Rating: 
Summary: Reliving the Past
Review: Michael MacDonald has an incredible way of putting that time of our life into a real and personal perspective. I went to Boston Latin School from 1971 - 1977 during the busing nightmare and remember those times like they were yesterday. BLS was shielded from "Forced Integration" during Phases One and Two, only because of an entrance exam needed to attend. However, our bus route took us from Roslindale through the heart of Mission Hill, where we used to get "Rocked" quite frequently. Also, English High, directly across the street, used to erupt in violence every couple of days, spilling over onto our school grounds. If you can imagine, (from a kid's standpoint) this was a welcome respite from our grueling studies, allowing us a front row seat to the mayhem below. We also had a family in Roslindale that lost most of their children to drugs, alcohol, and violence. I can't even imagine how these families deal with such pain. My heart goes out to all the people of Boston, "The Town I Loved So Well". I couldn't put this book down and highly recommend. Great work!
Rating:
Summary: Similar Life without the projects
Review: This was an excellent book. I bought it for my Mother (Ma) and had Michael sign it. What a great gift. The only problem was that she bought it for herself and my cousin bought it for her too. She kept mine though. It really is a brutally honest account of how things were (and still are) in parts of this country. I had a very similar life to the MacDonalds ( a few less kids though). I have to think how things would have worked out for me if I lived in "The best place in the world", or how things would have worked out, if the kids lived in some other place. Reading this book brought back memories and made me realize as tough as it was, it was not near as tough as the MacDonald kids had it.A great read, went into work the next day and was dozing off because I could not put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: As a visitor to cousins in Southie almost every other mounth,I was astonished at the truth of this neighborhood's past. Being only an early teen, I immediatly asked my mom (Who lived in Southie at the time). If this was the way it was. Incredably, the book fit her discription exactly. I never had read a book so well written before. I think this book brought me into the adult world.
Rating:
Summary: All Souls
Review: I bought this book on a whim, being from the South Shore and being close to the same age as the author, I thought it might be an interesting story. What I encountered was so much more! Michael Patrick MacDonald has proven himself to be a strong writer, with passion behind all that he does. Once I began reading his story, I could not put it down. Although I was fortunate enough to not have grown up in the same exact way as Michael, I could relate to his thoughts, feelings on all of the accepted attitudes and actions of the ones we love the most. I think that anyone who grew up in the 70's and 80's and are from the South Shore or Greater Boston area would benefit from reading All Souls. Mr. MacDonald not only exposes his own ghosts, but exposes many of sociey's ghosts as well. He makes us realize that we all have a bit of Archie Bunker in us, whether we be white, black, or polka-dot! Great work Michael Patrick MacDonald!
Rating:
Summary: "Ghetto Heaven"
Review: Not being brought up in this country I do not have the first, second or third hand experience of all the race/colour/ethnic tensions(life and death) that resulted from things like 'forced' busing/housing. It is an eye-opener to read, with such frankness, about MacDonald and his family's experience at what became a 'media event'. The 'segregation' of neighbourhoods is still an amazement to me (but not really a surprise, given the history of this country) but the similaries of poverty and having to deal with some of the attitudes of the people on the other side of the glass in the welfare system and/or the police, gives a good view of peoples' attitudes toward the poor in this country. Cheers to 'Ma'; a woman with a lot of children and no stable man, knowing that she can/will survive. It'll always be done. Having just finished reading the book, must say I can still feel the love written into "Ghetto Heaven." I am not much for rating things but "All Souls" is a good reality check of the 'American Dream'.
Rating:
Summary: Great read!
