Always running : La Vida Loca, gang days in L.A. by Luis J. Rodriguez. ISBN:0671882317.
Memoirs of Chicano gang life in the late 1960's. He opens by explaining that his book is often banned in schools and is also one of the most stolen books in urban libraries. The book is raw and not full of crappy literary filler. Graphic as one would presume, but more explicit when it came to discussing his coming of age sexual escapades rather than the violence I had anticipated. Overall, a depressing, honest account of someone's fuck ups and attempts at success in a community with few opportunities. Plus there's an appendix chocked full of spanglish gang sayings, who doesn't need one of those?
Warning: You may want to slam heroin or start a riot upoon completing this book.

If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor by: Bruce Cambell. ISBN-10: 0312291450

The star of Evil Dead and Army of Darkness writes a book. Ya know what? It was really good. Well by good, I mean it was very entertaining. I think I read the whole thing in a couple days. It was a very easy read that was tons of fun. I recommend it. He talks about growing up, meeting Sam Raimi as a kid and making crappy films together. Lots of pictures, BIG text, who wouldn't want read this?

The Gospel of Judas by (way too many people to type, except Judas didn't make the author line, hmmmmmm) ISBN: 1426200420.

This book was pretty interesting. I actually read this about a month ago and forgot to write the review. So, from what I remember, Judas has a pretty interesting point of view on the whole turning in Jesus to be killed. His point of view seems to be more or less that Jesus wanted him to do it so that he could be released from his body and in a sense meet his destiny. Hmmmm smeels like a new Nightmare on Elmstreet kind of plot. I guess the most eye opening part of this book was the mention of just how many (a lot) of gospels were actually written that didn't make the cut into the bible. Overall, it's worth reading if for nothing else just to serve as a reminder to question absolutely anything that any kind of authority figure tries to get you to swallow. That's my opinion, not the book's.

The Godfather by Mario Puzo. ISBN: 0451167716. Classic. If you haven't read it yet, well you might as well. Kick ass classic book of old school mafia fun (murder, drugs, sex.....all the worthwhile activities) with a touch of social commentary. My only complaint....the book stunk. No I mean literally, it was funky as all hell. I went to Barnes and Noble to buy the paperback and it smelled really bad. Like my hands smelled after handling it. So I didn't buy it and went to a different B & N on the way home. Found more copies there and those reeked too! WTF? Is it too much to ask that a 7.99 paperback doesn't smell weird??? I'm gonna ask penguin books the publisher what is up with that? Are they tring to push audio books or something? I bought it anyway because I really wanted to read it but it pisses me off anyway.  

The Stranger by Albert Camus. ISBN: 0679720200

This book is like your mother; old and cheap to buy. We follow Meursault around for a small portion of his self confessed content but pointless life. From burying his dead mother, to acquiring a new piece of tail. The story itself is boring, until you take into account the dog beatings, girlfriend smashing, arab shooting, and the guillotine. None of that is the point, everything is about how Meursault thinks and feels about the things he is doing, and the things done to him. I could write a bit about existentialism but I'm sure that would be the point in which 98% of you would stop reading this. Here it is in a nut shell: he doesn't care. Do you remember all the times in which you lied, or acted like you felt some emotion that you in fact didn't? Well Meursault wouldn't see the point in that. In the end people see him as not just detached, but amoral, soulless, an automaton.


In a world with paxil, and other mood mellowing pills that are handed out like candy to school children. I'd think everyone would understand this book, but people seem to find his detachment from life disturbing. I guess this makes me the fucked up one, I feel that it made him free, free to do nothing or everything and be content with what ever the outcome.

Buddha by Karen Armstrong. ISBN: 0143034367. This was an audio book form the library. Pretty damn cool. I spaced out listening to it in the car once in a while but overall.....I liked it a bunch. I learned a lot about the origins of Buddhism. Pretty neat stuff, worth reading or listening to if you're a lazy douche like me. 

Degas' Drawings. ISBN: 0486212335. Another book form the library. If you're into drawing or art, this book rocked. Seriously, his sketches are just simply as good as it gets. Composition, style, fuck he was a great master artist. Made me realize how far I have to go to be a great artist. Crap, now I'm gonna go stab myself in the head with a colored pencil. Great book.