Blue Collars

by Catherine McLaughlin

A compelling story about growing up during the late 1950s and 1960s in a New Bedford, Massachusetts working-class family, Blue Collars details the triumphs and tragedies of the Kilroy family. Told through the eyes of young Fiona “Finn” Kilroy, whose father worked as a loomfixer at the Berkshire Hathaway textile mill along the city’s waterfront, her story unfolds in the city’s South End, a neighborhood where Portuguese, Irish, French, and Cape Verdean immigrant families lived side-by-side in mostly three-decker tenement houses typical of many New England cities.
Surrounded by the love of a caring, extended family, Finn’s life seems, on the surface, to be carefree and idyllic, but a terrible secret haunts her childhood. This is the story of a young girl’s endurance in the face of betrayal and her brave efforts to overcome the shocks that rock her world. Finn's efforts to present a normal face breaks the reader's heart. Her story infuriates – even as her determination to stay strong and survive will inspire every reader.
From Finn’s tumultuous childhood to her coming of age, we experience her family’s life of love, abuse, and heartache amidst a backdrop of historical events that shaped this American industrial city—financial upheaval and textile strikes.

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Catherine McLaughlin grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts. She received graduate degrees at the University College Dublin and Bowling Green State University. She has taught English and writing for 40 years at UMASS Dartmouth and Framingham State University. As a graduate student at Bowling Green State University, Catherine was mentored by James Baldwin, author of The Fire Next Time, writer-in-residence at the time and was assigned to be his assistant. They developed a friendship that lasted the last ten years of his life. A published poet and an artist, McLaughlin is professor emerita of Framingham State University. In 2015 Catherine published a book of poetry called Under a Circus Moon. Blue Collars is her first attempt to delve into fiction. Catherine designed the cover artwork of Blue Collars.
Having grown up in New Bedford, living and teaching in various places for over 35 years as well as living abroad in Dublin, Ireland for a time, she retired from teaching and now lives in the village of Padanaram Massachusetts with her two cats. Catherine has two grown children. Returning to this area felt to her like coming home again.
Catherine's novel, Blue Collars is scheduled for release in March 2018.

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The precision with which the author describes New Bedford, Massachusetts of the 1950s through the subsequent 40 years is stunning. Not only can the reader breathe the air of the once thriving seaport of Herman Melville, but also inhale the decay of the city as families begin to lose the thread of the ethnic groups that thrived within its borders. There is the story of an Irish family reaching by means of children towards the American Dream. There is also the unspoken crime of paedophilia and assaults upon the children by an uncle. The joys of summer outings and the annual trip to an amusement park are matched by winters of despair that grow ever darker. The allure of this story demands a second reading, both to savour the language and to touch once more the history of our past with all of its sins. The reader should be prepared for Finn, so perfectly honest and reflective, to take up residence in the mind and heart.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

THis is a book about a family inNew Bedford, MA. A family living in a tenement house with all family on all three floors. The main character, Finn recounts what life was like as a child growing up in the neighborhood, as a daughter of a mill worker. She has a secret she lives with. The story is well written and anyone who lives in that area, or grew up there, can associate with all the places she identifies and describes. The story flows along, telling of the ups and downs of the problems of the family. It touches on sexual abuse and alcoholism, family loyalty and how they all deal with this. Perfect story for the time we live in. Excellent story!

[Roger A. Cabral · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Growing up in the greater new bedford area it was neat to have an actual perspective on the landmarks covered. The description of the death of NB was accurate although the death of the city continued through the 80s and 90 s. The death spiral certainly started with the textile industry.

The discussion of how the abuse happened was a bit vague and hard to visualize which was good but made it a bit unreal. Didn't seem the scenario painted was real and would have been quickly discovered.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finn the youngest girl in a family of 5 children tell the story of growing up in New Bedford's South End during the 50's/60's. It was a time of family and working in the mills. She talks about places I recognize having grown up during the same time and not far from where she lived. It is a story of family, friendship, loneliness, change in economic times, race riots, Vietnam War and being sexually abused and how it affected and her family through her whole life. It was well written, I couldn't put it down.

[Jessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic novel that really takes the reader and pulls them into 1950s and 60s New Bedford, MA. Readers, especially ones from the south coast region of Massachusetts, will appreciate the nostalgic feel that the novel brings. Finn Kilroy as the novels narrator brings a perspective unlike any other and her storytelling will make the reader want to keep reading and never put the book down.

[Donna M. Downes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable, well written, riveting

Amazingly honest storytelling. Thank you Catherine
McLaughlin for reminding me of so many memories of my own. You touched on so many situations that I'm sure so many in our generation experienced. Thank you for bringing the destruction childhood abuse into the light. Perhaps I will be able to finally come to terms with my own demons.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My family is from the New Bedford/Dartmouth area so the book's setting really resonated with me. The author really brought out the diversity and struggles of N.B. and told a very compelling, honest, and quite frankly brutal story of a family's struggles. The characters were so real and alive to me - this was one of those books I really couldn't put down.

[Rosemary Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

growing up in the southend of New Bedford in a family tenement, this book made me laugh, made me cry and brought back so many memories, thoroughly enjoyed it.