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Neighborhood Lines

A Novel By Michael Patrick Murphy

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    • Book Review: We are not defined by our race, or creed, but by the choices we make.
    • Book Review: “Neighborhood Lines” by John J. Kelly | Detroit Free Press
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Book Review: Neighborhood Lines reviewed by John J. Kelly | Detroit Free Press

September 4, 2020 By Neighborhood Lines

John J. Kelly | Detroit Free Press
Reviewed June 15, 2020

Growing up the son of the Deputy Superintendent of the Boston Schools at the height of court-ordered desegregation of “forced busing,” gave me a front-row seat to the fear, hatred and everyday turmoil that permeated Boston for decades. It was an up-close-and-personal education into the intricate and difficult efforts to achieve equality in the classrooms. And it was a fractured time in the history of the city of Boston and the lives of its residents.

In Neighborhood Lines, author Michael Patrick Murphy tells the story of two young men, Patrick and Nate, caught up in Boston’s efforts to bring together people of different colors. It is an illuminating and life-affirming portrait of how Patrick and Nate, who are from South Boston and Dorchester, respectively, try their best to navigate their way through a culture caught up in controversy and danger. Told in the third person by Murphy, the reader gets to know the hopes, dreams and many obstacles that these two students at Boston’s Cathedral High School face. We see the specific choices they must make and other efforts to maneuver their lives through this extremely divisive and potentially deadly time.

Although Patrick and Nate share the spotlight, it is the family and friends of these two characters that constantly lurk in the shadows. After a friend of Patrick’s is mysteriously murdered, the harsh and horrible realities of school desegregation become crystal clear. Told in a comfortable style by Murphy based on his own personal observations and experiences, this is a must-read for anyone who wishes to understand efforts at forced busing in Boston. Murphy never gets bogged down in the complicated politics that cut through and affected a generation of Boston residents. Instead, he tells a simple and endearing story about real friendship, despite the odds, in the face of so much chaos.

Like many stories, there are heroes and villains on both sides and Murphy’s realistic rendering is, at times, chilling. He is concise and his dialogue is pitch-perfect as he shows how the real and imagined “Neighborhood Lines” divided and shaped the city of Boston and affected so many lives. It’s a fascinating foray into a time in our history that has been somewhat forgotten and overlooked. As someone who witnessed the daily unrest and human cost of desegregation, every page rang real and true.

It’s essential reading for anyone who seeks to understand how Boston’s busing crisis both created even more hatred and dissent, and, at the same time. helped countless individuals like Nate and Patrick form friendships and bonds that were previously unimaginable. This book will inform you and move you in profound ways.

 

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5-Star Reviews

Amazon.com Reviews

Book Review: We are not defined by our race, or creed, but by the choices we make.

Susan Keefe | Midwest Book Review June 2020 We are not defined by our race, or creed, but by the … [Read More...] about Book Review: We are not defined by our race, or creed, but by the choices we make.

Book Review: Neighborhood Lines reviewed by John J. Kelly | Detroit Free Press

John J. Kelly | Detroit Free Press Reviewed June 15, 2020 Growing up the son of the Deputy … [Read More...] about Book Review: Neighborhood Lines reviewed by John J. Kelly | Detroit Free Press

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neighborhoodlines

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neighborhoodlines

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Apr 17

Open
Trying to lighten up the rainy day and the darkness going on in this country !!! 
:
I think she is reaching 
For a copy of Neighborhood Lines ! 
:
Nothing more attractive than an intellectual powerful cultured woman 
Knowledge is power

#greatstory 
#novelwriting 
#powerfulwords 
#impactful #book
#unity 
#bostonhistory 
:

Repost from @classybadassery
•
Saturday book club.

Trying to lighten up the rainy day and the darkness going on in this country !!!
:
I think she is reaching
For a copy of Neighborhood Lines !
:
Nothing more attractive than an intellectual powerful cultured woman
Knowledge is power

#greatstory
#novelwriting
#powerfulwords
#impactful #book
#unity
#bostonhistory
:

Repost from @classybadassery
•
Saturday book club.
...

neighborhoodlines

View

Apr 12

Open
This is #America this morning 🙏! 

Repost from @samanthamasonmarikaa
•
Riots have broken out in Brooklyn Center over 20 y/o Duante Wright being shot and killed by police

A mess 🥴

This is #America this morning 🙏!

