A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (P.S.)
by Betty Smith
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Book Reviews of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (P.S.)
Book Review: A human being grows against all odds
Summary: 5 Stars
This was an unexpected discovery: I had seen something about this American teenage classic, but had no idea what it was about. It sounded rosy and childish, but turned out to be an excellent novel on the life -from age 11 to 16- of Francie Nolan, a girl who lives in Brooklyn. The Nolans are very poor. The father, Johny, is a handsome guy, but he suffers from a horrible alcoholism that only leaves him time to find sporadic work as waiter and singer. Katie, the mother, is a young, admirable hard-working woman, who has had a tough life and who finds work as housekeeper in order to sustain her children. Francie has a younger brother, Neely, with whom she generally is in good terms. The portrait includes uncles, aunts, and grandparents, depicting their lives and misadventures. It is a grand realistic fresco of life in Brooklyn during the first decades of the XXth Century, a poor Brooklyn populated by Irish, German, Italian and Jewish people.
But the main, and most interesting, focus is on Francie's inner world. She's an absolutely lovable character, an admirable, brave girl, self-assured and reflective. Francie enjoys going to the library to borrow books which she later reads in the peace of the fire ladder outside their tiny apartment. Although she is kind of a loner, this is compensated by the mental travels and the enrichment of her mind provided by books. The novel recounts the difficult passage from childhood into adolescence, her troubled and hurting love for her father, a pathetic failure who can't find the will to overcome his problems, and who stumbles from fall to fall until his destruction. It also recounts Francie's relationship with her mother: she suffers from believing Neely is her favorite, but she's never reproachful and is always helpful.
The tone is intimate, and even sordid aspects are treated with great beauty of language, depth in psychological description, and empathy with the characters. Feelings, values and situations are universal and allow the reader to really feel the story. Readers of any age beyond early childhood may enjoy it. It is about dignity, courage, effort, and authenticity without ever being corny or preachy.
Book Review: A True Classic: Americana, Achievement, Authenticity
Summary: 5 Stars
Francie Nolan is an 11-16 year-old girl growing up in 1910 Brooklyn, part of a seriously poor immigrant family. Her story is valuable to teens, young adults, prime timers and retirees. Her story is an inspiration to upwardly mobile individuals and a tonic for those who assume that the poor are lazy, unskilled, bad, incompetent or different. The story is timeless.
Francie loves her alcoholic father and appreciates her hard-working mother. Her life is shaped by a handfull of rules from her grandmother, most importantly those about thrift and education. Her life is also shaped by her extended family, her neighbors and her city. She is a good person who shares her innermost thoughts with the reader. Francie is one of the most attractive characters in American literature. She is not perfect; she's simplistic, naive, overly individualistic and overly focused. But, she's a keen observer of life.
This book is rated a top 10 American novel on Amazon because it is approachable to all. It reflects American values. The description of life is authentic. The characters are familiar, but not mere caricatures. Francie is driven to succeed, but not at all costs. She learns and grows. The "cattiness" of life at all socio-economic levels is well-described. Francie rises above it. Random events and tragedy are fully included in the broadly positive tale. In spite of economic pressures, war, cultural norms, institutions, and human nature Francie ultimately succeeds in her primary quest for higher education. Her family succeeds economically. But, this is not utopia. Success comes with a cost. It does not provide permanent security. In the author's tale, grace comes to some, but not to all.
The possibility of individual progress, in spite of ..., is elevated by this novel in a believable manner. If Francie Nolan can overcome the odds, we should all be fully engaged in the game of life, pursuing our dreams.
The CD version is exceptionally well performed.
Book Review: Maybe "the" American novel
Summary: 5 Stars
There are not many books that I have read that I never wanted to end. This is one of them. I've loved it since I was in middle school, when it was a rich reality check for my suburban spoiled life.
This is the story of the Nolan family and their struggles to survive in turn of the century Brooklyn. It focuses on Francie and her brother and paints a very vivid picture of the world they inhabit, whether the author is describing how they spend Saturdays or Christmas. Even Coney Island visits come to life with her rich wording. They have parents who, though not bad people, are not perfect; Johnny is a man overwhelmed by the responsibility of a family, who can not pursue his dream of singing and turns to alcohol to comfort himself, and Katie is hardened by the responsibility of caring for them all. Their aunt Sissy is the big hearted, "modern" female influence on them; she cares deeply for the children, and can't help it that men love her.
