What do you think?
Rate this book
Roll Call
A true account of the author's drug dealing past that turned into trumped up organized crime charges over a bad business deal with the fabricator of Custom Craft Harley Davidson's.
Another true account of how the corrupt California Prison Union used terror tactics with then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger relating to the 3 Strikes Law. Harvard lawyer Daniel Morris has since confirmed it with, "A shameful lie."
ROLL CALL
Roll Call is a true prison story with a cast of characters that include Mexican drug cartels, Southern California street gangs and Hell's Angels all fighting for their piece of the drug culture. Add a good detective squeezed out of the loop by an overzealous narcotic detective; a robust prison union calling bad shots; a handful of drug criminals trying to find their conscience and you have the perfect recipe for a revolutionary uprising, bound by blood, all leaving the reader wondering, who are the real criminals? A view never before seen, from the inside of the criminal justice system looking out. The author, Glenn Langohr takes you on a journey from a runaway childhood, to addict and drug dealer, into the drug war for an inside look at Mexican cartel wars, corrupt narcotic detectives and a California Prison Union bent on breeding bigger criminals
Another true account of how the corrupt California Prison Union used terror tactics with then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger relating to the 3 Strikes Law. Harvard lawyer Daniel Morris has since confirmed it with, "A shameful lie."
ROLL CALL
Roll Call is a true prison story with a cast of characters that include Mexican drug cartels, Southern California street gangs and Hell's Angels all fighting for their piece of the drug culture. Add a good detective squeezed out of the loop by an overzealous narcotic detective; a robust prison union calling bad shots; a handful of drug criminals trying to find their conscience and you have the perfect recipe for a revolutionary uprising, bound by blood, all leaving the reader wondering, who are the real criminals? A view never before seen, from the inside of the criminal justice system looking out. The author, Glenn Langohr takes you on a journey from a runaway childhood, to addict and drug dealer, into the drug war for an inside look at Mexican cartel wars, corrupt narcotic detectives and a California Prison Union bent on breeding bigger criminals
- GenresNonfictionMystery
700 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2009
27 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Langohr
106 books70 followersIn prison on drug charges, I felt inspired to start writing--to bring a view never before seen, and to show that the path we are on is only building bigger criminals.
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00571NY5A
I'm married to my dream girl ballerina, Sanette, who plays Annette in Upon Release, the sequel to Roll Call, and my greatest accomplishment post release is the review I got from Kirkus-
ISBN: 978-1-4392-4608-5
Kirkus Discoveries, Nielsen Business Media
discoveries@kirkusreviews.com
A harrowing, down-and-dirty depiction—sometimes reminiscent of Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic—of America’s war on drugs, by former dealer and California artist Langohr.
Locked up for a decade on drugs charges and immersed in both philosophical tomes and modern pulp thrillers, Langohr penned Roll Call, a light fictionalization of his troubled life. “I went from obsessively pacing my cell and wondering and worrying about how I was actually going to get my attorney to defend me, and how many years this sentence would bring,” writes Langohr in an afterword, “to realizing that if I find a way to write what’s in my head, I can find a way out of this hole I had put myself in!” The book’s hero is Benny “B.J.” Johnson, a kid who grows up in a troubled home. His parents are essentially good, but they fight often. Eventually, his mother escapes, departing in a “small car with over a hundred thousand miles on it and some clothes.” From there, B.J.’s descent is all but inevitable—he hangs out with the wrong crowd and starts dealing. But the author is not content to tell the story from only the protagonist’s perspective. Instead, he toggles the angle like a master director, taking in the stories of American lawmen, Mexican dealers, outlaw bikers, prison guards, pawn-shop dealers and a dude named El Diablo who says things like, “I have a master plan that I am willing to share with you.” Roll Call makes for exciting reading—gunplay, covert operations and backhanded deals abound. The author succeeds by wisely using his experiences to fuel the narrative. A vivid, clamorous account of the war on drugs.
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00571NY5A
I'm married to my dream girl ballerina, Sanette, who plays Annette in Upon Release, the sequel to Roll Call, and my greatest accomplishment post release is the review I got from Kirkus-
ISBN: 978-1-4392-4608-5
Kirkus Discoveries, Nielsen Business Media
discoveries@kirkusreviews.com
A harrowing, down-and-dirty depiction—sometimes reminiscent of Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic—of America’s war on drugs, by former dealer and California artist Langohr.
