Chapter 3

In Chapter three of the book, MacDonald explains how he and his brothers and sisters had to face initiations upon their arrival at Old Colony. They had to start to make a name for themselves against other tough Southie kids and stand their ground. It’s amazing to me to see that these kids were so loyal to the areas they lived in. There was Old Colony, The Point, D Street, and they all took pride in where they lived and in keeping their own crowds together. 

The kids that MacDonald grew up with and around all remind me of the word “punk” and it seems to be the defining word for most of them. It’s like they were looking for trouble all the time, and weren’t even scared of the police. The coolest thing about this book though, is that MacDonald makes you really want to like these people. They had to face daily struggles that a lot of us readers have never even seen or thought of having to endure, and so you can kind of see where this Southie attitude comes from and why they were so desperate to stick together. It’s like those kids that you let cross the road and they walk wicked slow and you get so aggravated because they seem like little entitled assholes, that is exactly what these kids are but this book makes it okay! He even says at one point “It seemed as if we were all hoping for some action, all the time” – It’s like they couldn’t get enough of the trouble that was all around them, and when there was no chaos going on they had to start some.

Another thing I noticed is that everyone is pretty much grouped by their nationality. His sisters boyfriend is “Jimmy the Greek” he is considered a “white nigger” or a “project rat” then there are “niggers” and then there are just regular black people that  lived in a certain spot for years and so they weren’t considered “niggers” – It is absolutely insane how racist these people all were against each other.

BUT my favorite part of this whole chapter is when he talks about how none of the rules that he learns in Southie work anywhere else. “All the rules we were learning didn’t make any sense anywhere else. Not the rules about heat and light, not the rules about what to wear, not the rules about money.” – It’s like they had their own little world and it basically was a different culture - But at the time what he didn’t understand was that in other places, their rules wouldn’t work in Southie either. It was all relative. 

I really wasn’t sure how I felt about this book in the beginning, but now I can’t put it down.

Chapter 2: So Many Characters, So Little Time

The first chapter of All Souls was all fine and good, but it really starts to get fun in the second chapter. MacDonald uses the second chapter to gives us an idea of where he was living at the time, introduce new characters, and give us some bizarre anecdotes.

First off, I thought I would keep a running list of characters, mostly because there are so many people that I can’t keep them straight without writing them down.

-Michael MacDonald (Duh)-Author, main character, 7^th child, makes a living playing the accordion

-Ma-Mother of the MacDonald children

-Dave MacDonald-The father 6/9 MacDonald children, violent alcoholic, abandoned family before Michael was born (later in the second chapter we find out that he IS NOT Michael’s father), makes a career out of playing country-western music on the guitar, Korean War veteran

-Nana, Grandpa-Ma’s parents

-Mary, Kathy-Michael’s sisters

-Davey, Frankie, Joe, The Twins, Kevin-Michael’s brothers

-Patrick Michael-Child before Michael, died as an infant due to pneumonia

-Nellie-Ma’s Cousin from Ireland

-Bob King-Ma’s second husband

-Teresa-Ma’s sister/ Michael’s aunt

-Sean and Kathleen-Teresa’s children

Places of interest:

            -Colombia Point is the location of Michael MacDonald’s first home

-Jamaica Plain is the location of Michael MacDonald’s second home

            In this chapter, MacDonald talks about how his brother, Davey, is put into Massachusetts Mental Association (which apparently still exists) for schizophrenia. MacDonald writes about some of what his brother goes through, which includes shock therapy. Now, I’m a huge fan of American Horror Story, so when I read about Davey getting shock therapy I had a flash back. But I’m thinking they exaggerated shock therapy on American Horror Story.

So, there’s a little sum up on the second chapter. I know you’ll all be waiting by your computers waiting to see what happens in the next chapter.  

Chapter 1: Delightfully Depressing

As I’m sure you’ve gathered from Brittany and Rosemary’s posts about the first chapter, All Souls doesn’t exactly start off cheerfully. Michael describes how fearful he is to go to Southie, with a man in a suit, after an article is written about him. This alone made it clear (to me at least)  that at this time, Southie wasn’t exactly friendly. Then after he went through the list of who and how kids were killed…he didn’t exactly make Southie seem like la-la land.

Regardless of how shitty unfriendly frightening not nice MacDonald make Southie out to be, when he goes there for All Souls’ Night (see Rosemary’s All Souls’ Night post for more) he knows many of the people there. It seems odd to me that in a place where everybody knows everybody, there could be so animosity. But then again, in my idea of a place where everybody knows everybody, there also aren’t drugs, gangs, or Whitey Bulger. I guess that’s what some people call a game changer.

In Brittany’s post, she mentioned that this is the type of book where people are entertained by the tragedies…I would characterize myself as one of those people. I don’t know if I like reading about the way these kids were murdered, or just find it curious that anyone would find it necessary to stab someone seventy-five times…and then light them on fire. Maybe I’m just a little twisted. Whatever the reason, despite how depressing this chapter was, I enjoyed it. Who knows, maybe the rest of the book will be cheerful and it won’t feel so weird for me to enjoy it.

