Review: Down These Mean StreetsEditorial Review - Kirkus ReviewsManchild in the Promised Land and Malcolm X's autobiography come to mind reading this book, but the similarity resides only in the same kind of raucous life styles. Piri Thomas, now 39, a Puerto Rican, also beat the streets of Harlem, fighting the battle of color, and at 22 he landed in jail to serve six years for armed robbery. This book is his life from late childhood in the barrio through his release from prison. It's told in ""straight-up"" narrative and dialogue--Thomas' swinging, short phrase slang, a fantastic conglomeration of Spanish and jive. Thomas steps back very little in the telling: each incident is related almost as though he were reliving it moment by moment. But if his story reads like a novel, it also gives off a powerful impression of a man competing--a ""macho hombre,"" a ""rep,"" a cool guy who had to learn young and fast how to defend himself. He's always fully alive, whether fighting, making it, hustling, junking and beating the habit, or staving off the ""bad-o"" influences in prison, and finally just sitting quiet to write his torrential account of himself. The book talks, mostly with candor, humor, fierce emotions, and simple, immediate understandings. Thomas' gutsy intelligence comes from his keen and almost musical memory of words spoken--to others, from others, or to himself. Review: Down These Mean StreetsEditorial Review - Kirkus ReviewsManchild in the Barrio: same kind of life style, same impact, similar rough language--one to take in yourself, to give out carefully. Piri Thomas, now 39, a Puerto Rican, beat the streets of Spanish Harlem, fighting the battle of color, and at 22 he landed in jail to serve six years for armed robbery. He tells his life from late childhood to release from prison in ""straight-up"" narrative and dialogue--swinging, short-phrase slang, a fantastic conglomeration of Spanish and jive. Each incident is related almost as though he were reliving it moment by moment. He's always fully alive, whether fighting, making it, hustling, junking and beating the habit, or staving off the ""bad-o"" influences in prison, and finally coming to precarious peace with himself. The book talks, mostly with candor, humor, fierce emotions, and simple immediate understandings; it talks straight to, at mature young people. User reviewsReview: Down These Mean StreetsUser Review - Weisley - GoodreadsDown These Mean Streets by Piri Thomas. This book is a memoir about a kid growing up in spanish Harlem. This book takes place in Spanish Harlem, the main character Piri he has problems with his father ... Read full review Review: Down These Mean StreetsUser Review - Kiddrah - GoodreadsAmazing book. I would even go as far as to say that it is my favorite book of all time, at the moment lol. The book is autobiographical and it is an easy read, because the language is not difficult ... Read full review Review: Down These Mean StreetsUser Review - Meg - GoodreadsI grabbed this book last year when I started reading Latino literature. I was looking forward to reading this memoir because it takes place in New York. It was ok---- it was not that interesting, and ... Read full review Review: Down These Mean StreetsUser Review - William Sariego - GoodreadsDown These Mean Streets has been called a Hispanic version of 'The Autobiography of Malcolm X.' I understand the comparison, but they are two entirely different reading experiences. Alex Haley gave ... Read full review Review: Down These Mean StreetsUser Review - Robert - GoodreadsThe book Down These Mean Streets is by Piri Thomas. The main topic of the book is a memoir, about Piri who struggles throughout the book. The book addresses many problems. One problem the book address ... Read full review Review: Down These Mean StreetsUser Review - Andy - GoodreadsThis is a great book, i enjoy reading it,because it makes me wonder whats going to happen next and keeps me reading it and not wanting to stop. This book connects to lots of larger issues that happens ... Read full review Review: Down These Mean StreetsUser Review - Dayanara - GoodreadsThis book is truly amazing. It first caught my eye because it was about a Puerto Rican and as a Puero Rican myself, it loved to see what my own kind have been through before i was born. This book ... Read full review Review: Down These Mean StreetsUser Review - Max - GoodreadsThe book Down These Mean Streets is a memoir about a young Puerto Rican, named Piri Thomas, growing up in New York City. The book is told from the author's perspective and he gives us a brief look ... Read full review | User ratings| 5 stars | | | 4 stars | | | 3 stars | | | 2 stars | | | 1 star | |
All reviews - 30 1 star - 0 All reviews - 30 All reviews - 30 |
