From the Bookshelf of Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library…

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Betty Smith

Start date: March 14, 2016

Finish date: October 30, 2016

Discussion: So Many Books, So Little Time

Discussion leader: Deb

Why we're reading this: We will be discussing this book at the Library during the October meeting of the So Many Books discussion…more
[close] We will be discussing this book at the Library during the October meeting of the So Many Books discussion group. (3 pm on October 30th at the LIbrary)
A great book to read if you want that feeling that makes you not want to put it down! It is based on a little girl growing up who has a love of books and grows up in poverty, but works hard to get out of difficult situations.

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Showing 2 of 10 topics — 37 comments total

So Many Books, So Little Time

My review of Wild
By Deb · 3 posts · 10 views

last updated Mar 07, 2016 08:02AM

These Things Hidden - A quick review
By Deb · 2 posts · 13 views

last updated Sep 02, 2015 07:48AM

What Members Thought

Feb 07, 2015 Chris Blocker rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is the most nostalgic, sentimental book I have ever read. It starts slow. A hundred pages in and all you have is character description, setting, and back story (personally, I would have been happy with much less back story). Another hundred pages in you'll find what may be the start of the story, more setting, more character description. If you're more astute than I was, by this point you should have figured out that this was the story. In many novels, such a lack of def A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is the most nostalgic, sentimental book I have ever read. It starts slow. A hundred pages in and all you have is character description, setting, and back story (personally, I would have been happy with much less back story). Another hundred pages in you'll find what may be the start of the story, more setting, more character description. If you're more astute than I was, by this point you should have figured out that this was the story. In many novels, such a lack of defined plot would be detrimental to the success of the book. In A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, the loosely-defined story is its strength.

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is the story of living and wanting and hoping. It centers around a Brooklyn girl and her family in the early 1900s. What else could one say about the story? That's pretty much what the book is about. That's not to say events do not happen, events that are important in the life of Francie, but these moments are not what the story is about, nor are they all that memorable. They mirror our own lives. Sure a fist fight may have seemed significant when you were in the second grade. The death of a relative may have seemed insurmountable at the time. A short-lived romance may have felt like the moving of heaven and earth when you were sixteen. But who'd read a book about events that seem so trivial in hindsight? Betty Smith, that's who.

Smith has truly captured what it means to be human in this debut novel. She recalls childhood with such insight that it is easy to forget you're reading. It doesn't matter that her streets were not my own. Nor that her wars were not mine. One hundred years may separate us, but I could largely identify with Francie Nolan. While cultural differences abound throughout the world, there is enough honest truth at the heart of Francie's story that I'd argue it is universal at its core. Regardless of plot, that is effective storytelling.

It's difficult to write a riveting book, but one is published often enough that you know you'll find another page-turner one day, if not soon. But to find such a real, honest, and natural book again... there is always hope. ...more

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Dec 22, 2016 Deb rated it really liked it

A novelized account of the childhood of the daughter of Irish/Austrian immigrants, a girl named Francie living in Brooklyn, NY. Francie describes the ways the family scrambles to get food and other necessities--such as joining the long line of children bringing cans and other recyclables to a dealer so that they can get a few pennies. They have a hard life because their father, while a lovable and warm hearted man, drinks too much and only works occasionally as a singing waiter. The children (Fr ...more

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Oct 06, 2011 Carol rated it really liked it

Shelves: gar-2018

I enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked it up - if it would be like the classic "The Catcher in The Rye" or "A Separate Peace" - which are both noted as "coming of age" books. Thankfully, it was like neither. (I've read both and didn't really care for either of them.)It was meaningful, respectful and realistic on every level. It was a story to get lost in and discover new things.

Betty Smith rally got the feel of the times across (pre-1920's Brooklyn, New York) - with the ...more

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Nov 13, 2014 Melanie rated it it was amazing

A sweet book about growing up in Brooklyn at in the early 20th century. The Nolan family doesn't have much, but they have a great life together. Katie realizes upon Francie's birth how important education is for their future. I loved watching the lonely Francie grow up into a college bound woman. Life isn't perfect for them, but they are still happy. I had kept seeing this book come up over time, and glad I finally took the opportunity to read it. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Smith's wo ...more

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Nov 13, 2014 Melanie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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Dec 21, 2016 Lissa rated it really liked it

For classics made modern

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Dec 23, 2008 Tricia rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009, 2018-the-great-american-read

I liked and related to the characters. The writing was clear and easy to understand. I had heard that this book was "life-changing". I wouldn't agree with that statement, but I did enjoy the book. There are some good life lessons here about the passage of time and self improvement. ...more

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