All Souls : A Family Story from Southie

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Summary: Irish Americans and poverty- no surprise here
Review: This is a book about a family of many children and a resilient single mother who worked hard to do the best she could with the cards she was dealt. Truthfully, I picked it up thinking it might be a contempory and an American "Angela's Ashes" and because my Irish father was raised in poverty in Jersey City, NJ. On some level, it was. I had to wonder as I read it, does Southie contain any relatives of mine who may have migrated north? Clearly they were poor and Irish- the possibilty exists. Those of us who grew up Irish and Catholic can read and inherently know of what being Irish is all about. However, those of us who grew up in suburbia, as I did, can read this book and walk away a better person. We have never known true suffering- a broken heart, not having the exact dress we wanted for the prom, listening to our parents fighting, missing the bus for school: these were our issues. Michael MacDonald has done all of us a favor by so bravely sharing his family's story and exposing us to the real harsh realities of life. We should walk away from reading this grateful to have been born into the circumstances we were and committing ourselves to doing more for those who have so much less than we. Read the book- it is time well spent.

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Summary: Nothing new....
Review: This was a good book, and I can identify with the authors'life growing up. I was born and raised in Melbourne Fl. in 66'. We were just as poor but didn't have to put up with forced busing, housing projects, and unbelievable crime rates. He and many people who reviewed this book act as though they are shocked to learn that WHITE people live or lived in these conditions. The US Govt is to blame for neighborhoods like Southie, Roxbury, etc.... they have done more to keep blacks from achieving their full potential than the KKK ever has! You get places like these when you tell people "here's your check for the month you don't have to work; oh and if you have more kids you'll be rewarded with more money and benefits"! Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that it's not working. The "Great Society' isn't so great. As for the gun-buyback program, all the wrong people were turning in their guns! Where were the Whitey Bulger types when these buy-backs were going on! Can't fathom why anyone would want to stay in a place like that; let alone raise your kids there.

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Summary: Engrossing
Review: "Difficult to put down" is a tired phrase but one that appropriately describes this novel. Mr. MacDonald has a vivid and keen memory with which he depicts the South Boston culture and the infamous South Boston busing riots. His heartwrenching and tragic family story is also told with insightful detail. I do not, however, recommend reading this before you go to bed as the upsetting events that transpire in the author's life may continue to run through your mind long after you turn off the light. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book was the subtle comparisons the author makes between the poor predominantly white South Boston community and the communities populated by mostly by people of color. Many of the negative and racist stereotypes often attributed to minority populations were attributes also seen in the "lower end" South Boston community. The similarities between the two communities seemed to lend credence to the belief that such negative characteristics are more the result of socio-economic ills rather than race.

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Summary: A brilliant book!
Review: I grew up in the sheltered "lace curtain Irish" section of Boston known as West Roxbury (not to be confused with Roxbury - West Roxbury is separated from Roxbury by Jamaica Plain and Roslindale). Forced busing began when I was in the first grade, and I ended up going through 12 years of Catholic school to avoid that. Southie residents were victims of limousine liberal politicians who's own children were not bused anywhere. It's easy for suburbanites to judge Southie residents, they weren't affected by forced busing. He really captured what life was like during those turbulent times. This book gives a greater understanding about this often misunderstood community. Michael and his family have been through hell. He is a wonderful example of how people can rise above poverty and despair.

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Summary: A Courageous Breaking of the Silence
Review: "All Souls" is one of those rare books that entertains as it educates.This book breaks down the barriers that silence creates. It is a lesson that crosses cultural, racial and economic lines. While he may have come from a low income Irish American family, the pain he and his neighbours suffered can be related to by people from all walks of life. You truly identify with him and feel what he is speaking of. As an added bonus, he is a brilliant writer. I found myself laughing and crying on the same page and not wanting to ever put the book down, no matter how painful some of it was to read. I truly recommend this book for anyone who has any interest in the human spirit and the championing of the truth.

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Summary: An eye-opening look at a Boston childhood.
Review: I picked up this book because I was intriqued by the cover and the story behind it. I had no idea I was so naive about things going on in the U.S. Before I read this book I hadn't even heard the term "Southie". I really never stopped to think that there are enclaves like the projects in South Boston where life is totally different than what I think of as the "norm". This story could have been set overseas somewhere because that's how foreign it sounded. This is an interesting and informative story. It certainly was news to me. I had no idea spots like Southie existed.

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Summary: All Souls
Review: I purchased this book after seeing an interview of Michael MacDonald on C-SPAN. The book was gripping...a very quick read...I wanted it to go on..at the same time I was happy when it ended...ending the crescendo of tragedy and misfortune this family, and many others in "Southie" experienced. I would strongly recommend this book and would like to thank MacDonald for his open and heartfelt account of his family's story...gripping indeed.

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Summary: God we need more of the truth
Review: As a prisoner rights and community activist for o ver 30 years, I found Michael's book All Souls to sum up for me what happens in a lot of communities. We turn our eyes and refuse to acknowledge the drugs and crime in our communities. And we (the US) does little to honor children. Michael has spoken the truth. More importantly, Michael did not just write about the pain and horror of a neighborhood under seige, he has organized and reached out in an effort to help to educate and find a voice for the young people of South Boston! I met Michael at a community event in Chelsea Mass. We did not meet because of his book, we met at an event for young people where hope is alive and young people are honored for their contributions to this world not their failures. Michael did just that with ALL SOULS.. He honored his family, his community and himself. It takes a brave person to speak the truth. Michael is braver than most.

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Summary: Unbelievably powerful
Review: Michael MacDonald did an unbelievable job with this book. I've never been to Massachusetts, but through his impecable descriptions and hillarious stories, I have the clearest picture in my mind of what it must have looked like. I read a lot, and this has been the only book that I have been moved to review. It's incredibly well written, and I could not put it down, finishing it last night at about 2 am. I work in an inner-city school district, and what always amazes me is the ability of some of these young people to rise to such heights in the face of so much unbearable adversity. It's so easy to judge these young people when we have not walked in their shoes. This is a must-read for anyone who works with young people. God bless you, Michael, and congratulations on an amazing achievement.

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Summary: A Keeper
Review: The Irish would call this a Keeper. So do I. I have an Irish Whisper, seventy-seven first cousins, and an Irish gift shop in Philly. That pretty much qualifies me as an expert in all things Irish-American. In the US we are all way past Irish wannabes and onto a need to develop a true Irish-American voice. MacDonald starts that voice here. Read this book, and the Acknowledgements at the end, (all the way through). Then go below and read the review by Nell's daughter. This "All Souls" and its six degrees of separation, are not only emotional, but deep. Very deep.