My First Book Review, I Think
I just finished reading Gang Leader for a Day and I loved it. I read about a chapter a night, and managed to finish the book in a week. In all reality, though, I could have read it in a day - I just didn't have that kind of time.
Sudhir takes a known subject, gangs and the projects, and turns them into characters of their own. He allowed me to see the people in the gang, get to know their story, and understand a little more about them. Halfway through the book, I realized I was rooting for JT, the leader of the gang. That's a sure sign of a good author - getting the reader to root for the protagonist, despite his character flaws. Some may disagree with me and say JT's not the protagonist, but I beg to differ. Sudhir always comes back to JT. He needs him. Without him he's not protected.
As a white woman raised by middle class parents in a semi-decent neighborhood, I've only heard of the level of poverty described in his book. Sure, there were some houses running drugs out of them, or so we thought. And yes, the police chased people through our back yard when the city of Akron did a massive drug crackdown, but that's the extent of my knowledge of drugs and crime. I never worried about when my next meal would arrive, or if I would have clothes to wear, or if my siblings would have diapers - it never crossed my mind. It still doesn't. Sudhir allows the readers to know and understand the depths of poverty. His descriptions of the stairwell make me cringe, and I can smell the rank filth. When he talks about Ms. Bailey, I get angry, because she is enabling the system. But it's the only system she knows. When he writes about the corruptness of the police and alderman in Chicago, I am furious and mad at "the man".
Since this is a non-fictional book, my expectations are a bit different than a work of fiction. I expect to be entertained when I read fiction. I want to be drawn into the scene and let my imagination run free. When I read non-fiction, I expect to be educated, but not bored. Sudhir educates without boring, entertains, draws the reader in, and lets their imagination take over. That is a sign of a talented writer. I am a better person for having read his book, and that may be the highest form of praise one could ever give an author.
Ed. Note: I don't remember if I've ever written a book review. Sure, I've written book reports, but are they the same thing? Evidently yes and no. Anyway, this is my first stab at it on the blog. I really loved the book, but I didn't think saying that would do it justice. Hopefully this gave you a better idea of what it's about and what to expect when you read it. You can get it at your local library, but I'd buy it. It's that good.
Sudhir takes a known subject, gangs and the projects, and turns them into characters of their own. He allowed me to see the people in the gang, get to know their story, and understand a little more about them. Halfway through the book, I realized I was rooting for JT, the leader of the gang. That's a sure sign of a good author - getting the reader to root for the protagonist, despite his character flaws. Some may disagree with me and say JT's not the protagonist, but I beg to differ. Sudhir always comes back to JT. He needs him. Without him he's not protected.
As a white woman raised by middle class parents in a semi-decent neighborhood, I've only heard of the level of poverty described in his book. Sure, there were some houses running drugs out of them, or so we thought. And yes, the police chased people through our back yard when the city of Akron did a massive drug crackdown, but that's the extent of my knowledge of drugs and crime. I never worried about when my next meal would arrive, or if I would have clothes to wear, or if my siblings would have diapers - it never crossed my mind. It still doesn't. Sudhir allows the readers to know and understand the depths of poverty. His descriptions of the stairwell make me cringe, and I can smell the rank filth. When he talks about Ms. Bailey, I get angry, because she is enabling the system. But it's the only system she knows. When he writes about the corruptness of the police and alderman in Chicago, I am furious and mad at "the man".
Since this is a non-fictional book, my expectations are a bit different than a work of fiction. I expect to be entertained when I read fiction. I want to be drawn into the scene and let my imagination run free. When I read non-fiction, I expect to be educated, but not bored. Sudhir educates without boring, entertains, draws the reader in, and lets their imagination take over. That is a sign of a talented writer. I am a better person for having read his book, and that may be the highest form of praise one could ever give an author.
Ed. Note: I don't remember if I've ever written a book review. Sure, I've written book reports, but are they the same thing? Evidently yes and no. Anyway, this is my first stab at it on the blog. I really loved the book, but I didn't think saying that would do it justice. Hopefully this gave you a better idea of what it's about and what to expect when you read it. You can get it at your local library, but I'd buy it. It's that good.