Locked up for a decade on drugs charges and immersed in both philosophical tomes and modern pulp thrillers, Langohr penned Roll Call, a light fictionalization of his troubled life. “I went from obsessively pacing my cell and wondering and worrying about how I was actually going to get my attorney to defend me, and how many years this sentence would bring,” writes Langohr in an afterword, “to realizing that if I find a way to write what’s in my head, I can find a way out of this hole I had put myself in!” The book’s hero is Benny “B.J.” Johnson, a kid who grows up in a troubled home. His parents are essentially good, but they fight often. Eventually, his mother escapes, departing in a “small car with over a hundred thousand miles on it and some clothes.” From there, B.J.’s descent is all but inevitable—he hangs out with the wrong crowd and starts dealing. But the author is not content to tell the story from only the protagonist’s perspective. Instead, he toggles the angle like a master director, taking in the stories of American lawmen, Mexican dealers, outlaw bikers, prison guards, pawn-shop dealers and a dude named El Diablo who says things like, “I have a master plan that I am willing to share with you.” Roll Call makes for exciting reading—gunplay, covert operations and backhanded deals abound. The author succeeds by wisely using his experiences to fuel the narrative. A vivid, clamorous account of the war on drugs.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 16, 2016
Roll Call by Glenn Langohr
This book is based on true events that Glenn lived and is intertwined with fiction to complete the story. It is a long read and very detailed. As I pondered the amount of details I realize that Glenn has written so that we, the readers, are walking in his shoes and the shoes of those he traveled along side with. The scenery may be colorful at times but not always in a good way. We travel with him from a messed up childhood to his first taste of greed, a greed that spiraled out of control with the need for more and more. Having a keen mind may have helped him in his endeavors to make money and move up the food chain but in the end...God's plan intervened and sent him on a different path than what he had chosen for himself.
Glenn has the reader seeing life first through a young boys eyes as life crashes down around him in his family life. Before long he is on his own and looking for ways to make enough money to buy a home for his brother and himself. His opportunity comes when he sees the market for drugs. We travel with this young man on his search for finding product and see through his eyes how quickly more is never enough. The spiral from pot to speed, caution to recklessness, trusting leading to betrayal. Glenn takes the reader inside the minds of Mexican cartels, drug dealers, users and prisoners. Knowing that there is truth mixed into the fiction makes the book that much more intense. And with all that was happening around him, you can see that God was in control, as He always is.
The book does not paint a pretty picture because real life is not always pretty. Greed and power become so strong people even turn on those close to them. Getting to 'know' the character's in the book I suddenly found myself less judgmental. “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Would this be my life if I grew up in that same situation, that area, that home life?
**Violence, language and some sexual situations. Considering the background of the book with drugs and prison, the author has kept all of this at a minimum.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
This book is based on true events that Glenn lived and is intertwined with fiction to complete the story. It is a long read and very detailed. As I pondered the amount of details I realize that Glenn has written so that we, the readers, are walking in his shoes and the shoes of those he traveled along side with. The scenery may be colorful at times but not always in a good way. We travel with him from a messed up childhood to his first taste of greed, a greed that spiraled out of control with the need for more and more. Having a keen mind may have helped him in his endeavors to make money and move up the food chain but in the end...God's plan intervened and sent him on a different path than what he had chosen for himself.
Glenn has the reader seeing life first through a young boys eyes as life crashes down around him in his family life. Before long he is on his own and looking for ways to make enough money to buy a home for his brother and himself. His opportunity comes when he sees the market for drugs. We travel with this young man on his search for finding product and see through his eyes how quickly more is never enough. The spiral from pot to speed, caution to recklessness, trusting leading to betrayal. Glenn takes the reader inside the minds of Mexican cartels, drug dealers, users and prisoners. Knowing that there is truth mixed into the fiction makes the book that much more intense. And with all that was happening around him, you can see that God was in control, as He always is.
The book does not paint a pretty picture because real life is not always pretty. Greed and power become so strong people even turn on those close to them. Getting to 'know' the character's in the book I suddenly found myself less judgmental. “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Would this be my life if I grew up in that same situation, that area, that home life?
**Violence, language and some sexual situations. Considering the background of the book with drugs and prison, the author has kept all of this at a minimum.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
August 16, 2012
The first thing I noticed about the book is the length, Wow 734 pages, I did think I was going to be reading it for weeks as it has got to be the longest book I have read to date.
I infact finished reading this after around 14 hours. This 14 hours did take a week though as I read for a couple of hours before going to sleep.
There was drug cartels, violence, underhand police, crime and it all was very believable, Yes I know its a true story but sometimes truth does not always sound believable.
It seemed that a certain detective would try to bust B.J for just breathing and was on his back all the time trying to stitch him up even when B.J went legit. I really felt for him as I could see all he wanted to do was put the drugs behind him and start over. Which I guess would be pretty difficult when he is being hounded all of the time with drugs raids and the likes for no reason at all.
