Why Readers Find the Tales of Gang Intervention in Gregory Boyle's 2010 Novel, “Tattoos on the Heart : the power of limitless compassion”? I decided to focus on this book because it is very popular among students, especially those at Cal State Los Angeles. I also wanted to understand what makes Greg Boyle credible. Whether through his actions or who he is, what factors come into play? Why can he write an entire book on this subject? Since humans are storytellers, I want to understand what makes his story believable. Through this essay, I will answer these questions by describing, analyzing, and applying narrative methodology to my artifact. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Boyle's novel is a mix of memoir and short story. As the leader of Dolores Mission Church in Los Angeles, Boyle experiences issues like gang violence and mistakes firsthand. Instead of treating them like “lepers,” he treats them with dignity and respect by providing them with resources such as jobs, education, and even tattoo removal. “We provide all of this for free. We are a worksite and a therapeutic community. We are a training program and a company. We are all of these at once. » (Boyle) Short stories, musicals, and films were among the other choices, but I had read the book last semester and thought it would be an interesting example for criticism. Using David Rhoads' article "Narrative Criticism and the Gospel of Mark", I was able to find a source that explains narrative methodology to a similar artifact. In applying the methodology to this artifact, I decided to use the three steps found in the book. In Step 1 – Identifying the Form, I identified the characters, types, setting, and what they represent. Father Greg Boyle (hero: protagonist), the friends (victims: secondary characters) and Los Angeles as the place in which the story took place. Los Angeles provided a cultural context that the reader can imagine since it was described as a gang. territory. Step 2 – Functional analysis asked whether the story energizes the audience, creates a sense of identification, transports the audience, and whether it taps into core values/needs. “No other contemporary Los Angeles writer has so skillfully captured the expressive flavor of the distinctive Spanglish patois spoken by East Los Angeles youth. This alone makes “Tattoos on the Heart” a remarkable piece of literature. But something more is accomplished: an entire community made invisible by the indifference and disgust of the city at large comes urgently to life in these pages.” (Rutten) This book review helped answer the questions above because it is based on a reader's perspective on literature, identifies the "flavors" of East Los Angeles, and exploits the need for representation. Step 3 – Link formal/functional analysis, focusing on elements, functions and credibility for the audience. “Tattoos on the Heart” was a compelling read because of the content of the book. The story of several gang members and their second attempt at a better life touches the heart and induces certain emotions that a story should evoke. Since Father Greg Boyle talks about his story and how he got into Homeboy Industries in the first place, I was able to see where he came from and believe his story because of the many years of service he has past. In Rhoads' "Narrative Criticism" and the Gospel of,.