Repost from @samanthamasonmarikaa
•
Riots have broken out in Brooklyn Center over 20 y/o Duante Wright being shot and killed by police

A mess 🥴
...

neighborhoodlines

View

Apr 12

Open
Nice seeing this 5 star review as there is 4 Chapters left of #thesequel #novel #2 ! Thank you Mia for #support and #motivation 🙏! #perfecttiming 
with that boost .
:
These two characters face the real world of #governmentcorruption #lawenforcementcorruption #opiodepidemic #crackcocaine #gang #violence #racialequality #policebrutality during Life in the mid 90’s In Boston !
: 
Not everything is #blackandwhite 
:
I wrote the first draft of this novel in 97! And  I was definitely listening to #DMX those days ....
The twists and turns of this tale  fit very well with the words of this #Damien song ! 
#ripdmx 

“The rat the cat the dog how you going to see them if your living in the fog ! “

Nice seeing this 5 star review as there is 4 Chapters left of #thesequel #novel #2 ! Thank you Mia for #support and #motivation 🙏! #perfecttiming
with that boost .
:
These two characters face the real world of #governmentcorruption #lawenforcementcorruption #opiodepidemic #crackcocaine #gang #violence #racialequality #policebrutality during Life in the mid 90’s In Boston !
:
Not everything is #blackandwhite
:
I wrote the first draft of this novel in 97! And I was definitely listening to #DMX those days ....
The twists and turns of this tale fit very well with the words of this #Damien song !
#ripdmx

“The rat the cat the dog how you going to see them if your living in the fog ! “
...

neighborhoodlines

View

Apr 8

Open
Just listened to  the @hotboxinpodcast 
With @miketyson @sugarrayleonard 
@thomashitmanhearns 
@shanemosley 
Only one missing was #marvinhagler ! #rip 
What a great episode of the #legendsofboxing talking about the #classicfights 
:
Hitman vs sugar ray 
Hagler vs hitman. 
:
Tyson “Humanity of us sophisticated savages “
:
Careful now he going to Kick you teeth out with those gators 
:
#boxing What a sport - these two calling each other and talking loving on eachother nothing but #respect 
:
“Hagler Try to take you out in the first round he had that shotgun power 

Marvin was ambidextrous power on both hands knows how to cut the ring off”

Tyson with a #preroll in hand the whole time 😂! 

Check it out ! 
:
 I was blessed to have the opportunity to hit the mits with one the great trainers of our time #goodypetronelli Haglers trainer ! #brockton #petronellisboxingclub 
#reebok shoot - loved the mural in the back with Marvin !! 
:
Connecting Story -  this tbt pic from 98
Couple years prior to this pic I was training with local trainer Jimmy Farrell who trained with Cus D’Amato back in the day (Tysons trainer) , Jimmy was preparing Burt Burgos to fight Robbie Simms (southpaw) , Haglers Brother , so because I was a southpaw I was getting in there twice week throwing down with Burt a heavy handed pro during his camp !!! 

:
My lifelong #UechiRyu friend #karateken @theshadow.777 Former Mass Karate State champ  by my side in the last pic. Always by my side bro!

Just listened to the @hotboxinpodcast
With @miketyson @sugarrayleonard
@thomashitmanhearns
@shanemosley
Only one missing was #marvinhagler ! #rip
What a great episode of the #legendsofboxing talking about the #classicfights
:
Hitman vs sugar ray
Hagler vs hitman.
:
Tyson “Humanity of us sophisticated savages “
:
Careful now he going to Kick you teeth out with those gators
:
#boxing What a sport - these two calling each other and talking loving on eachother nothing but #respect
:
“Hagler Try to take you out in the first round he had that shotgun power

Marvin was ambidextrous power on both hands knows how to cut the ring off”

Tyson with a #preroll in hand the whole time 😂!

Check it out !
:
I was blessed to have the opportunity to hit the mits with one the great trainers of our time #goodypetronelli Haglers trainer ! #brockton #petronellisboxingclub
#reebok shoot - loved the mural in the back with Marvin !!
:
Connecting Story - this tbt pic from 98
Couple years prior to this pic I was training with local trainer Jimmy Farrell who trained with Cus D’Amato back in the day (Tysons trainer) , Jimmy was preparing Burt Burgos to fight Robbie Simms (southpaw) , Haglers Brother , so because I was a southpaw I was getting in there twice week throwing down with Burt a heavy handed pro during his camp !!!