Prison life sounds as I had thought it would be but the story differed slightly from my own perception, I think it is probably because I can be a little naïve as I have never been in trouble myself so just go by TV programmes of what prison life and prison officers are like.
Roll Call is a fantastic and insightful read. It was very well written and it has left me wanting to know the rest of the story so I will be reading Upon Release very soon.
I infact finished reading this after around 14 hours. This 14 hours did take a week though as I read for a couple of hours before going to sleep.
There was drug cartels, violence, underhand police, crime and it all was very believable, Yes I know its a true story but sometimes truth does not always sound believable.
It seemed that a certain detective would try to bust B.J for just breathing and was on his back all the time trying to stitch him up even when B.J went legit. I really felt for him as I could see all he wanted to do was put the drugs behind him and start over. Which I guess would be pretty difficult when he is being hounded all of the time with drugs raids and the likes for no reason at all.
Prison life sounds as I had thought it would be but the story differed slightly from my own perception, I think it is probably because I can be a little naïve as I have never been in trouble myself so just go by TV programmes of what prison life and prison officers are like.
Roll Call is a fantastic and insightful read. It was very well written and it has left me wanting to know the rest of the story so I will be reading Upon Release very soon.
January 28, 2016
My review will be available on my blog on the 09/14
So much to say about this book. Where to start and to finish with all the information pressed into the volume of pages but yet I believe Glenn Langohr tells it the best. His openness, honesty and search for truth jumps from page to page and some times I had to take a breather, make coffee, go for a walk just to filter through the story. This is not a story for leisure, lying on the bed and lazily leave from page to page. This book grasp you attention and holds it until the end.
Reading this thought provoking true story based on his own life you could not help but feel helpless at times for the young man that craved to walk a righteous walk but was steam rolled in the world of drugs, violence, lies, deceit etc. People with ordinary lives, doing what is expected from us like myself can not phantom this but yet it happens. It is part of a system that failed many. Of this helplessness I can relate isolated from everything you know and thrusted in an unknown world finding your feet or you will loose. This can make you or brake you. The only person that could help you is yourself and God.
Will recommend this book
So much to say about this book. Where to start and to finish with all the information pressed into the volume of pages but yet I believe Glenn Langohr tells it the best. His openness, honesty and search for truth jumps from page to page and some times I had to take a breather, make coffee, go for a walk just to filter through the story. This is not a story for leisure, lying on the bed and lazily leave from page to page. This book grasp you attention and holds it until the end.
Reading this thought provoking true story based on his own life you could not help but feel helpless at times for the young man that craved to walk a righteous walk but was steam rolled in the world of drugs, violence, lies, deceit etc. People with ordinary lives, doing what is expected from us like myself can not phantom this but yet it happens. It is part of a system that failed many. Of this helplessness I can relate isolated from everything you know and thrusted in an unknown world finding your feet or you will loose. This can make you or brake you. The only person that could help you is yourself and God.
Will recommend this book
May 25, 2012
Glen Langohr gives you a true analysis of what it's like to get caught up on the wrong side of the law. An extremely fascinating book filled with honesty about the world of drugs and prison. The suspense Glen Langohr creates is suspenseful, exciting and real. I recommend this book to young readers in hopes some will find it helpful within their own lives.
February 28, 2013
Roll Call by Glenn Langohr
Before I start I will say I am an avid reader and always fall for a justice system book. That alone, tells you I am a fan of this genre. What I loved was the book was real. The lifestyle, the time and the people are written in a very intimate way. That being said, if someone is bad or on a path toward being bad and you can make the character appealing, you got a reader engrossed. So when the book starts you are introduced to BJ (Benny Johnson) , who is very similar to the author’s own personal experiences. When you get the childhood and dysfunction you are thrown into what BJ considers his only path. The book is “based” on actual events; it is not any single persons POV or narrated. What I liked, was when BJ was talking through his process. What people won’t see is how smart he was. He tried to plan making money, then buying a house. Some aspects of his life were very thought out concerning money. This was a troubled guy that you know is being bad, doing bad and acting bad, but still I was so praying for his redemption.
Nothing is roses and fairy dust here. When BJ is put down and at his lowest he turns to what he thinks is the only way he can make money, selling and dealing drugs. Nobody he encounters other than his brother and his friend Joe are trustworthy. For BJ, he sees that his future is planned and the outcome is jail. He never had expectations he was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
After his first round in prison he meets Natasha. She never judged him, she accepted him. If I say there was a love story there, I don’t think you would believe me. I loved BJ even more when he was with Natasha. I can’t give spoilers, but I know he was loved by her. As you are making the journey things and events will start to come together around the police. BJ starts to create his own little empire drawing in some people from the past. When things in the drug world are gaining momentum and move from pot to some hard drugs, BJ is caught between loyalty and betrayal. While in prison he truly learns the meaning of being loyal. The system that the prisoners come up with to communicate is remarkable. They are self-segregated, if that makes sense. They always have one another’s backs and these men turn out to be far more loyal in the end.
