Author: Betty Smith
Length: 496 pages
Type: Fiction, Physical Book
Genre: Classic, 1000 Books, Literary, Historical
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Description
“From the moment she entered the world, Francie Nolan needed to be made of stern stuff, for growing up in the Williamsburg slums of Brooklyn, New York demanded fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit. Often scorned by neighbors for her family’s erratic and eccentric behavior—such as her father Johnny’s taste for alcohol and Aunt Sissy’s habit of marrying serially without the formality of divorce—no one, least of all Francie, could say that the Nolans’ life lacked drama. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the Nolans’ daily experiences are raw with honestly and tenderly threaded with family connectedness. Betty Smith has, in the pages of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, captured the joys of humble Williamsburg life—from “junk day” on Saturdays, when the children of Francie’s neighborhood traded their weekly take for pennies, to the special excitement of holidays, bringing cause for celebration and revelry.”
Janet Dore –
It just doesn’t get much better than this book. A coming of age story of a young girl growing up in early 20th century Brooklyn. You can see, taste, smell, hear and feel New York thanks to Betty Smith. An all-time favorite of mine.