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Summary: The sad, violent autobiography of common killer/street thug
Review: This is the first book since fifth grade that has actually made me cry. In fifth grade, I cried because the fictional main character's pet goose died. I cried while reading "My Bloody Life" because "Reymundo Sanchez's" life was non-fiction and common in our nation's cities.Sanchez's eyes opened up and he ended up leaving the Latin Kings (unlike "Slim" and others who were killed instead of being allowed to leave). He writes from the perspective of an older man who is able to look back on his life and truly reflect on what the event of his life signified. Thus he is able to reflect on his decisions, then explain his thought process at the time (eg. when the 35-year-old Maria takes 13-year-old Reymundo's virginity, he is able to say that he now realizes that what Maria did was horrible and probably ruined many future sexual experiences for him. But at that time, all he wanted was to have sex and "be a man.") Sanchez is able to soberly reflect on his life. The result is a flowing, "matter-of-fact" prose as he describes his introduction to alcohol and marijuana (at the age of 12), his physically abusive parents, his multiple murders, his violence against others, his physical and sexual abuse of other women, his drug dealing and cocaine addiction. The rapidity with which Sanchez went from a nice kid with good grades to an amazingly violent, self-centered gang-banger is both shocking and sad. This was a very powerful book set in a neighborhood not too far from my house. To know the daily goings on a few miles from my house, in the neighborhood my parents grew up in is very sad. The subject matter is violent, graphic and quite disturbing, but needs to be read. You probably won't have a good time reading this book, but you'll be doing yourself a favor if you do. Recommended.
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Summary: I can't put the book down!!
Review: I can't put this book down....
I must say I don't even like reading, my bestfriend handed me the book, knowing my associations with the 'NATION' and I read the cover letter and was hooked. Even with my busy schedule going to school and full time mother, and employee; I still find time to read this book. Reymundo or whatever your name is I'm on the east side of the states and I'm going to make sure that my associates, my friends, my family read your book :) I know you said that the people that need to hear this message probaly won't read this book... your wrong its opening not just my eyes but lots of people in the 'NATION'. It's also giving ignorant(not knowing) people the chance to understand why kids and people are drawn to gangs they become your family, they are your family, all you know. I hope parents read this book, mothers with such ignorance, open your eyes before its too late.
"My bloody life" lets the reader see things the way 'Reymundo' sees them his point of view. And even if you can relate to this book, you keep reading in disbelieve that one human being has been thru so much, and was able to change his life around proving us with knowledge of gang life.
Thanks 'Rey' for sharing your life with us, that took a lot of courage. Keep your head up, and your dreams alive.
*AMOR*
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Summary: WELFARE NATION
Review: Those damned housing projects were nothing but breeding grounds for violent crime and drug selling. The reason why kids like this end up in prison is because of WELFARE and living with 1 adult in the house, which would be the mother, these kids never have fathers. We need male role models in the house, and i'm not talking about Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Ja Rule either I am talking about some positive people that are not always complaining about everything without blaming someone else for there mishaps.
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Summary: BUY this book
Review: In the preface, Raymundo says :"I hope this book can save the life of at least one kid." Well, he saved one life, mine. I was thinking about joining a gang until i finished the book. He helped me realize that being a gangbanger isn't the way to go.
What a great autobiography,i couldn't close the book... Raymundo Sanchez: gracias, y te felicito por tu corage.Cuidate mi pana, y suerte en tu sueno de ir para college. Pocos son tan fuertes como tu.
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Summary: My Bloody Life
Review: My Bloody Life This book is about a young Portico Rican male and his struggle growing up in the ruff streets of Chicago. If you are in to gangs or what to hear how the Latinos do it in Chicago. You should read this book. This book takes you into the mind and life of a gang banger. His ways and how he is just like you and me when he's not sober.
Raymond's early life was going bad. The things that happened to him affected his later life. Ray was abused by his step dad for years. He was also rapped by a family member when he went to Portico Rico. Ray's step dad sent him back to Chicago to live with his brother Hector. Hector happened to be a drug dealer and Ray picked up on that trade in an early part of his life.
There was never a male role model in Ray's life so the only people he could look up to were his big tommies that were from the same set as him. Ray didn't join a gang till he was 16. You will see that this man's every bad choice was when he was high or drunk. Only when he was sober did he make the right choices.