:
My lifelong #UechiRyu friend #karateken @theshadow.777 Former Mass Karate State champ by my side in the last pic. Always by my side bro!
...

neighborhoodlines

View

Apr 8

Open
#black47 

I caught this #greatfilm A masterpiece of art  last night on  @Netflix - what a creation and historical account of the #Irish genocide !! 
:
Set in #Ireland during the #greatfamine the film follows an Irish Ranger who has been fighting for the British Army abroad, as he abandons his post to reunite with his family. The title is taken from the most devastating year of the famine, 1847, which is referred to as "Black '47"
#HugoWeaving @thejamesfrecheville 🙏👊
::
 1 And 4 Irish would be dead. 1million died ,by starvation and disease up to 2 million fled this inhumane treatment and this is what inspired  the Irish Independence movement . #IRA
:::
Those soldiers who fought for England returned to home to witness there people
Starving and dieing of the fever and eviction ! 
 

“Take the soup”

Souperism was a phenomenon of the Irish Great Famine. Protestant Bible societies set up schools in which starving children were fed, on the condition of receiving Protestant religious instruction at the same time. ... In the words of their peers, they "took the soup"

Would you take the soup?

Those who Ignore history 
Are doomed to repeat it 🤔🤦‍♂️
:
👆As a #historynut This is what I was saying in July of 2018 when I released neighborhoodlines a historical #novel - a recap of the late 80’s early 90’s .

:: 
#bestlines 
#How do you plead ? 

Renounce the Roman Catholic Church 

I was just your faithful mic. 

We Did things for them that cannot be forgiven. And for what ? 

“If I kill a man they call it murder, if they kill a man they call it war ?” 

“This potato famine has simplified business considerably 
There are those who look forward to the day that a Celtic Irishman in Ireland is a rare as red indian in Manhattan “

“ Don’t fight them go to America “

I couldn’t help but get a little emotional during this film. I am fortunate some of my ancestors survived and made it to #boston during these times ! But my #grandmother never let me forget this 🙏

#black47

I caught this #greatfilm A masterpiece of art last night on @Netflix - what a creation and historical account of the #Irish genocide !!
:
Set in #Ireland during the #greatfamine the film follows an Irish Ranger who has been fighting for the British Army abroad, as he abandons his post to reunite with his family. The title is taken from the most devastating year of the famine, 1847, which is referred to as "Black '47"
#HugoWeaving @thejamesfrecheville 🙏👊
::
1 And 4 Irish would be dead. 1million died ,by starvation and disease up to 2 million fled this inhumane treatment and this is what inspired the Irish Independence movement . #IRA
:::
Those soldiers who fought for England returned to home to witness there people
Starving and dieing of the fever and eviction !


“Take the soup”

Souperism was a phenomenon of the Irish Great Famine. Protestant Bible societies set up schools in which starving children were fed, on the condition of receiving Protestant religious instruction at the same time. ... In the words of their peers, they "took the soup"

Would you take the soup?

Those who Ignore history
Are doomed to repeat it 🤔🤦‍♂️
:
👆As a #historynut This is what I was saying in July of 2018 when I released neighborhoodlines a historical #novel - a recap of the late 80’s early 90’s .

::
#bestlines
#How do you plead ?

Renounce the Roman Catholic Church

I was just your faithful mic.

We Did things for them that cannot be forgiven. And for what ?

“If I kill a man they call it murder, if they kill a man they call it war ?”

“This potato famine has simplified business considerably
There are those who look forward to the day that a Celtic Irishman in Ireland is a rare as red indian in Manhattan “

“ Don’t fight them go to America “

I couldn’t help but get a little emotional during this film. I am fortunate some of my ancestors survived and made it to #boston during these times ! But my #grandmother never let me forget this 🙏
...

neighborhoodlines

View

Apr 5

Open
Love this bold statement from @charlesbarkley__ ......
More #leaders and all people need to #promoteunity 💪🏻💪🏾💪 💪🏿!! 
Stop letting the #politics #conquer #divide and #controlthenarrative ! 
::
#unitedwestand 
#peaceandlove 
#stopthedivision

Love this bold statement from @charlesbarkley__ ......
More #leaders and all people need to #promoteunity 💪🏻💪🏾💪 💪🏿!!
Stop letting the #politics #conquer #divide and #controlthenarrative !
::
#unitedwestand
#peaceandlove
#stopthedivision
...

neighborhoodlines

View

Apr 5

Open
Hope you had a great 
Easter ! #springtimevibes 
#fatherandson #laughs #eastercandy #blessed🙏 #moments

Hope you had a great
Easter ! #springtimevibes
#fatherandson #laughs #eastercandy #blessed🙏 #moments
...

neighborhoodlines

View

Apr 4

Open
#happyeaster 
#naturewalk #easterweekend #freshair 
#familytime

#happyeaster
#naturewalk #easterweekend #freshair
#familytime
...

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