A new memoir, “Dyer Straits: All Those Years Ago in Dorchester, MA,” is taking a deep and honest look at what it was like growing up in Dorchester during the 1960s and ’70s. Set against the backdrop of a changing Boston, the book shares one family’s story of resilience, survival, and the powerful bond between siblings.

The memoir explores life inside a busy triple-decker household shaped by poverty, addiction, mental illness, and domestic violence. At the center of it all is a hardworking mother of eight who did everything she could to keep her family together during incredibly difficult times.

While the story doesn’t shy away from hardship, it also highlights the moments of joy and connection that helped the family get through it, especially music. From sing-alongs in the kitchen to rock and roll blasting from bedroom radios, music became a source of comfort, escape, and love for the siblings growing up in Dorchester.

Part family tribute and part coming-of-age story, the memoir offers a raw and heartfelt look at working-class life in Boston during a complicated time in the city’s history.

You can order a copy here! 

About Mary Dyer, Author:

Born and raised in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Mary Dyer grew up surrounded by seven siblings and a steady soundtrack of rock and roll that shaped her earliest memories and still guides her creative life today. Her memoir, Dyer Straits: All Those Years Ago in Dorchester, MA, reflects her commitment to telling her family’s Boston story plainly, honestly, and with deep respect for the people who lived it. Living in New England with her husband, she divides her time between writing, upcycling vintage furniture, singing, and staying connected to her Boston roots. Dyer Straits: All Those Years Ago in Dorchester, MA is Mary’s first published book.