A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943)

So many reviews were already written about this book. So I only thank want to thank a very good friend for recommending and lending me this gem. I had very special hours reading it. I laughed and cried with the characters and enjoyed reading about their lives in a country and a time far away from my own, but nevertheless finding similarities between my life and my feelings and theirs. ( )

Wonderful, classic story. I loved the narrator, as she added so many dialect details. I cried and laughed throughout and learned a lot about our country and immigrants in the 1940's. ( )

Non essendo nata con la camicia, il mito del self-made man (quello che alla fine ce la fa, non importa quante avversità debba fronteggiare) ha sempre avuto appeal su di me.

Così è stato anche con Un albero cresce a Brooklyn, la storia di Francie e della sua famiglia, che cercano di tirare avanti e migliorarsi a dispetto della loro sfortunata partenza. Tutti i personaggi di questa famiglia sono interessanti e con le loro caratteristiche peculiari: dalla femminilità pericolosa di Sissy alla granitica forza di Katie; dal sognatore Johnny alla fedele Mary.

Tutti i membri di questa famiglia puntano con forza verso l'obiettivo: far studiare i figli. A partire dalla nonna, nelle loro menti è stata ben instillata l'importanza dell'istruzione, a cominciare dall'alfabetizzazione: così, noi lettori li vediamo avvicinarsi alla meta un passetto – e tanti sacrifici – alla volta, da una generazione all'altra.

Siamo nei primi anni del Novecento e sognare il sogno americano forse era più realistico rispetto ai primi anni Duemila. In effetti, parecchia retorica da American dream mi è sembrata un po' eccessiva – o forse è solo colpa mia e della mia disillusione. Tuttavia, rimane un buon libro. E un buon sogno (che alle volte si realizza: bisogna ricordarsi di non dimenticarlo). ( )

Did not record a comment at the time (such were those busy motherhood + career days) but still remember enjoying this sweet story of resilience, grit, and determination. Would probably glean even more from it to read today; Betty Smith aparently was commenting on many social issues, including those related to women. ( )

This is a long novel depicting a girl's childhood and maturity into her late teens. It's kind of like Anne of Green Gables, if Anne were to live in an impoverished family in a poor neighborhood with an alcoholic dad. It took me a long time getting into it because the author spent so much time describing activities that take place in this Brooklyn neighborhood in the different seasons of the early 1910s, and then a lot of time writing about the girl's alcoholic father. I could not stand him! lol But the girl and the author clearly loved and admired him despite his glaring shortcomings. I had a sense that this novel is the author's semi-autobiography, hence the details and the sympathy for the dad. Personally I think the book got a lot better after the dad passed away. Finally everyone in her family was likable! I was finally able to sympathize with the girl and became invested in the her joys and disappointments. Also, the girl's life took a turn for the better and I rooted for that, as she navigated the tensions of supporting her family and pursuing her dreams. ( )