Compare and Contrast: My Family and Always Running - Book Report/Review Example

Download file to see previous pages This paper talks about the similarities and the differences of the two stories and focuses of the male characters in it. Tone The novel Always Running sets in motion with a narration of the author, Luis Rodriguez, on his collection of his youth when he was 9 years old. He started with a description of how his parents named him, together with his other siblings. “We fought all the time. My brother, especially, had it in for La Pata -- thinking of Frankenstein, he called her "Anastein." Her real name was Ana, but most of the time we went by the animal names Dad gave us at birth. I am Grillo, which means cricket. Rano stands for "rana," the frog. La Pata is the duck and Cuca is short for cucaracha: cockroach.” (13) In his narration, he gives his readers a good grasp of his family’s way of living and how his dad wanted to stay in California. “I'll never go back to Mexico," he Last Name 3 said. "I'd rather starve here. You want to stay with me; it has to be in Los Angeles. Otherwise, go."(13) In relation to this, the film My Family also starts with a collection of the narrator, Paco, the eldest of the Sanchez siblings, of his father story that has been passed onto him. The narrator gives a good background of the roots of the Sanchez family, which is further told as the film goes on. “Whenever I see the bridge that connects Los Angeles with East Los Angeles, I remember my family.” (My Family) The foundation of the families in both stories is an essential part of the plot since they set the mood of the stories and gives the readers and the viewers a good grasp of how the Latino families were like in the mid of the 20th century America. In the film, the struggles of Maria and Jose, the Sanchez parents, in order to have a good life in California. “It didn’t matter if you were a citizen. If you looked like a Mexicano like my mother, you were picked up and shipped out.” (My Family) According to Paco’s collection, Mexicans were treated wrongfully were shipped out to Central Mexico to increase the chances of them not coming back the California. In both stories, it will be noticed that gangs involving Chicanos are common in the mid-20th century America and both of them have the same reasons – protection and self-respect. In Luis’ novel, it is explained that he had crazy life – Livin’ La Vida Loca, during his time with the gang. It is shown that sex, alcohol, drugs and killings are common in his gang, which goes the same in the film as Paco, the narrator, tells the life of his brother, Chucho and how the latter perceives life. According to Paco, his brother joins a gang because he sees that having money and power are the ingredients of a good life for Chicanos in America. For them to be able to get respect and protection, they should have the two elements. “This is all that they respect in this country. Not a dignidad!” (My Family)- Chucho’s line to his father, Jose, during their argument. Last Name 4 Dignity is evident in both stories especially to the fathers. They both work so hard to raise their families well, although, at some point, there are circumstances that they send their kids out of the house due to their intolerable attitudes. To them, dignity of labour is important for it is the basis of humanity. It is also ...Download file to see next pagesRead More