Interesting book review. It's always good to find a book that parallels your own life.
I am on my way out the door to the mall to pick up that book.
At 13, I struggled through "Beloved"'s layers and matured from "Down
These Mean Streets"'s truth. They were my first adult reads and remain on my all time
favorite books list.
Thomas' work penetrated me. To my young mind it was raw. To my New York heart it was
real. I actually had the pleasure of meeting him. A great man with an embracing spirit. A
writer whose coming of age story jumps off the page. You can smell the sweat of
adolescence. The stench of the city. Piri is the man!
This story touched me because Piri's Struggle with finding his true identity hits close
to home, not only for myself but for others that i know as well. It was raw but that is
how life can be for some and I recommend this book for any one who is looking for a good
read about life.
i think theres too much of profanity... beside that i think its a really good book... i
enjoyed reading it and will read again and feel how its like in spanish Harlem
One of the few that can really relate back to the latinos of today and yesterday
if you like scarface and carlito's way, read this book. great insight into a man who
does not know how to self-identify. great discussions of race/gender identity questions. A
classic book with themes reproduced throughout literature and other forms of media.
- Username:
- michelle
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 9/11/02
- Time:
- 7:49:23 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
I think this book was excellent. I can definitely relate to Piri. I can not wait to
read more books by Piri Thomas! His use of language was desciptive and there was suspense
through out the book. Thanks for writing such a great book Piri Thomas.
- Username:
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 9/11/02
- Time:
- 4:13:05 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- Robin
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 9/23/02
- Time:
- 2:25:53 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
This is one of the greatest autobiographies ever written. It has motivated my
non-reader students, who have read the book en masse. Sadly, the NYC Board of Ed has
pretty much banned the book for JHS level. I understand that some high schools in NYC are
still using it, but are having the students purchase the book. What a shame. I teach in
the South Bronx, and this book has done wonders.
- Username:
- Ruben Perez
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 9/26/02
- Time:
- 9:01:37 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
i love this book!! i'm reading a part of the book for my prose competition this year.
everybody is glad that i'm ready this piece because it shows how it really is down the
mean streets and how someone thinks it is.
- Username:
- mal
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 10/16/02
- Time:
- 3:13:58 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- robcip
- Rating:
- ****
- Date:
- 10/21/02
- Time:
- 9:14:11 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
i need help. who are the major characters and what is the theme of "down these
mean streets"?
- Username:
- lauren
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 10/25/02
- Time:
- 10:42:20 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
amazing , i could not even begin to explane how good this book was , and how much it
actually changed my life
- Username:
- darlene dunford
- Rating:
- ****
- Date:
- 10/30/02
- Time:
- 11:21:55 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
This is a great book which many of us can relate to
- Username:
- Ashley
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 10/31/02
- Time:
- 12:21:50 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
I GIVE THIS BOOK AN A+++ ITS A REALLY GOOD BOOK. I WAS REALLY CAUGHT IN IT AND I HAVE
READ THAT BOOK EXACTLY 9 TIMES. ITS GOOD THAT I HAVE A BOOK THAT I CAN RELATE TO MY LIFE.
THIS BOOK HAS INSPIRED ME SO MUCH. IT SHOWED ME THAT I CAN SO MUCH THINGS IN MY LIFE I
WANT TO LET PIRI KNOW THAT I LOVE HIS WORK AN THAT I'M GREATFULL THAT I FOUND HIS BOOK
THAT REALLY INSPIRED ME. THAT BOOK IS MY BIBLE!!!
P.S. I READ ONE OF THE BOOKS THAT YOU SAID THAT IT WAS A MUST READ AND THAT HAD A
STRONG SINGULAR VOICE "ALWAYS RUNNING" IT WAS ALSO I GOOD BOOK
- Username:
- birdman baby
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 11/8/02
- Time:
- 1:09:22 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
your book was wonderful this is some of the things that happen in harlem people
families act this way but overall your book rating should be five stars
- Username:
- jennifer
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 1/13/03
- Time:
- 9:39:56 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
intersting book
- Username:
- ashed
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 1/14/03
- Time:
- 10:41:56 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- tiara williams
- Rating:
- ***
- Date:
- 1/27/03
- Time:
- 9:42:56 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- Jacob Evans
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 3/11/03
- Time:
- 9:32:56 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
Beautful story about life as a Puerto Rican in the getto. I'm Puerto Rican and Black
and it is amazing to see that the things that went on fifty years ago still goes on today!
I felt his pain like it was mine, the realness of it overwelmed me. The struggle that goes
on in the getto is a crazy one both mentaly and phisicaly. This book helps people to see
our world, a world that is hard to understand when you come from the subburbs.
- Username:
- jt
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 3/13/03
- Time:
- 9:02:54 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
I must admit that this book was exceptional.
- Username:
- naomi cordoba
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 5/3/03
- Time:
- 12:41:52 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
I think a lot of people could learn about the hardships of life from this book and
could also open there eyes to see the wourld isn't what we think it is.This book also got
me intrested in reading like i have never been before.
- Username:
- josie
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 5/3/03
- Time:
- 12:43:58 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
I think a lot of people could learn about the hardships of life from this book and
could also open there eyes to see the wourld isn't what we think it is.This book also got
me intrested in reading like i have never been before.
- Username:
- yasmin
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 6/5/03
- Time:
- 9:47:41 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
this was an excellent book and I want to congratulate Piri for his wonderful work
- Username:
- Lauren
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 8/28/03
- Time:
- 11:11:07 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
Very very good book. Every page had my eyes glued to the paper and i couldn't
wait to
turn the page!
- Username:
- Dorise
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 9/25/03
- Time:
- 6:38:15 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- Alexandria Gomez
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 9/27/03
- Time:
- 5:54:51 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- monica
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 10/23/03
- Time:
- 9:08:40 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- Grace Yuen
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 11/15/03
- Time:
- 9:52:55 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 11/17/03
- Time:
- 3:19:35 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- Joel
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 12/31/03
- Time:
- 3:06:08 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
This book is awesome...with all the explicit languages and violence. Piri's
gangsta!!!!!
- Username:
- Scottm718
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 1/23/04
- Time:
- 8:20:28 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
This book is real, true, sad and shocking all in one......
- Username:
- Nicholas
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 4/26/04
- Time:
- 1:40:33 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
Best book i've read since the great gatsby
- Username:
- Rating:
- Date:
- 5/10/04
- Time:
- 11:18:28 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- Niki
- Rating:
- ***
- Date:
- 5/12/04
- Time:
- 7:33:52 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
Good concept. I think that many people can identify with Piri, in trying to find out
who they are in society, and the bad situations that he put himself into.
- Username:
- jeanette
- Rating:
- Date:
- 5/18/04
- Time:
- 4:20:06 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
I need to know who help you write such an interesting story
- Username:
- J.C.
- Rating:
- *
- Date:
- 7/20/04
- Time:
- 12:36:08 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
it sucked badly Worse than rotten eggs.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Username:
- Janice
- Rating:
- ****
- Date:
- 10/3/04
- Time:
- 9:51:57 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
unique...very interesting
- Username:
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 11/16/04
- Time:
- 10:26:47 AM
- Remote User:
Comments
- Username:
- Jae
- Rating:
- *****
- Date:
- 3/8/05
- Time:
- 5:43:06 PM
- Remote User:
Comments
I think its a great book because it talks what we teenagers go through in the hood from then till now. maybe im just saying that cuz im from the hood. BORIQUAs 4 eva!!!!