The second half of the book is where you see that he is not fearful of jail. He could be angry at all the circumstances that play into his life, but he never has a pity party. Even when the police, the detectives and his Dad are looking down at him, he was in control. The thought process was “do enough speed so I am awake for days at a time and calculate each and every deal.” Every time he felt like he was free a Detective would show up. It was a nice sunny day let me ride the motorcycle up PH. Nope BJ turns and there is an unmarked watching him. He was under surveillance because of his past. He struggled with his new found life for a long time. Every where was the name Bob Prescott.
I agree that God's plan plays a major factor in BJ’s redemption. He realizes that to get to where he is, nothing shaped him as much as making mistakes and finding forgiveness. Without that how can he overcome a detective, a crooked cop and a lawyer who needs his ass kicked? So many times I thought this could be a great movie or a series on HBO. Yes there was violence and drugs and it was pretty mild considering the subject matter.
Nothing I can write will do the author’s work justice. I can’t glamorize the Southern California lifestyle, mostly because it is where I live and daily life is excess. I carefully thought who I would cast for the roles. That will come soon.
Before I start I will say I am an avid reader and always fall for a justice system book. That alone, tells you I am a fan of this genre. What I loved was the book was real. The lifestyle, the time and the people are written in a very intimate way. That being said, if someone is bad or on a path toward being bad and you can make the character appealing, you got a reader engrossed. So when the book starts you are introduced to BJ (Benny Johnson) , who is very similar to the author’s own personal experiences. When you get the childhood and dysfunction you are thrown into what BJ considers his only path. The book is “based” on actual events; it is not any single persons POV or narrated. What I liked, was when BJ was talking through his process. What people won’t see is how smart he was. He tried to plan making money, then buying a house. Some aspects of his life were very thought out concerning money. This was a troubled guy that you know is being bad, doing bad and acting bad, but still I was so praying for his redemption.
Nothing is roses and fairy dust here. When BJ is put down and at his lowest he turns to what he thinks is the only way he can make money, selling and dealing drugs. Nobody he encounters other than his brother and his friend Joe are trustworthy. For BJ, he sees that his future is planned and the outcome is jail. He never had expectations he was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
After his first round in prison he meets Natasha. She never judged him, she accepted him. If I say there was a love story there, I don’t think you would believe me. I loved BJ even more when he was with Natasha. I can’t give spoilers, but I know he was loved by her. As you are making the journey things and events will start to come together around the police. BJ starts to create his own little empire drawing in some people from the past. When things in the drug world are gaining momentum and move from pot to some hard drugs, BJ is caught between loyalty and betrayal. While in prison he truly learns the meaning of being loyal. The system that the prisoners come up with to communicate is remarkable. They are self-segregated, if that makes sense. They always have one another’s backs and these men turn out to be far more loyal in the end.
The second half of the book is where you see that he is not fearful of jail. He could be angry at all the circumstances that play into his life, but he never has a pity party. Even when the police, the detectives and his Dad are looking down at him, he was in control. The thought process was “do enough speed so I am awake for days at a time and calculate each and every deal.” Every time he felt like he was free a Detective would show up. It was a nice sunny day let me ride the motorcycle up PH. Nope BJ turns and there is an unmarked watching him. He was under surveillance because of his past. He struggled with his new found life for a long time. Every where was the name Bob Prescott.
I agree that God's plan plays a major factor in BJ’s redemption. He realizes that to get to where he is, nothing shaped him as much as making mistakes and finding forgiveness. Without that how can he overcome a detective, a crooked cop and a lawyer who needs his ass kicked? So many times I thought this could be a great movie or a series on HBO. Yes there was violence and drugs and it was pretty mild considering the subject matter.
Nothing I can write will do the author’s work justice. I can’t glamorize the Southern California lifestyle, mostly because it is where I live and daily life is excess. I carefully thought who I would cast for the roles. That will come soon.
June 1, 2012
Roll Call by Glenn Langohr
This book is based on true events that Glenn lived and is intertwined with fiction to complete the story. It is a long read and very detailed. As I pondered the amount of details I realize that Glenn has written so that we, the readers, are walking in his shoes and the shoes of those he traveled along side with. The scenery may be colorful at times but not always in a good way. We travel with him from a messed up childhood to his first taste of greed, a greed that spiraled out of control with the need for more and more. Having a keen mind may have helped him in his endeavors to make money and move up the food chain but in the end...God's plan intervened and sent him on a different path than what he had chosen for himself.
