Women of Southie

Finding Resilience During Whitey Bulger's Infamous Reign

By: Phyllis Karas, Anna Weeks

Narrated by: Christina Delaine

Women of Southie tells the story of six women who grew up in and, in most cases, still live in their beloved town of South Boston, a place most notably recognized as the home of organized crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger. But while Bulger might have been ruling the town with an iron fist, as depicted by Johnny Depp in Black Mass, what the town ought to have been recognized for are the brave women who ruled their own lives and their families with equally strong but far more beneficial hands. Six of these women are depicted in this book, each of whom faced hurdles more frightening than mobsters. Death of loved ones, suicide, murder, addiction, abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder are some of the demons they faced. Yet none of these women ever backed down from an important fight; each one emerging in this book as a shining light of what love and courage and an indomitable spirit can accomplish.

The stories of these women, whose ages range from 40 to 67, are filled with honest details, some heartbreaking but all ultimately courageous and inspirational. Talking always honestly, about their children, their men, their losses, and their successes, they are shining examples that, in today's world, it is the words of strong women that offer the antidote to loss and pain.

©2018 Changing Lives Press (P)2019 Tantor

The women of Southie were depicted spot-on.

Having spent the 1970s-80s living and working in South Boston, I found this book extremely interesting and enlightening. “Women of Southie” is an in-depth; behind the scenes look at the tragic lives, intense loves, and painful traumas which many women experience. It's also a story of extreme loyalty, unconditional love, and commitment. I always appreciated the women and girls of South Boston as being "real". What you saw is what you got. They were often sweet, loyal, loving, and understanding. They had to be quite tough as well. I admired so many of them. Listening to this audio book confirmed for me that I am spot-on when describing them as I did here. But now that I have gained a deeper understanding of them, I'm adding the words "uncommonly courageous" to that description.
This book also demonstrates that it is possible to turn a violent lifestyle around and live a better future. I now see a male member of Whitey Bulger's inner circle in a different, more human light.
While running a gas station and auto repair garage in the heart of Southie during the tumultuous decades of “Forced Busing”, gasoline shortages, and Whitey Bulger’s reign of terror, I became all too familiar with the brutalness and disregard for human life which was commonplace in Southie's past. Friends and acquaintances were murdered, had been shot, or they shot someone else. Thankfully, things have drastically changed in recent years.
This gripping, well written book by Phyllis Karas and Anna Weeks was wonderfully narrated by Christina DeLaine.
I’m glad I found it.

Thomas Cirignano: Author of “Memoirs of a South Boston Mechanic” and “67 Cents: Creation of a South Boston Killer”.

Bad Boston Accent

I would have loved this book if not for the narration, which is saturated with the worst attempts at a Boston accent I've ever heard.