Yes, the book is about poverty, but it's not a depressing book. Francie is a lovely, spirited girl who doesn't let the world drag her down. She has dignity; when a nurse, herself a Brooklyn-born girl, mocks the fact that the kids come for their vaccinations dirty (because they've been playing in mud puddles, which I related to), Francie stands up for herself and her brother. You laugh, recognizing bad family outings in the trip Johnny takes the children on to the seashore, which ends badly for all involved. You hurt for her, especially at the way Katie, caught up with trying to provide for them, treats her. You want her to succeed, and you cheer when things go right for her.
The name of the book refers to a tree that grows in Brooklyn. No one plants it, no one tends it, it's just there and it grows. People try to cut it down and it grows back. And it's beautiful. And that is Francie. Her surroundings and her family influence her, but they don't ruin her and they don't define her. They just strengthen her.
Book Review: Too Close to Reality to be Powerful
Summary: 2 Stars
I just finished reading this book a few minutes ago. I am not trying to be against the grain here at all but I don't understand how this book is so reputably powerful and a classic. It's not terrible reading because this story was by far very well written and my vocabulary has increased by atleast 13 new words. Overall though, this book felt like a auto biography, too close to reality to really wow me. As the reader, I was experiencing poverty, hunger, bulleying, chronic rejection and loss of innocence through Francie's eyes and yet, she progressed beautifully by independently finding ways to be educated and learning about the world and the people in it. I did find myself physically reacting to certain parts like when this young woman whom had a baby but was unwed was bedeviled by the neighbors and having rocks thrown at her and her child. Also, an important character in my mind passed on which changed my mood from then on. For the record, I feel the need to defend Francies Father Johnny. Yes, he did drink but I don't feel like he deserved to be treated like an acute alcoholic. He was never biligerent or hurtful to his family. Johnny wasn't the type to pour whiskey in his morning cereal and he was always singing and being chipper. But because every night when he performed he had gotten inebriated this is how he was remembered. Luckily, Francie saw past it because he was the only one that truely understood her and supported her ideas and dreams. Katie, Francie's mother lacked a sense of humor, obviously favored Francie's younger brother Neely, and could not let go of her control issues. It was her way or the highway. I don't want to give away the entire story but I must say that although I did enjoy reading this book, it did not satisfy my hunger from what I expected based on all the reviews I read about it. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is an adventure and will more than likely relate to you in some way, this book just illustrated what we all must go through... Life.Book Review: A literary work worthy of Mockingbird
Summary: 5 Stars
Not many books come close to Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird on my bookshelf, but A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith has been placed right next to it.
The story may seem bland: a girl grows up in a poverty-stricken section of Brooklyn in the early 1900's, as her mother and father struggle to provide a better life for their family.
Yet, the story does not totally transcend the standard book: the characters are not overly eccentric and the plot is simple. After finishing the book, I could not put my finger on what it was that left such an impression, until I realized it was very demonstration of human nature which left me breathless.
Smith's work offers much insight into the gorgeous complexity that is the human spirit, and the innate ability to acclimate to the life one is thrown into the moment they are born. When boiled down, the essence of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a beautifully written tale of strength in the midst of the eternal turmoil in poverty, heritage and relationships, both deep and superficial.
The book, being semi-autobiographical, is easy to identify with; the themes of poverty, innocence and strength flowing strong throughout the story. But what may seem as urbane and indistinctive actually reveals the matchless feats and adventures conquered in an ordinary life.
The characters of Johnny Nolan and Aunt Sissy bear a kind of comedic tragedy: a loving, alcoholic father who leaves flowers for his daughter a year after he dies, and an "over-sexed" woman who calls all her lovers "John". The characters are odd, but also very recognizable in any lifetime or family.
Conclusively, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the humbling story of ordinary people, doing ordinary things to stay alive, while astonishing readers by how parallel the fictional characters' lives are to their own.