Glenn has the reader seeing life first through a young boys eyes as life crashes down around him in his family life. Before long he is on his own and looking for ways to make enough money to buy a home for his brother and himself. His opportunity comes when he sees the market for drugs. We travel with this young man on his search for finding product and see through his eyes how quickly more is never enough. The spiral from pot to speed, caution to recklessness, trusting leading to betrayal. Glenn takes the reader inside the minds of Mexican cartels, drug dealers, users and prisoners. Knowing that there is truth mixed into the fiction makes the book that much more intense. And with all that was happening around him, you can see that God was in control, as He always is.
The book does not paint a pretty picture because real life is not always pretty. Greed and power become so strong people even turn on those close to them. Getting to 'know' the character's in the book I suddenly found myself less judgmental. “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Would this be my life if I grew up in that same situation, that area, that home life?
**Violence, language and some sexual situations. Considering the background of the book with drugs and prison, the author has kept all of this at a minimum.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
This book is based on true events that Glenn lived and is intertwined with fiction to complete the story. It is a long read and very detailed. As I pondered the amount of details I realize that Glenn has written so that we, the readers, are walking in his shoes and the shoes of those he traveled along side with. The scenery may be colorful at times but not always in a good way. We travel with him from a messed up childhood to his first taste of greed, a greed that spiraled out of control with the need for more and more. Having a keen mind may have helped him in his endeavors to make money and move up the food chain but in the end...God's plan intervened and sent him on a different path than what he had chosen for himself.
Glenn has the reader seeing life first through a young boys eyes as life crashes down around him in his family life. Before long he is on his own and looking for ways to make enough money to buy a home for his brother and himself. His opportunity comes when he sees the market for drugs. We travel with this young man on his search for finding product and see through his eyes how quickly more is never enough. The spiral from pot to speed, caution to recklessness, trusting leading to betrayal. Glenn takes the reader inside the minds of Mexican cartels, drug dealers, users and prisoners. Knowing that there is truth mixed into the fiction makes the book that much more intense. And with all that was happening around him, you can see that God was in control, as He always is.
The book does not paint a pretty picture because real life is not always pretty. Greed and power become so strong people even turn on those close to them. Getting to 'know' the character's in the book I suddenly found myself less judgmental. “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Would this be my life if I grew up in that same situation, that area, that home life?
**Violence, language and some sexual situations. Considering the background of the book with drugs and prison, the author has kept all of this at a minimum.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
October 22, 2012
Benny Johnson who is known as B.J. has a complicated childhood; a controlling father, a mother trying to keep her family together, and a fierce drive to support himself and his brother. His downward spiral begins when he decides to go to Mexico and set himself up to deal drugs. The trip leads to meeting and scheming with various people from ex-cons, neighborhood dealers, to the deceitful upper class. B.J. considers himself a Christian who acknowledges he is a sinner. His entire life is spent trying to make decisions with an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other.
The author, Glenn Langohr, spent a decade in the California Prison system for drug charges. He is no stranger to how life works behind bars. Between Langohr’s gifted writing and criminal experience, readers of Roll Call receive the raw truth behind drug addiction, prison life, and fighting to walk the line.
While, B.J. is a fictional character, much of his story, and other incidents in Roll Call are based on actual events. There are many different characters in Roll Call, and it is interesting to see how they all interact and affect each other. It’s a roller coaster ride following B.J. on his ups and downs. It felt like when he was trying hard to stay straight, there was either temptation dangling in his face or someone trying to keep him down, specifically a detective that received gratification when B.J. was in pain.
The author, Glenn Langohr, spent a decade in the California Prison system for drug charges. He is no stranger to how life works behind bars. Between Langohr’s gifted writing and criminal experience, readers of Roll Call receive the raw truth behind drug addiction, prison life, and fighting to walk the line.
While, B.J. is a fictional character, much of his story, and other incidents in Roll Call are based on actual events. There are many different characters in Roll Call, and it is interesting to see how they all interact and affect each other. It’s a roller coaster ride following B.J. on his ups and downs. It felt like when he was trying hard to stay straight, there was either temptation dangling in his face or someone trying to keep him down, specifically a detective that received gratification when B.J. was in pain.
May 28, 2012
was admittedly skeptical when I sat down to read this novel, as it falls outside of my area of knowledge. I have little experience with anything relating to the criminal justice system, and I had concerns that I would get lost in the jargon. However, as I got to know BJ and the other characters in the story, I was able to relate to the childhood experiences, to a point, and I found myself easily sucked into the storyline and got the end finding myself needing to know what would be coming next. I know that there is more to the story, there has to be with the way things ended, and I am desperate to know more.