**Just a quick note, my first post talked about some of the events happening during the time which this book is set. Turns out, MacDonald did touch upon some of these in the first chapter. Since I researched the events he mentioned, I definitely felt like I understood some of the references he was making.

All Souls Chapter 1

I recently just got my book from Amazon so I am a little behind. So far, All souls is extremely depressing to me right now, but I am enjoying the book ..and contradicting myself! I’m usually more intrigued by something that is true rather than fiction, so although my second choice, I’m pleasantly surprised by this book. My only problem right now is being unable to decide whether or not I am enjoying MacDonald's style of writing. Macdonald’s writing reminds me of Frank McCourt’s in a way, the guy who wrote Angela’s Ashes. But I LOVE Frank McCourt, and I’m not so sure about MacDonald, I’m torn! I do enjoy how MacDonald writes in a matter of fact way, almost as if he’s talking to you and you already know the characters in the book. The first chapter was extremely easy to get through, and very emotional. I really like how he can reach the readers emotions because of how real and raw his writing is. The first chapter is called “All Souls Night” and it reflects on a night where everyone in the town comes around and lights a candle for someone they’ve lost, either by drugs, murder, overdose, etc. Needless to say some of the descriptions of what happened to some people are very violent and overwhelming.  It’s really hard for someone to believe is true, especially in a place that we live so close to, but the ugliness of this lifestyle that he had to suffer through is also what makes it all the more interesting. It is sad that we as a people are entertained by others tragedies, but they make for the best stories. Just like the old cliché saying “It’s like a car accident, you want to look away but you can’t.” – You don’t want to be entertained by someone else’s grief and the sorrow, but I suppose you can justify it by saying they wrote the book. So I like to think of it as a therapeutic thing for the author to have done. For Macdonald it seems as though writing is cathartic for him. It would be impossible and unhealthy to keep in everything he had to endure and I think one of the main things I will probably keep in mind while reading is how much stronger he will get as he continues on his journey. I am excited to read more.

MacDonald's Memoir

I'm only a few chapters into the book (or 30% done according to me Kindle), and I'm definitely enjoying All Soul's more than I initially thought I would. From the reviews I read, I was expecting it to be more heavily focused on historical events, but thus far it hasn't really been like that. It's MacDonald retelling the story of his family from the very beginning, even before he was born.
It's awesome that it's set in Boston but then again, it's kind of an eye-opener. MacDonald and his family lived in the poorest and most crime-ridden areas of Boston. Some of MacDonald's stories have me shocked. I can't imagine moving to a new neighborhood and being beat up as "initiation" into the neighborhood. And the thought of having to leave the apartment for the night because a well-known, cold-blooded gangster is expected to stop by to seek revenge is appalling.
I'm really enjoying All Soul's more than I thought I would. I picked it because it seemed like the best out of all the other options, but now I'm happy with my choice. As sad and shocking as the story is, there are also glimmers of humor and charm. I'm learning to love all of the characters, namely MacDonald and his family, and that worries me because I know a little bit of what to expect from reviews and I can tell I'm in for some disappointment and sadness.

All Souls' Night

The first chapter of All Souls seemingly sets the tone for how the rest of the story will be. While I read the synopsis and did a little research about the book before beginning it, I was still surprised upon reading it to learn how morbid and depressing it already is.
MacDonald starts out talking about his experience growing up in Southie Boston, an area where crime, drugs, and violence runs wild. He describes the poverty the Irish families that reside in Boston face, and how most families are living corrupt. Very few people at the time he was growing up weren't involved in something terrible; whether it be drugs, gangs, theft, etc. And almost none of the families were lucky enough to not have to experience the tragedy of losing loved ones.
MacDonald grew up to become an activist, one who focused on the poverty and injustices plaguing white Irish families, while most other activist where mainly concerned with the black families living in Dorchester. He spends this chapter reflecting on a time when he was asked by a reporter to talk about Southie and give the reporter a tour. MacDonald writes: "'I miss this place," I said to him. He looked horrified but kept scribbling notes as I went on about this being the best place in the world. 'I always had a sense of security here, a sense of belonging that I've never felt anywhere else," I explained."
MacDonald then goes on to talk about The All Souls' Night many of the families of his neighborhood held. These people, many whom had never properly mourned or acknowledged their losses, got together at a church to take turns telling their stories in hopes that some positive changes would come of it. They all lined up to announce the names of their dead loved ones and to light candles for each. Through the narration of the story, MacDonald explains some of the horrific ways some of the people died.

Author

All Souls is a bestselling memoir about author Michael Patrick MacDonald's life. He was born and raised in South Boston's Old Colony housing project. The story he writes about is a memoir of his life in Southie. He became an anti-violence activist in Boston and is currently still involved in helping other South Boston families involved in violence and addiction, for which he started the South Boston Vigil Group. He also started Boston's gun buy back program. MacDonald won the New England Literary Lights award, which is for stellar literary writing in the Northeast, and in 2000 the American Book Award. He is currently a public speaker varying from anti-violence and drug use, to prejudice in America. He resides in Brooklyn, New York, although he teaches a few classes at Northeastern.