G-Dog and the Homeboys: Father Greg Boyle and the Gangs of East Los Angeles

Great book

many of us had an ideal young life but many lacked the love that sustains a family. this is the story of young without parent's love

I have heard and read about Father Greg for years. He is one unbelievable person. He puts everything into his mission. He really loves what he is doing. How he does it, I don't know. So many of his kids have died or gone to jail. He stands with them. He encourages them to get on the right path even when they screw up over and over. He tries over and over never giving up. Really a good book. You meet many of his home boys and learn of their problems. Well worth reading. As I grew up around the area I learned a lot that I did not know. Bless Father Greg for all he does.

I began reading about Father Greg Boyle after he was the key speaker at a college gradation ceremony I attended early this spring. His book was my first and then I moved on to this book. I have appreciated the individual stories of the homeboys (and girls) near the end of every chapter. And this book has helped to understand the gang mentality much more than Father Greg's book did. One a negative note, the folks who proofed this book did a miserable job. Perhaps it is changing it from print to electronic copy but it makes the reading much more difficult when the sentences make no sense and you have to go back and delete printed words. The ending of the book is showing the text and space symbols. It looks like I am readying code. But don't let that stop you from reading this book. If it does for you what it did for me you will look at homeboys, gangs, the system....so much differently than before. And for me, that is good.

I am a white senior citizen, far removed from any inner city life. This book, along with Father Greg Boyle's book have given me what I feel is a true insight into the life of the people who do live in that world. The truth is that we ALL are human beings who need a chance in life, sometimes many chances. We need nurturing, education, work that shows our value and sense of community and most of all love. It truly is an emergency in our culture that needs to be rectified. There seems to be an immense amount of true compassion lacking, being replaced only by fear and ignorance. Celeste Fremont has opened a window to understanding that we can all jump in! Thank you all for sharing your stories, your lives. It is a message that we really are no different at our core, but very different where our beginnings might be.We all strive to find our place of community, of heart and hope to fit in somewhere. I won't forget these books and my own ignorance has been replaced with a sense of love and admiration to all of you who have strived to make a better life. This book can be life changing if you allow it!

This is the amazing story about gangs in Los Angeles and what God can do in the lives of the lost. Amazing and touching what Greg Boyle has achieved.

I know Greg Boyle, slightly, and was pleased to read this book. He tells it just as it is in LA gang life. I have worked with some of the younger homeboys in LA, and I thank God that Father G tends to them. He is a treasure and the book is very interesting and well-written. It's worth reading for the insights into a culture that you have probably never been exposed to in person.

Having read "Tattoos on the Heart", which is a profoundly moving book by Father Greg Boyle, I ordered "G-Dog and the Home Boys" for more information. This earlier book, written by Celeste Fremon, was also gripping reading, providing background and some long-term perspective on the challenges and sometimes heartbreak of trying to help teens escape the Gang culture. I found both books inspiring hope, and challenging the negative too often seen in the news. I come away thinking that 'Jobs, not Jails' is a way to positive change.

Good supplement to Greg Boyle's books.