Division

by Patrick Creevy

Set in the late 1990s, Division opens with the physical barrier of Division Street on Chicago’s north side, exploring the street’s function as a north-south boundary between rival African American gangs and as a metaphor for the boundary between affluent whites and poverty-stricken minorities in the racially divided Division Street runs westward from the wealth of Chicago’s Gold Coast to the economic desperation of Cabrini-Green’s “Soul Coast.” The tension between these polar opposites is heightened by spreading gentrification on Division Street, and developing conflict that is exemplified in the collision between Watt—a nihilistic, intelligent, supremely dangerous rising gang leader—and Connor Riordan, a white child of privilege. Woven into the story is the complex legacy of Camp Douglas, the infamous Civil War prison where thousands of Confederate soldiers died, American slavery, and the Great Migration, set against more-personal dramas of marital betrayal and painful questions about abortion. Using these threads as the warp and weft of its tapestry, Division explores the profound divisions in our society, our past, and in our souls.

422 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2020

About the author

Patrick Creevy grew up on the South Side of Chicago, moving to the northern suburbs at age fourteen. He graduated from Holy Cross College in 1970, received his Ph.D. in English Literature from Harvard University in 1975, and has taught at Mississippi State University since 1976. For the last several years he has divided his time between his farm in Mississippi and his home in Wilmette, Illinois. He has five children and nine grandchildren and has been married to his wife, Susie, for forty-nine years.

Reviews

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

Division is a wonderful read, exploring many inter personal relationships. I found the story to be intriguing, grabbing me from the meeting in Starbucks in the first chapter right to its conclusion. The characters that Creevy brings to life as two worlds collide, all seem so real, likely roaming the streets of Chicago in the late 90’s. Creevy intimately develops these characters right down to their inner most thoughts. Division is a powerful story pertinent to today’s racial and social unrest. A strong recommended read.

[Cindy Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am 72, and have been an avid reader since my mid-30's - when I discovered that a book CAN BE a person's best friend. Division is like no other I have ever read, and that includes the over 300 that my eyes have passed over these wonderful years. Within the plots and subplots of the human experience, as seen through Patrick's main characters, a profound central theme develops, ever so subtlely. Creevy's genius is revealed in the manner in which this theme is crafted through the piercing racial and ethical confrontations and agonizing personal tribulations of his characters. There are semblances of heroes and villains throughout this storyline. However, as the context of Creevy's message slowly but most profoundly takes form, one gradually begins to discover a deeper insight and growing empathy for the tremendous burden these principles have had to endure in an uphill battle to discover their true character. And as his story winds to its close, the poignant message Creevy reaches out to his readers makes its final everlasting statement: to survive this chaotic and divisive world we live in, the human experience will only triumph through the uncompromised and genuine gift of forgiveness. In appreciation, John Marshall 7-8-2020

[Thomas Benz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pat Creevy’s “Division” couldn’t be a more timely or eloquent exploration of the “original sin” of America, its racial animus and segregation which, despite halting improvement over the decades, continues to pervade our culture. He tells the story of a white family living in a very affluent Chicago neighborhood which happens to be situated near a housing project which is an epicenter of black poverty. The two worlds tragically collide one day, thrusting families from both sides of the fence into severe conflict and ultimately understanding. Creevy does an amazing job of authentically getting inside a wide range of characters, mapping their desires and fears, and intertwining them in a tale whose scope reaches all the way back to the Civil War. This is a big, ambitious book which addresses one of the central issues of our day with realism, compassion and a beautifully intricate narrative, one which propels the reader toward its inevitable, yet still unexpected conclusion. Here is a novel combining life, art and a deep moral wellspring.

[John Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Division is one of the top 5 books that I have ever read. The story is very relevant to today's atmosphere of racism and inequality. There are parts of the book that had me on the edge of my seat. If you are looking for a read that is different than the same old suspense thrillers, Division should be your next choice. The author is truly a gifted writer.

[Jeff Seitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Division dazzles the reader with its rich descriptions of Chicago life, its penetrating exploration of individual psychology, its nuanced treatment of race relations, and its philosophical reflections on freedom of choice and the Catholic understanding of personhood. Creevy is a gifted writer who deftly weaves all of these into a riveting story of loss and redemption that is both moving and thought-provoking. Division is not beach reading. This is a very brainy work that is well worth the effort.

My one criticism is that we needed to know more about the background of certain characters. The book centers around a particular event. The reactions of specific key characters in this event and their behavior in its aftermath is not fully understandable without giving the reader a better sense of how they came to hold certain beliefs so firmly.

[Libby Cagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick Creevy , I’ll have to think for a while about how to describe this book to others! The descriptions of human emotions! The depth of self discovery through the intense soul searching and the knowledge of that soul searching shared to the point of understanding and empathy of those with whom we think we have nothing in common! The relationships formed from divisions that unite! When I read the description on the back of Division, I thought, “How in the world will all of that be woven together in one novel.” AMAZINGLY is the answer!