Customer Reviews

A Song for Mary: An Irish-American Memory

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This book by Dennis Smith is a fine prequel to his Engine Co. 82. In 82 we saw a young man dealing with the job he has chosen for himself, and a difficult job that was. In Song for Mary we see the boy who became that man. The only way a man could become a fireman is if he had great compassion for humanity. Mary, his mother, gave him this compassion. The "Song" of the title resonates throughout the book with the haunting refrain of The Rose of Tralee. I thought this memoir was as good, if not better, than those of Frank McCourt and others which have filled the bookshops recently. A MUST-READ for anyone who cherishes their Irish-American heritage or if they came of age in New York City,

Dennis Smith's "A Song for Mary" is a powerful, emotionally gripping memoir that is one of the finest published in recent years. Along with Pete Hamill's "A Drinking Life", and Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes", it belongs in the first rank of great memoirs written by Irish-American authors. Speaking of Hamill, it is a Manhattan version of "A Drinking Life", replete with the chaos and woe associated with growing up poor and Irish in New York City. Smith's vivid prose conjurs up the Irish-American neighobrhood that was once the East Side of Midtown Manhattan. We see a young, bright Dennis Smith almost drawn into a life of petty crime, yet saved by love and devotion from his mother and local Catholic priests. Eventually the book ends positively, with his arrival as the rookie fireman at Engine Company 82, setting the stage for the events he described two decades ago in his bestselling memoir "Report from Engine Company 82". I am surprised that this fine book hasn't earned the wide audience it deserves. Anyone who has fallen in love with Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" should also fall in love with Dennis Smith's "A Song for Mary".

To me, "A Song for Mary" very dramatically tells the story of how hard it was for many Irish and Italian families living in the East 50's of New York City during the 1950's. When you first meet Mary, on the 2nd page of the book, you immediately realize that her life and the way she raised her two sons, is worth reading about. She never had it easy, but she worked hard and had great comfort, finally, through her sons. I know, because she was my mother-in-law. I know too that Dennis, my husband's brother, has given an accurate protrayal of the neighborhood, and the way people talked, acted, and lived their lives, for we have received man letters of congratulations from neighborhood people. The Washington Post said that no one has ever writted a better book about mothers, and I am certain they were able to say that only because they believed in the book's honesty. The story is told in the voice of a seven year old, when Dennis was seven, and the voice changes in small degrees as Dennis gets older, through the tough, brutal language of a street teen to the reserved, introspective voice of the young adult. It is a book that stays interesting and exciting from beginning to end. I may be prejudiced, but I still know how to evaluate a book, and "A Song for Mary" is a good read.

This book brought back many memories of growing up on the East Side of Manhattan in the early 50's. It's a poignant, yet loving look at "coming of age". I highly recommend it...

Until the last few pages I wondered who Mary was, his mother, his girlfriend, his fellow student, a teacher? Having been raised in an Irish Catholic community during the Depression, I could identify with much of what the author described. But it was not until the end that "Mary" became clear. It seemed to be a Song to the Author. Yes, I enjoyed it, but if I had not been determined to read it through, I would have probably set it down about half way through and considered the book unremarkable.

Encore, encore. . . what a beautiful, wonderful story. I did not want this book to end I enjoyed it so thoroughly. What a brave and determined woman Mary was, and such an incredibly loving mother. This book is such a touching tribute to her, as well as a gut-wrenching look at growing up dirt poor and finding your own way in life. I loved this book and highly recommend it. Bravo Mr. Smith!

The sad yet uplifting story of this young boy's life is only empowered by the beautiful music that punctuates the audio book. I love Irish music and the concertina has such a mournful quality that it brought to life the troubles of this small family.

This book is definitely worth reading. It is solidly based in reality, which at times makes for tedious reading (especially in the middle). All of the characters are standard stereotypes of "city people". The poor mother who sacrifices all, the absentee institutionalized father, the son who is an overachiever despite living on welfare and the rebellious son. Mary and her ex-husband, arguably the most interesting characters aren't explored in any depth. Still it captivated the interest of this jaded New Yorker who had heard the story of "the poor fatherless kid who made it" in its many forms, numerous times.

I READ THIS BOOK IN ONE WEEK END WHILE VISITING MY DAUGHTER. IT WAS A DELITE FOR ME . ALTHOUGH RAISED IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO , AND BEING FEMALE, THE TIME PERIOD MATCHED AND SO DID THE FELLOWS THAT GREW UP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. WE WERE EITHER IRISH, ITALIAN OR JEWISH. HE REALLY TAKES ONE INSIDE THIS LITTLE FELLOW AND WOULD CERTAINLY GIVE ANY MOTHER WITH A REBEL SON HOPE. I LOVED IT!

This shows the greatest love in the world: a mother's love for her son. As a result of this love, her son has a great desire to please his mother and a need for her to be proud of him.====Growing up in a New York City neighborhood during the 1940's and 1950's is very difficult for Dennis because of peer pressure and also because he is very resentful and resistive of all authority in his life, but grow up he does!====You cannot read this well-written narrative without some laughter and some tears,but you do come away from it with some understanding of the universal mother-child love.====If you read and loved Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes", you will certainly love this wonderful memoir. Good for you, Dennis Smith!!!