Mary Dyer
Dyer Straits:
A compelling coming-of-age memoir that chronicles a family's journey of overcoming domestic violence and poverty in Boston during the '60s and tumultuous '70s.
Available in paperback and eBook on Amazon and most book retailers
My family grew up in Dorchester, MA in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and like so many others, our roots go back several generations. On social media pages, Dorchester natives share so many memories—the streets we played on, the schools we attended, the neighbors we knew, and the adventures, misadventures, hard lessons and losse smany of us experienced. Instead of posting numerous memories on social media, I wanted to capture my family’s Dot experience all in one place, so I wrote a memoir:
Dyer Straits: All Those Years Ago in Dorchester, MA.
Reader & Editorial Feedback: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It had me listening to the Beatles again.
"You get to know Mary's family, her neighborhood pride and the steep price of addiction. I didn't put this down."
Global review from France:
"Thank you to Mary for putting her sincere words on paper and describing the best and worst of humanity so well."
I could not put this book down. "I strongly recommend it."
"Riveting... would make a good movie."
Heartwarming.
"Hard to read at times due to the destructive effects of Dickie, but what comes across is the author's positivity and the strength of the sibling bonds."
"Thanks for remembering old Dorchester.
OFD Dot Rat Forever." -Mike L.
Pen Masters Global - Editorial Review:
"A clear-eyed memoir of survival in working-class Boston. Readers will find the depiction of Dorchester particularly evocative, though the story's core—of survival through connection—transcends geography."
Editorial Review by Donna Marie West, author of Next in Line and The Mud Man:
"Wherever you grew up, you’re bound to identify, sympathize, laugh, and maybe even shed some tears over Mary's heartfelt memoir."
Editorial Review by Carolyn V. Hamilton, author of: HELP! I Married a Comedian:
"A powerful memoir that brings old-school Dorchester, MA, vividly to life. Mary weaves together personal memories, interviews, and archival research to illuminate cycles of alcoholism, violence and poverty, while carefully avoiding blame and easy villains."
Powerful Story!
"So well written, you can feel it as Mary takes you down memory lane. I couldn’t put it down!"
The power of love to get through extremely challenging times.
"There is so much detail describing the days of busing and desegregation, living in Boston in the 60s, and 70s, and how music played a role. This is a book that will stay with me."
Growing up in Dorchester in the 70's was not for the meek.
"Mary does a fantastic job giving us an "in the house" account of growing up in a chaotic working-class household."
"If you're from Dorchester, it's a must read."
"Far from a story of self-pity. A masterful look at growth & the unbreakable bonds of kin amidst chaos."
"I played in a band with Mary, and she mostly shared about her musical upbringing in Dorchester, early bands, etc. This is an amazing story of how Mary and her siblings stuck together to overcome every adversity thrown at them, and still appreciate the good times they had growing up."