Gang Leader For a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh. “I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Since I listened to an AudioBook, I felt like the reader truly captured the cadence and accents of the various people depicted, e.g. Miss Bailey, T-Bone and J.T. At various times I was either laughing or practically crying at the depictions of life in the Robert Taylor Homes. As Venkatesh was either called "A-rab" or "Injun," he was never completely trusted by the residents of the Robert Taylor Homes. The gang members suspected he was working for the police. The police thought he was part of the gangs and was documenting police corruption and various tenants thought he was a spy for JT, the gang leader. While I know T-Bone died in prison, it would be fascinating to hear or read about the life in the Robert Taylor homes from the perspective of J.T., Miss Bailey or Officer Reggie -- all of whom grew up there. P.s. It will make you alternatively laugh and cry like Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes.”
