September 2009: Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A.

Latino Book Club will meet September 26th at 3 at Pomegranate Books, on the corner of Kerr and Park to discuss Luis Rodríguez' Always Running.

Topics for discussion, courtsey Irene:

1. How does family life influence the attraction of gang life to young adults.

2. How does education(or lack of) fail these young adults.

3.How did the walk-out change the LA schools.

4.What part did the L.A. police officers play in gang wars?

5.What changes occurred in Luis's life to change him.

Despite the rains we had Lizzy, Lauren and I meet at the cozy and comfy Pomegranate Books. Always Running was enjoyed by all of us. It is interesting how a personal life could read so much like a "novel."One just does not expect so much to happen to just one person. We all felt that Luis Rodriguez' life is certainly very inspirational and that he is what he is because he put his heart and mind into it. He may have had some help from some of the people in his life, but he made all the decisions to get out of the gang life. It does feel that he always had a way out-the violence was not that bad that one would have to die if they wanted out of it, as is the case in many instances.
Rodriguez' writing style is very fluid, and I don't want to use "poetic" because that conjures images of beauty. In this case, even though it is about violence and kids with no guidance and facing racism at every turn, there is this feeling of hope, a feeling of calm, that seems to emerge from the writing.
The comparison to Piri Thomas is of course inevitable as we read the book in our series and also because Rodriguez talks of it as one the books that changed his life. Thomas' style is much coarse and stylistically matches the street life he describes. Rodriguez does not take that route. L.A. in the 60s was certainly the time to be for the Chicano Movement. It was just the other side of the gangs. Gangs were groups to belong to, but acted out through violence and other anti-social behavior, where as MeCHA and the Chicano Movement in itself was another group to which one could belong and actually bring a change the way people see Mexican Americans and other ethnic minorities.
Also a note aside, Tía Chucha the crazy aunt, the inspirational aunt, is the name of Luis Rodriguez' Press which helps kids publish their writings and find an alternative to life. As Lauren, said, Rodriguez seems to begin with her and end with her. Tía Chucha is the outlet for all the craziness trapped inside of the young kids.

Next month we read Xavier Garza's Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys. This will be our way of celebrating the season! Read the newsletter.