if I tried.
To hear a man tell stories of *actually* killing people with a shotgun in gang wars AT ELEVEN YEARS OLD, getting shot, going in and out of prison, and the effects that it had on his life and psyche, is just simply amazing.
I don't think I could ever forget this autobiography, even if I tried.
To hear a man tell stories of *actually* killing people with a shotgun in gang wars AT ELEVEN YEARS OLD, getting shot, going in and out of prison, and the effects that it had on his life and psyche, is just simply amazing.
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