A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943)

A wonderful story about a girl and her family, living in the slums of Brooklyn, NY. Through hardship she still finds hope, and through loss she still searches for love. This was a story that I wanted to go on and wished it hadn’t ended so soon. This is a book that I will keep so I can read it again and again. Highly recommended! ( )

I tried to read this many years ago and set the book aside midway through. At that time, I don't think I understood or appreciated what Betty Smith was trying to achieve or the beauty of her writing. This is not a fast paced book filled with constant action. It is about events though. It is about poverty and somehow managing to thrive or find some joy. It is about family and relationships. It is about personalities and the goodness that exists beneath otherwise flawed characters. It is often about the thoughts that occur during the humdrum of daily life. Mainly it is about growing up and the revelations that go along with that experience.

I adore this passage (mild spoiler):

“Oh, magic hour when a child first knows it can read printed words!

For quite a while, Francie had been spelling out letters, sounding them and then putting the sounds together to mean a word. But, one day, she looked at a page and the word "mouse" had instantaneous meaning. She looked at the word, and a picture of a gray mouse scampered through her mind. She looked further and when she saw "horse," she heard him pawing the ground and saw the sun glint on his glossy coat. The word "running" hit her suddenly and she breathed hard as though running herself. The barrier between he individual sound of each letter and the whole meaning of the word was removed and the printed word meant a thing at one quick glance. She read a few pages rapidly and almost became ill with excitement. She wanted to shout it out. She could read! She could read!

From that time on, the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again, never miss the lack of intimate friends. Books became her friends and there was one for every mood. There was poetry for quiet companionship. There was adventure when she tired of quiet hours. There would be love stories when she came to adolescence and when she wanted to feel a closeness to someone she could read a biography. On that day when she first knew she could read, she made a vow to read one book a day as long as she lived.” ( )

A quietly deep story of one girl's coming-of-age in the years before World War I. Told in a simple, frank style, filled with vivid detail and unforgettable characters that are true enough to break the heart. ( )

This book has been on my reading list for a long time. This is a coming of age tale for a young girl growing up in Brooklyn in poverty. Many, many insights into what it was like. Many great passages worth quoting. Not a lot of "action" but you get invested in the characters. This felt like a chick movie at times. I can certainly see how it would make a better more important read to a young girl. I admit it tugged the heart and left me with a good, warm feeling at the end. My next mission is two watch the old movie. I would recommend the book. ( )

A true classic everyone should read. Laughs, tears, memories, contemplations . . . What a book! ( )