Customer Reviews

Huddle Fever: Living in the Immigrant City

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lawrence, Mass. is a city in meltdown. It has 70,000 people, mostly poor, jammed into 6 square miles; a crime rate that places the city in a league with urban centers far bigger and the genteel habit of its residents of torching cars for the insurance money. Yet few would learn some of the stickier issues of life in Lawrence from Schinto's view. She lived in the city for 10 years, but dwells on the city's past glories at great length rather than taking a fearless, in-depth look at the present deep-seated difficulties of a city with pressing social, political and economic ills. By ducking the tough issues, Ms. Schinto really dodged the opportunity to ask the critical questions facing ALL of urban America today, of which Lawrence is but a small part: What went wrong in our cities? And what can possibly make it right again? Good for any who treasure the history of the mill workers in New England and the textile glory days, but Schinto's apologist approach disappoints. Perhaps it shouldn't; she does, after all, have to live in the affluent suburb of Andover just next door to hardscrabble Lawrence and may not wish to offend her former neighbors. Book could also use a map; even for this book reviewer, who lived in the city for two years, references to city neighborhoods got confusing

I found the historical points of Lawrence very interesting. The hardships of mill workers were clear which also showed how they were exploited by those in power. It certainly served as the setting stage for "those who have and those who have not". I wish the author was able to broaden her view of the city by means of reaching a broader range of people in order to obtain fuller response of how they feel about the city. Though I understand her historical approach and how it may relate to her personally, I think she over looked the new middle class families that are moving into Lawrence because of it ideal location and beauty. Please know she did not "leave us behind" our exprience has been a positive one and this where we live the same middleclass lifestyle. Some of her statements are common among those who took "White Flight", as if finding fault with the new comers justifys attitudes of under current racism. We lived in Lawrence for over 8 years,and have come to participate in community actions that will continue to improve its image. There is a proud spirit of diversity that is sprouting in Lawrence. Many empowered families will not accept statements that try to keep strongholds of discouragment. Many are taking strong and honest looks at he problems and ready to deal with them. I'm glad we didn't read this book before we move to Lawrence because the author painted a very grim picture. Certainly there areas that are depressed, but there are white wooden fences going up in many places where there were none and there are plenty in Prospect Hill (where we live) that were there before she and husband moved to Lawrence. I think you must consider through whose eyes, see Lawrence, and based on their history and present relationship with the city.

very much enjoyed reading this perspective of Lawrence MA and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the ethnic/cultural development of Lawrence

People keep finding this book and loving it's depiction of our time in Lawrence, Mass, a struggling New England mill city. We ran out of copies and are having to buy them now from Amazon vendors.

This is an admitted "outsiders" view of my hometown. It was sympathetic and thoughtful. It was well written and has a certain appeal - if you are a sociologist or something. I didn't really get the "Huddle Fever" thing. On the negative side I found it rather condescending. Lawrence is a poor community but take it from me it is one among many - among thousands, maybe ten of thousands right here in this U.S.A. Lawrence is pretty derelict at this moment and we are all hoping for bigger and better things for the area. The buildings and the structures may be rather pathetic but the people are much the same as people everywhere. They are fighting and struggling, loving and caring and are now and always have been a unique blend of most of the nations of the world. Growing up there was an in depth training in developing tolerance and understanding not to mention acceptance of all kinds, classes and types.
"A Summer with Charlie" A Summer with Charlie is one of my most popular books written about this area.

I think my books deal more with the heart of Lawrence and the type of lifelong friendships that were forged there. I can't really say all too much about "Huddle Fever" other than I read it and I enjoyed reading the lady's perspective.

Richard Edward Noble - The Hobo Philosopher - Author of:

"Just Hangin' Out, Ma" Humorous Anecdotes - Lawrence, MA

I always wondered why Lawrence seemed to have such bad karma. Now I know. A beautifully-written historical account of a fascinating mill town in Northern Massachusetts. Mandatory reading for anyone interested in urban studies, and for all public officials in Massachuetts who have any sincere interest in understanding the plights and challanges of Lawrence, Lowell, Fall River, and New Bedford.

As a life long resident of Lawrence, I was looking forward to reading an objective account of a place that I know intimately. Instead I found "Huddle Fever" to be offensively condescending. Particularly irksome was Ms Schinto's musings of how fortunate she was that her immigrant family ended up in Greenwich, Connecticut instead of Lawrence. The term "huddle fever" is itself a grotesquely contorted expression of what most people would describe as a tradition of strong families. Strong families, common to immigrant communities, can at times be oppressive, however, they are more often supportive and nuturing. "Huddle Fever" did not depict the Lawrence I know.