Customer Reviews

Near West Side Stories: Struggles for Community in Chicago's Maxwell Street Neighborhood (Illinois)

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This book is billed as an "oral history," which it is, but it is much more than that. First, the author provides extensive background about each of the four urban ethnic enclaves her interview subjects then go on to describe from their personal perspectives. Second, she has selected four truly remarkable people, activists in every sense of the word. Third, she has created a narrative based on multiple interviews and letters that manages to present a clear, readable and appealing story while retaining the authentic voices of her four subjects. Though intended to be representative of the four key ethnic groups that occupied Chicago's Maxwell Street neighborhood for its last 100 years (Eastern European Jews, Italians, southern African-Americans and Mexicans), the four interview subjects are each fascinating individuals in their own right. Taking nothing away from them, Eastwood doesn't give herself enough credit for producing such compelling tales.

Maxwell Street, known to many in films like "The Blues Brothers" was a unique Chicago gathering place. Carolyn Eastwood captures the spirit and energy of this rich tapestry of Chicago life, that has slipped into history. Thankfully, her book preserves the voices and stories of that era.

This book was great, My sister found her aunt Yvonne Kyler in this book and it reminded me of so many places and things I had forgotten,, my family lived on 14th st. and my uncle and aunt owned a junk business on Obrien and later on Union after the Dan Ryan forced us to leave. What a trip down Memory lane

Mrs Eastwood was my Cultural Anthropology professor a few years ago and she is an amazing woman. I intend on reading the book soon when I get back to the States. I am sure this book is facinating!