For those of you who find this lifestyle familiar, find solace in knowing that this does not have to be the end. The author has proven that things can improve if one puts their mind to it. To me, it was a story of hope, of finding a way to dig yourself out of the ashes, and to go after what you believe in.
Be warned, it is not a quick read, coming in at over 700 pages, but every page was worth it.
There were some editing errors within the page, although that could have been the way those terms were used with slang language, but they did not detract from the story in any way. I feel this is a must read for anyone who has ever had to overcome difficulties and live, seemingly in spite of themselves.
For those of you who find this lifestyle familiar, find solace in knowing that this does not have to be the end. The author has proven that things can improve if one puts their mind to it. To me, it was a story of hope, of finding a way to dig yourself out of the ashes, and to go after what you believe in.
Be warned, it is not a quick read, coming in at over 700 pages, but every page was worth it.
There were some editing errors within the page, although that could have been the way those terms were used with slang language, but they did not detract from the story in any way. I feel this is a must read for anyone who has ever had to overcome difficulties and live, seemingly in spite of themselves.
March 26, 2012
This story is the story of a journey...
Starting with a young boy that you wish you could wrap your arms around and protect, to a young man who ends up where you where afraid he would... I wanted to keep shouting "NO DON'T" To a grown man you can honor and respect! What an incredible journey this story takes you on! What an exstordinary man he became tho the odds where agaist him... To live this and come out on the other side with compassion for his fellow man is spirtually up lifting!
This book is also a prime example of what is wrong with our youth in this country! When they make a mistake instead of helping them become better people, we bring them down even more! And we allow society to create sistuations that puts them in the frame of mind to get into that trouble....Hard core crimials are one thing.... Thowing a potencial young person to the wolves is another...
Great read! Thank you Glenn for another book that can touch a persons soul!
Starting with a young boy that you wish you could wrap your arms around and protect, to a young man who ends up where you where afraid he would... I wanted to keep shouting "NO DON'T" To a grown man you can honor and respect! What an incredible journey this story takes you on! What an exstordinary man he became tho the odds where agaist him... To live this and come out on the other side with compassion for his fellow man is spirtually up lifting!
This book is also a prime example of what is wrong with our youth in this country! When they make a mistake instead of helping them become better people, we bring them down even more! And we allow society to create sistuations that puts them in the frame of mind to get into that trouble....Hard core crimials are one thing.... Thowing a potencial young person to the wolves is another...
Great read! Thank you Glenn for another book that can touch a persons soul!
May 20, 2012
A novel based on true experiences of the author's life. An interesting look into the world of drug dealers, crime and corruption.
I thought it was a pretty good story from a different perspective, that of the criminal. I like crime stories, which are usually the Good Guy Cops chasing down the Bad Guy criminals. This book reversed that with the protagonist a drug dealer. But it makes the reader see things in a different light. It doesn't lessen the crimes that were committed by any means, but gives insight on how otherwise decent people get caught up in the life.
The author also seems to be a devout Christian, but not the usual stereotypical one, but a guy who found God during his journey. I like this alot. He demonstrates how tormented we are as sinners, and doesn't try to justify his life of crime using Biblical references.
I thought it was a good book.
I thought it was a pretty good story from a different perspective, that of the criminal. I like crime stories, which are usually the Good Guy Cops chasing down the Bad Guy criminals. This book reversed that with the protagonist a drug dealer. But it makes the reader see things in a different light. It doesn't lessen the crimes that were committed by any means, but gives insight on how otherwise decent people get caught up in the life.
The author also seems to be a devout Christian, but not the usual stereotypical one, but a guy who found God during his journey. I like this alot. He demonstrates how tormented we are as sinners, and doesn't try to justify his life of crime using Biblical references.
I thought it was a good book.
October 29, 2011
A harrowing-down-and dirty depiction of the U.S War on Drugs, sometimes reminiscent of Soldergurgh's Traffic, by former dealer, California artist Langohr. A must read for parents with kids who experiment with drugs. The author turns the corner and offers a solution to the drug war with this philosophic, spiritual twister!
June 27, 2012
Roll Call (Glenn Langohr)
A candid and in-depth look at life in the drug dealing world. With dire consequences.Roll call gives vivid detail of life in jail, prison and on the streets smuggling and dealing drugs.Very fascinating and true to life.
I look forward to more by Glenn Langohr
A candid and in-depth look at life in the drug dealing world. With dire consequences.Roll call gives vivid detail of life in jail, prison and on the streets smuggling and dealing drugs.Very fascinating and true to life.
