Helpful Score: 7
Incredible. It was less like he was recounting his family's history and more like he was looking under the rocks of his past. The family history is somehow both tragic and triumphant. Despite all of the perils in place, they manage to love each other desperately. They still can laugh and hug and hope. Well worth the read. I highly recommend it.
Helpful Score: 7
A story of growing up in the Irish ghetto of South Boston. A fascinating but disturbing picture of mostly fatherless families in a culture of crime and drugs where everybody thinks they live in the best place in the world.
Helpful Score: 5
This is was a pretty inspiring story, but kind if typical. Young kid that grows up in a rough neighborhood and still manages to make good as an adult. Not that I am taking away from what he has accomplished, it is nothing short of amazing after what he has been through in life.
My parents in law both grew up in Southie at the same time as the author, I asked them about some of the things in the book and although they remember some of the things (busing riots and Whitey's presence) they felt as though some of the stories were a bit exaggerated, although they admit they did not grow up in the projects as the author did.
All in all a pretty good read, I have always grown up knowing there is a lot of history right in my own backyard, but didn't realize so much of it was this recent.
My parents in law both grew up in Southie at the same time as the author, I asked them about some of the things in the book and although they remember some of the things (busing riots and Whitey's presence) they felt as though some of the stories were a bit exaggerated, although they admit they did not grow up in the projects as the author did.
All in all a pretty good read, I have always grown up knowing there is a lot of history right in my own backyard, but didn't realize so much of it was this recent.
Helpful Score: 5
A wonderful memior about the dark side of a neighborhood many Boston Irish love.
Helpful Score: 5
Absolutely devastating account of growing up in one of the worst projects in America.
Helpful Score: 3
one of the greatest books I have ever read...so honest and so heartbreaking...
story of childrens lives in the projects of South Boston...
story of childrens lives in the projects of South Boston...
Helpful Score: 2
A fascinating story of a kid growing up where the unusual is usual and the usual is unusual. Violence was all around, but nobody talked about it. That was just part of the life in Southie... One of those books I could scarcely lay down... It was that compelling a story.
Helpful Score: 2
Interesting story; an insider's view on what life is really like growing up in the projects.
Helpful Score: 2
This book is incredible. I read it twice; I have never been able to do that with a book. It is a book that I can honestly say that I will never for get reading.
Helpful Score: 1
I love memoirs, but I found this one to be just fair. It's an excellent story and insight into his life, and the amount of tragedy his family has to endure is unbelievable. However, I didn't particularly care for his writing style; there were too many repeated details, then jumping around, then lack of explanation for huge changes in his life. I see that he has another memoir that focuses on one of these times of big chnage, and I'm putting that on my wish list. I believe in second chnaces. :)
Helpful Score: 1
This is such an excellent first-hand history of "the projects" of South Boston!! Required reading for seniors in my local high school!
Helpful Score: 1
Shocking, depressing, educational story of growing up in Boston's Old Colony Projects in the Southie neighborhood in the 60's - 90's.
Written in an excellent fashion. The author uses the language of the times and expresses his opinions as they were at that time and age. He often points out some interesting contrasts between reality and South Boston's residents' perception. This was a very enjoyable and informative book.
Good read!
Excellent book about Southie in Boston, particularly if you are Irish or want to learn about the Irish in America's most Irish city
Memoir about a poor Irish family growing up in South boston.
A natural story teller. I couldn't put it down. It also is a revival of the spirit to see how people who have so much against them can go on and make the world a better place.
I thought this book was excellently written, and it really gave a new dimension to my life in Boston.
I haven't read any book in years that had me so riveted-
I would give it ten stars if I could.
An amazing story, told by the man who lived it, of life in south Boston in the 1960s, 70s and 1980s.
How he survived, and most of his family didn't.
It brought me to tears, and made me want to shout from the rooftops over victories.
a MUST read, if you enjoy real life stories.
You will not ever forget this book, once you've read it.
I would give it ten stars if I could.
An amazing story, told by the man who lived it, of life in south Boston in the 1960s, 70s and 1980s.
How he survived, and most of his family didn't.
It brought me to tears, and made me want to shout from the rooftops over victories.
a MUST read, if you enjoy real life stories.
You will not ever forget this book, once you've read it.
Community and gang loyalty in South Boston - a Book-of-the-Month Club selection
"This is an extraordinary family story about an extraordinary place called Southie. It is a story of a young man climbing a mountain of violence, to emerge with love and hope." Howard Zinn, author
I absolutely adored this story.
Riveting story of a down on their luck family in South Boston. Despite the economic hardship and violence, this is a close and loving family. Amazing story of life in South Boston.
This is an interesting tale. It addresses the social issues and is not just a memoir. While "dated" at this point a bit, it is as compelling and interesting as the time it was published.
This was a great book on real life during hard times in a big city. Being a Southern girl it was an experience to see the other side of the "coin".
Michael Patrick MacDonald grew up in the"the best place in the world"-- the Old Colony projects of South Boston- where 85% of the residents collect welfare in an area with the highest concentration of impoverished whites in the U.S. In All Souls MacDonald takes us deep into the secret heart of Southie.. . . . . .
