All Souls: A Family Story from SouthieMichael Patrick MacDonald grew up in "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. With radiant insight, he opens up a contradictory world, where residents are besieged by gangs and crime but refuse to admit any problems, remaining fiercely loyal to their community. MacDonald also introduces us to the unforgettable people who inhabit this proud neighborhood. We meet his mother, Ma MacDonald, an accordion-playing, spiked-heel-wearing, indomitable mother to all; Whitey Bulger, the lord of Southie, gangster and father figure, protector and punisher; and Michael's beloved siblings, nearly half of whom were lost forever to drugs, murder, or suicide. By turns explosive and touching, All Souls ultimately shares a powerful message of hope, renewal, and redemption. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
accordion apartment asked baby beat Billy Bulger boys Broadway brothers busing called Charlestown City Point Coley Columbia Point cops corner crowd crying Danny Dave MacDonald Davey door drugs eyes Fallon father feeling felt fight forced busing Frankie Frankie's friends front fuck fuckin gang gangsters getting girls Grandpa hanging hated head heard Irish Jamaica Plain Jimmy Kelly Johnnie Kathy Kathy's Kevin killed knew knocked laughing little kids lived looked Louise Day Hicks loved Ma's MacDonald Mary Michael Patrick MacDonald morning mother Mullen gang murder neighborhood neighbors Nellie never niggers night Patterson playing police pulled Roxbury screamed Seamus and Stevie shot someone Souls South Boston Southie Southie's started Steven stoop stories street talk teenagers tell thing thought Timmy told Tommy trying walked wanted watching Whitey Bulger who'd window yelled