You should read this. It will be enjoyed from teenage on up. It sets the message that anyone can move on from what they have done even if they have killed someone,joined a gang or done drugs.
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Summary: Thank you for this book!
Review: I love this book! I must have read it at least five times since I bought it on impulse at the store. Since I am pursuing my Masters in Social Work, and having worked with teenagers through Americorps, I have seen how family or lack of it can have a significant effect on a childs life. Sometimes I feel that we look at things too much from the outside and fail to understand why people may turn to a life such as this. I think Sanchez does a wonderful job of displaying the emotions and reasons as to why he joined a gang. I have two nephews that are the products of gang members and although at times I struggle to understand the actions of their fathers and sometimes their mother, but I have to love all of them and hope for the best. Although the actions of a gang member can never be justifed, I think that this book shows us why we as a community need to pull together and support one another. Someone once said you need to love what you hate in order to change it. I believe this novel supports this statement, and anyone who wants insight as to why our children are joining gangs should read this book. Maybe if we refuse to be so quick to condemn and pass judgement, then we can open our hearts to those who do not have the love that some of us do, and just spend a moment with them to give them that love that they need. It may be difficult sometimes to not judge others, but if we look at all the pain we as humans have caused through our judging and sterotyping throughout the world, than we may see that imprisoning others in our images of them only causes them to become that image. Sometimes a child just needs to be recognized for the beautiful person that they are, not to be told that they are a failure or a bad person because they made a few mistakes in their life. Nobody is perfect, and I have made many mistakes in my younger years, but the people who had faith in me ignited that desire to succeed and prove that I could be everything they believed I could. To Reymundo, you are a strong man and you have survived nightmares of the day that some of us only dream about. any are not as strong as you. I have recommended your book to all the kids I currently work with, many of them teenage boys with no real family, and many of them have taken your words to heart. One of them in particular read your book and by the time he finished it he realised where he was headed. You showed him something only someone who has been there could and now he is back in school and off the streets, using the mind he showed me in chess games to its full potential. This is a thank you for your courage and strength, and to let you know that you have touched others through your words. I wish you only the best and maybe one day I will be lucky enough to meet you or write to you and gain some of your wisdom. From one lost child to another, I send you love and I hope you succeed in your dream of going to college. Thank you again for the power of your words. Teachers-give this book to your children, for sometimes they don't realise the truth behind gangs or gang life. This is the reality.
Rating:
Summary: A very powerful book
Review: This book is the best book i have yet read. It gives examples of what gang life can do to you. It is like a message to young kids who think gang life is the way to go. If a kid is thinking of taking that road he/she should read this book first and think twice. The chilling and frightful events that take place are dreadful. Never before have i read a book that touched my heart in such a way.
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Summary: All Too Real
Review: It's hard to imagine that what is revealed in this book can be true life, but we must come to terms with the society in which we live. One of violence, even if it's "sugar coated", there's no way around accepting the fact that this book gives us insight into the gang lifestyle. The encounters of Lil Loco (Sanchez) in this book is just the icing on the cake to what real life gang violence can be like. It explores every aspect of the situation, including the innocent people who fall victim to these horrendous acts of violence. It also shows us that people like this are not born, they are created- Lil Loco's childhood is very disturbingly on the button as to the types of things that make people who they are. While I'm sure not every gang member would fall into the same category as Lil Loco, it's a wonderful depiction of what the lifestyle is all about. Also, the fact that this is the author's first attempt at any kind of writing, really does impact how you are affected by reading this book. Sanchez isn't some professional author who tries to make everything sound elaborate, or who tries to hard to make things seem interesting- he simply tells it like it is. If you're thinking about reading this book, go for it- you will NOT be disappointed.
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Summary: This can't be more true
Review: I lived in the same neighborhood this individual was describing. Its amazing his life was turned around for the better!
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Summary: Bloody Life - Reality
Review: I've read the book by Reymundo Sanchez. As I was reading this book, I couldn't help but to think about the things that a special person in my life was going through not too long ago. It seemed like the words that Reymundo would use, automatically, I would hear the person that I'm speaking about. Words such as Fear, excitement, outcast, attention-seeker, feared by others, respect, girls, drugs and alcohol, and not loved unconditionally by one of the parents, are a few that come to mind right now. True. Reality. Hidden stories within inner-city neighborhoods.
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