Review: I couldn't put this book down, and I jsut finished reading it for a second time. Mike MacDonald brings the reader into his childhood and won't let him escape. His story of growing up poor in Southie, amidst the drugs and violence and busing crisis, yet still being able to call it "the best place in the world" allowed me to finish the story with a smile on my face. And I challenge the person who wrote that despite the drugs and crime, etc. that he grew up with, Mike was still able to "convince himself" that it was the best place in the world. After sitting down with him last week for an interview/conversation, I believe he would maintain his point of view; he wasn't convincing himself of anything. And that's what allowed me to stay positive through the book: yes, the MacDonalds had to deal with unfathomable pain and hardships, but Southie's tight-knit community made for a home that is hard to forget about. I also challenge the person who in his review said that MacDonald's book was an "indictment" of the gangsters in Southie and that he made "brave accusations" about them; the truth is obvious, and Whitey Bulger and his crew managed to bring unbelievable amounts of drugs and crime to Southie. Despite what the newspapers or anyone else wants to say. I now work in Southie and have seen first-hand the poverty and drugs, but it is still a great community. Mike MacDonald, in his book and in our conversations, erased stereotypes of Southie that existed in my mind and that exist across the country today. He also got through to me that writing can and will allow one's wounds to heal; he is a brave man, an excellent writer, and one of the nicest guys I've met since I began working in Southie three months ago. Y'all have to read this book if you want the truth on one of the most misunderstood neighborhoods in Boston.
Rating:
Summary: Finally a story about Southie from Southie
Review: Having grown up nearby, and having heard every "armchair analysis" of life in Southie, I was interested in learning more about the place. What I did not expect was to become consumed with the drama, pride, sadness, tragedy and laughs that make the place so unique. This book is a great voice from within the community and a healthy addition to all the other tomes of life during busing or the criticisms of the clannish Irish. Now, when I walk along the Carson Beach, or drive down Broadway, I have a better sense of the people who call Southie "My Hometown" Great Job Mike!
Rating:
Summary: Thank you Michael Patrick McDonald
Review: After reading this book and being touched by it on many different levels I attended a book signing this past weekend with Mr. McDonald. He is truly a gift to the writing world. He is thought-provoking, humorous and a seemingly serene regular guy with a gift of storytelling. I can't wait for more from him. His mother certainly did many things right and his love for her, and the rest of his family, comes through clearly in his writing and speaking. I found myself envious of their closeness and loyalty. I especially appreciated his sense of the world being 'bigger' than the small enclave of 'Southie' and how he was able to use his experiences to bring some good to his community and others - that's what this life seems to be all about - people helping people - and he has certainly helped me to open my eyes and want to know more!
Rating:
Summary: A courageous book
Review: I grew up in Dorchester, not far from the Emerald Isle, the bar where Helen King sang. I loved and hated the Boston Irish-American experience (as I am half Sicilian and look it, I never felt I belonged), and now I am far from home though still very much of that world, so I appreciate MacDonald's descriptions of the insularity, sentimentality, pride, and problems of Southie. My nuns and teachers encouraged me to get an education, and when I went to college it was with the Garrity kids, who had body guards, if I remember correctly. It was strange to cross the line into a world of privilege. All Souls reminds me how hard it can be to move on, and how much can be lost when one moves beyond the parish, the projects, whatever. MacDonald captures the class tension about race so well and so honestly. He also tells harsh truths about loss and shame (re: mental illness, AIDS, suicide, etc.-stuff that's not supposed to happen in our families, but does). I was especially moved by Davey's story.(And if you want to know about old-country roots of schizophrenia and depression, try Nancy Scheper-Hughes interesting book, Saints, Scholars, and Schizophrenics.) Thank you for reminding me about realities that are familiar to me and some that are not. Here's to "the kids."
Rating:
Summary: A courageous book
Review: I grew up in Dorchester, not far from the Emerald Isle where Helen King sang. Loved and hated the Boston Irish-American experience (as I am half Sicilian and look it, I never felt I belonged), and so I appreciate MacDonald's descriptions of the insularity, sentimentality, pride, and problems of Southie.My nuns and teachers encouraged me to get an education, and when I went to college it was with the Garrity kids, who had body guards, if I remember correctly. MacDonald captures the class tension about race so well and so honestly. He also tells funny and harsh truths about the loss and shame (re: mental illness, AIDS, suicide, etc.-stuff that's not supposed to happen in our families, but does). I was especially moved by Davey's story.( And if you want to know about old-country roots of schizophrenia and depression, try Nancy Scheper-Hughes interesting book, Saints, Scholars, and Schizophrenics.)
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