In the Neighborhood (Peter Lovenheim)

My book club was interested in this book because it's local; we are all from around Rochester, NY, and some of us live in Brighton, though none on the street that is the focus of this book. The author is disturbed when a murder-suicide happens in his quiet, well-to-do neighborhood, and reflects on the fact that nobody on the street really knew the victim and she had no one there to turn to. This book describes his idiosyncratic attempt to overcome the barriers between neighbors by introducing himself to people and asking if, as an author, he could get to know them, shadow them for a whole day, and even stay overnight in their homes. A few people said yes, and he was able to build a tiny community among a few of his neighbors. On the other hand, the link between a general lack of community on a street like this one, with imposing homes on huge lots, and the death of the murder victim was forced. She did know her next-door neighbors well enough so that her children knew to go there when something went wrong. She just didn't really believe her husband was going to kill her until it was too late. And the community he built was tiny and temporary. Was it worth it? With the communities we all build among more distant folks, is it really important that you be good friends with your next door neighbor? We weren't as convinced as he was.