I look forward to more by Glenn Langohr
March 21, 2017
I was admittedly skeptical when I sat down to read this novel, as it falls outside of my area of knowledge. I have little experience with anything relating to the criminal justice system, and I had concerns that I would get lost in the jargon. However, as I got to know BJ and the other characters in the story, I was able to relate to the childhood experiences, to a point, and I found myself easily sucked into the storyline and got the end finding myself needing to know what would be coming next. I know that there is more to the story, there has to be with the way things ended, and I am desperate to know more.
For those of you who find this lifestyle familiar, find solace in knowing that this does not have to be the end. The author has proven that things can improve if one puts their mind to it. To me, it was a story of hope, of finding a way to dig yourself out of the ashes, and to go after what you believe in.
Be warned, it is not a quick read, coming in at over 700 pages, but every page was worth it.
There were some editing errors within the page, although that could have been the way those terms were used with slang language, but they did not detract from the story in any way. I feel this is a must read for anyone who has ever had to overcome difficulties and live, seemingly in spite of themselves.
For those of you who find this lifestyle familiar, find solace in knowing that this does not have to be the end. The author has proven that things can improve if one puts their mind to it. To me, it was a story of hope, of finding a way to dig yourself out of the ashes, and to go after what you believe in.
Be warned, it is not a quick read, coming in at over 700 pages, but every page was worth it.
There were some editing errors within the page, although that could have been the way those terms were used with slang language, but they did not detract from the story in any way. I feel this is a must read for anyone who has ever had to overcome difficulties and live, seemingly in spite of themselves.
May 11, 2012
Roll Call by Glenn Langohr
This book is based on true events that Glenn lived and is intertwined with fiction to complete the story. It is a long read and very detailed. As I pondered the amount of details I realize that Glenn has written so that we, the readers, are walking in his shoes and the shoes of those he traveled along side with. The scenery may be colorful at times but not always in a good way. We travel with him from a messed up childhood to his first taste of greed, a greed that spiraled out of control with the need for more and more. Having a keen mind may have helped him in his endeavors to make money and move up the food chain but in the end...God's plan intervened and sent him on a different path than what he had chosen for himself.
Glenn has the reader seeing life first through a young boys eyes as life crashes down around him in his family life. Before long he is on his own and looking for ways to make enough money to buy a home for his brother and himself. His opportunity comes when he sees the market for drugs. We travel with this young man on his search for finding product and see through his eyes how quickly more is never enough. The spiral from pot to speed, caution to recklessness, trusting leading to betrayal. Glenn takes the reader inside the minds of Mexican cartels, drug dealers, users and prisoners. Knowing that there is truth mixed into the fiction makes the book that much more intense. And with all that was happening around him, you can see that God was in control, as He always is.
The book does not paint a pretty picture because real life is not always pretty. Greed and power become so strong people even turn on those close to them. Getting to 'know' the character's in the book I suddenly found myself less judgmental. “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Would this be my life if I grew up in that same situation, that area, that home life?
**Violence, language and some sexual situations. Considering the background of the book with drugs and prison, the author has kept all of this at a minimum.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
This book is based on true events that Glenn lived and is intertwined with fiction to complete the story. It is a long read and very detailed. As I pondered the amount of details I realize that Glenn has written so that we, the readers, are walking in his shoes and the shoes of those he traveled along side with. The scenery may be colorful at times but not always in a good way. We travel with him from a messed up childhood to his first taste of greed, a greed that spiraled out of control with the need for more and more. Having a keen mind may have helped him in his endeavors to make money and move up the food chain but in the end...God's plan intervened and sent him on a different path than what he had chosen for himself.
Glenn has the reader seeing life first through a young boys eyes as life crashes down around him in his family life. Before long he is on his own and looking for ways to make enough money to buy a home for his brother and himself. His opportunity comes when he sees the market for drugs. We travel with this young man on his search for finding product and see through his eyes how quickly more is never enough. The spiral from pot to speed, caution to recklessness, trusting leading to betrayal. Glenn takes the reader inside the minds of Mexican cartels, drug dealers, users and prisoners. Knowing that there is truth mixed into the fiction makes the book that much more intense. And with all that was happening around him, you can see that God was in control, as He always is.
The book does not paint a pretty picture because real life is not always pretty. Greed and power become so strong people even turn on those close to them. Getting to 'know' the character's in the book I suddenly found myself less judgmental. “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Would this be my life if I grew up in that same situation, that area, that home life?
**Violence, language and some sexual situations. Considering the background of the book with drugs and prison, the author has kept all of this at a minimum.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
July 8, 2013
Roll Call is a compelling and page-turning read. Told from the perspective of his own time in prison, tossed with a few bits here and there of fiction. The reader gets an up-close glimpse of what it's really like behind bars and what can happen with those close to you.
