A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in Bound Together

Apr 11, 2008 ☮Karen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: libby, historical-fiction, war-wwi, 3000-2025, book-club, favorites, audio, read-in-2025, read-more-than-once

A reread for Book Club 6/28/25
I remembered it as a 4 star read when I first joined GR and I still feel the same way about it now.

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Dec 12, 2007 Chrissie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kids, audible-us, usa, life-stages, classics

ON COMPLETION:
My views expressed below remain unchanged, having completed the novel. I will simply add a few points. Although I loved this book as a child, reading it as an adult gave me less. In my opinion this book is written for young adults. For this audience it is absolutely perfect and worthy five stars, but as an adult reading it, I could only give it three. The book does a magnificent job of portraying how parents love each of their children differently. Equally, but differently. It is a ON COMPLETION:
My views expressed below remain unchanged, having completed the novel. I will simply add a few points. Although I loved this book as a child, reading it as an adult gave me less. In my opinion this book is written for young adults. For this audience it is absolutely perfect and worthy five stars, but as an adult reading it, I could only give it three. The book does a magnificent job of portraying how parents love each of their children differently. Equally, but differently. It is a classic bildungs roman, covering the topics characteristic of such literature.

A book has been written about the author, Betty Smith. It is entitled Betty Smith: A Life of the Author of a Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I always felt that the author was speaking of her own experiences. Al though a book of fiction,"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", is in fact loosely based on her own life.

A while ago I reread To Kill a Mockingbird. This book, contrary to "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", brought me the same if not more enjoyment on the second reading. It is is not written for one particular age group,

AFTER 29 CHAPTERS:
I think the writing is fantastic. Sometimes it is poignant and I feel sad. Sometimes a smile comes to my face. I also very much enjoy the descriptiveness of the writing. The time and place are wonderfully depicted - the stores, the neighborhoods, a school day, daily routines popular songs and food, All of these details are interwoven into Francie's daily life. The picture the author draws of her sitting on a fire escape in among the leaves with her cookies and drink - well you feel as if you were there on a hot summer day with a pillow beneath your rump, engulfed in hot muggy air with occasionally a slight breeze to cool you. In addition, Francie's parents come alive. They are good and they are weak and they feel so darn reeal. You can love a weak person. Truely you can.

Nevertheless, I am having some trouble listening to the audio now. It takes foreve, which kind of annoyses me. Sometimes the narrator mixes up who is speaking and has the wrong inflexion to her voice. I probably wouldn't be so picky if the pace were faster. I believe that listening and reading are two very different experiences. Conversely, I do enjoy listening to the songs that are sung - a huge plus for the audio version.

I have another problem. I feel the book is a lesson on how to be a good person, on how to appreciate life even when times are bad. I agree with the philosophy stated, but I really get a little bit bored being "taught" this all over again. Given that I am an adult, I find it a bit didactic.

As a child I adored this book. However now, reading it as an adult, I doubt I will give it 5 stars.

BEFORE READING:
I am going to reread this soon! Well as soon as I have time.... The 5 stars were awarded for my last reading. What will I think this time?!

I am going to listen to it. ) My first audio book. I have already listened to half of the first section. I am totally enjoying myself. I just sit and listen and smile sometimes. Beautiful writing. And the narrator is SO good! ...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Irene rated it really liked it

This is a coming of age story in which the particular becomes universal. Betty Smith draws the reader into the life of the Nolan family with all of its strength and weakness. The book opens on a July Saturday in a poor immigrant neighborhood in Brooklyn in 1912. Eleven year old Frances Nolan and her brother take the week’s collection of rags and scrap metal to the junk man, buy penny candy with the proceeds, then, as Neeley goes off to play ball with other boys, Francie settles on the fire escap ...more

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Apr 16, 2009 Bucket rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classic, reviewed, identity, women, literary, old-favorites, bildungsroman, parents-affecting-children, favorites

This book meant a lot to me when I was younger, and it was such a pleasure to revisit it. I remember previously being very affected by the struggles and unfairnesses in Francie's life - particularly her father's drunkenness and the fact that she loses him, the parent who loves her best.

Now that I've lived another decade and a half or so of life, I have less of a demand for life to be 'fair' and was able to focus instead more on Francie's optimism and drive: "Dear God," she prayed, "let me be SO ...more

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Jun 15, 2009 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, 2014-reads, read-with-kathy

I'm really not sure why it took me so long to finish this book. I knew going in that it wasn't going to be packed with action, but it quietly sneaked up on you and pulled you in to life through Francie's eyes. What an amazing, rich character! I loved her spunk - she was just so real. There is so much going on in this story that it seems like nothing is going on. But it is a masterful story and well worth the praise it has received. So many quiet, subtle lines that just resonated with me.

Here are ...more

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Jan 12, 2017 Angie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, coming-of-age

I absolutely loved this book. I don't know why I waited so long to read it. What a beautifully written story about a girl growing up in Brooklyn. Absolute classic, I'd read it again and again. ...more

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Jun 21, 2011 Deb rated it really liked it

People of all ages and from all time periods can relate to this story, a true classic. As I read it I kept reminding myself that this was written over 50 years ago, such a good story with great messages. No matter what the hardship or conditions, the tree still grows. I loved following Francie through the years, all her stories, all the characters in her life.

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