Sign in with FacebookMaggie Campbell's Reviews > A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith
by Betty Smith
"Dear God, let me be something every minute of every hour of my life. Let me be gay; let me be sad. Let me be cold; let me be warm. Let me be hungry...have too much to eat. Let me be ragged or well-dressed. Let me be sincere- be deceitful. Let me be truthful; let me be a liar. Let me be honorable and let me sin. Only let me be something every blessed minute. And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost."
"Don't say that. It's not better to die. Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there from the grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It's growing out of sour earth. And it's strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong."
"Oh, I wish I was young again when everything seemed so wonderful!"
"Well, a person can cry for only so long. Then she has to find something else to do with her time."
"I know that's what people say- you'll get over it. I'd say it, too. But I know it's not true. Oh, you'll be happy again, never fear. But you won't forget."
"Don't say that. It's not better to die. Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there from the grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It's growing out of sour earth. And it's strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong."
"Oh, I wish I was young again when everything seemed so wonderful!"
"Well, a person can cry for only so long. Then she has to find something else to do with her time."
"I know that's what people say- you'll get over it. I'd say it, too. But I know it's not true. Oh, you'll be happy again, never fear. But you won't forget."
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Stephanie
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Jun 04, 2008 04:10am
Ok, so I must admit. In my opinion nothing really happens in this book BUT it is one of the best one's I've ever read. There is just something about Francie Nolan that makes you want to keep reading till the very end so that you can watch her whole life. loved it.
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sorry that was pretty vague..what page is the following quote on...
Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It's growing out of sour earth. And it's strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong. My children will be strong that way.
I thought she said "Gay" instead of happy? Is that not pc now, did the publisher amend her writing? Weird.
Shabina, I'm really not sure...it's been awhile since I've read this book. I think that quote is from when Francie's mom is pregnant with her youngest child and Johnny has just died, but I'm not entirely sure.Jen, you might be right. My copy said happy (don't think I would have changed that on my own)but it might have been changed from the original.
Maggie wrote: "Shabina, I'm really not sure...it's been awhile since I've read this book. I think that quote is from when Francie's mom is pregnant with her youngest child and Johnny has just died, but I'm not ..."aw.. that's too bad. a big part of why i enjoyed the book was just seeing how they spoke back then compared to today.
"Dear God," she prayed, "let me be something every minute of every hour of my life. Let me be gay; let me be sad. Let me be cold; let me be warm. Let me be hungry ... have too much to eat. Let me be ragged or well dressed. Let me be sincere--be deceitful. Let me be truthful; let me be a liar. Let me be honorable and let me sin. Only let me be something every blessed minute. And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one piece of living is ever lost." (Chapter48, p. 421)I think I just had a different copy than you ;)
My book, The Harper Perennial Modern Classics ©2001, says "...life. Let me be gay; let me be sad. Let..."