It's a long read, well over seven hundred pages, and at times, it gets a bit dry. But as the character's backgrounds emerge, the present begins to make sense and I found myself hoping that BJ would turn his life around. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Life is all about choices and Roll Call has good choices and bad, depicting consequences of both. It took me awhile, but I eventually got to the point I couldn't put this book down - I HAD to know what happened next. I was definitely not disappointed and glad that I stuck with it.
It's a long read, well over seven hundred pages, and at times, it gets a bit dry. But as the character's backgrounds emerge, the present begins to make sense and I found myself hoping that BJ would turn his life around. If you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Life is all about choices and Roll Call has good choices and bad, depicting consequences of both. It took me awhile, but I eventually got to the point I couldn't put this book down - I HAD to know what happened next. I was definitely not disappointed and glad that I stuck with it.
April 10, 2013
Ok this is the book I was waiting for from Glenn. He has totally won me back and I am so pleased with this book. It was very long which really pleased me because as you know from my other reviews I read rather quickly and I hate when stories end too fast which was my problem with his other books.
I had some problems remembering every character because there were so many but that’s alright that could just be my terrible memory. I really enjoyed the story in this book. He portrayed the story very well, made it comes alive for me. I felt like I was really there.
I enjoyed the writing style in this one as well. Great details were put into this book and again I think it is a wonderful thing Glenn is doing by exposing the crime in prisons. I would recommend the book to anyone.
I had some problems remembering every character because there were so many but that’s alright that could just be my terrible memory. I really enjoyed the story in this book. He portrayed the story very well, made it comes alive for me. I felt like I was really there.
I enjoyed the writing style in this one as well. Great details were put into this book and again I think it is a wonderful thing Glenn is doing by exposing the crime in prisons. I would recommend the book to anyone.
December 8, 2012
I wish I could give half stars, because I would add a + 1/2. This book was interesting, and long (which is good for me because I generally read fast and I like stories that last). But, it was a tough read sometimes. There are a lot of names to keep track of and as the scenes bounce around, I found myself occasionally having to refer back. Who was that guy again? But I admit, I wanted to keep going forward with the story.
As someone who has never been to, or ever plans to go to, prison, I was intrigued with the account of prison life and politics.
I wouldn't call BJ's story riveting, or a best seller, but I would call it a worth while read.
As someone who has never been to, or ever plans to go to, prison, I was intrigued with the account of prison life and politics.
I wouldn't call BJ's story riveting, or a best seller, but I would call it a worth while read.
April 15, 2014
Best I could give this was two stars.
At over 600 pages, it was a real chore to read, but the experiences outlined within the massive and convoluted text were compelling.
With a massive edit and copyedit, this has real potential, but at the moment, it is a confusing and jumbled mix between a memoir of crime and prison, and one man's journey to find and keep hold of his God.
I skim-read a lot of this, and it still took me nearly five days to read.
At over 600 pages, it was a real chore to read, but the experiences outlined within the massive and convoluted text were compelling.
With a massive edit and copyedit, this has real potential, but at the moment, it is a confusing and jumbled mix between a memoir of crime and prison, and one man's journey to find and keep hold of his God.
I skim-read a lot of this, and it still took me nearly five days to read.
November 2, 2014
I found this very difficult to read as there were way too many people introduced within the first 20% of the book which became confusing. To add to the confusion, the narration jumped between prison time and the outside world too frequently until my interest waned. I have read similar memoirs which were extremely interesting and didn't get bogged down in details as this one did.
November 13, 2013
This is a rough book to read. The writing isn't the greatest, but the story is nevertheless interesting and compelling. The contents are hard to believe in a way, but I gather it is reliably true. If you would like to learn about prison life and about the drug culture, this is a good book to read.
August 27, 2016
Being a Scotsman and never being in prison, i have no idea how close this is to being real prison life. It does, as does other further books by the author, keep you entertained. has peaked my interest a bit to read other american prison books
July 16, 2016
Good ending
I enjoyed the book from start to finish. My favorite part has to be the corruption. It goes to show there is good and bad everywhere.
I enjoyed the book from start to finish. My favorite part has to be the corruption. It goes to show there is good and bad everywhere.
April 6, 2017
Fascinating
I LOVED this story! The author does a fantastic job of bringing out the frame of mind if the characters, and the plot is fast paced and riveting. The social commentary is on point as well. I read this from cover to cover in 2 sittings, as it was so hard to put down. I would highly recommend this to everyone. If your life isn't similar to the story, it may garner some understanding of those different than yourselves.
I LOVED this story! The author does a fantastic job of bringing out the frame of mind if the characters, and the plot is fast paced and riveting. The social commentary is on point as well. I read this from cover to cover in 2 sittings, as it was so hard to put down. I would highly recommend this to everyone. If your life isn't similar to the story, it may garner some understanding of those different than yourselves.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews