Every now and then, I love to immerse myself in books of a particular type or on a related theme. Lately, I've been revisiting some old favorites about Boston, where I have lived for the past 45 years, and collecting on my iPad a few that are new to me. These ten books, fiction and nonfiction, explore busing, homelessness, politics, history, corruption, race, jazz, and ducks. Click on the links to learn more about each of them; all are available in a variety of formats, and at your local public library.
Common Ground (J. Anthony Lukas 1995)
Rough Sleepers (Tracy Kidder 2023)
Make Way for Ducklings (Robert McCloskey 1941)
Another Bullshit Night in Suck City (Nick Flynn 2005)
Boston: Voices and Visions (Shaun O’Connell, editor 2010)
Boston Boy: Growing Up with Jazz and Other Rebellious Passions (Nat Hentoff 1986)
The Boston Girl (Anita Diamant 2015)
Wild Women of Boston: Mettle and Moxie in the Hub (Diana Vargo 2015)
The Last Hurrah (Edwin O’Connor 1956)
Caucasia (Danzy Senna 1999)
For pure fun, lose yourself in Robert B. Parker's Spenser books, or the Carlotta Carlyle mysteries by Linda Barnes (thanks to my friend Phyllis, for reminding me how much I enjoy both of these series).
What are your favorite Boston books? Leave them in the comments below, so we can share.
Thanks for this list. The Blanche White Mystery series of 4 novels has Boston figured prominently in the 1st title, Blanche on the Lam. It also shows up a lot on Blanche and the Talented Tenth and Blanche Cleans Up. Author, the late Barbara Neely, lived in Boston (JP) for many years.
I also recommend People Before Highways by Karilynn Crockett and A People's History of the New Boston by Jom Vrabel.
Posted by: Candelaria Collins | April 11, 2023 at 08:51 AM
Great additions to the list! Thanks.
Posted by: Lydia | April 11, 2023 at 08:52 AM