From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Betty Smith

Start date: March 15, 2015

Finish date: April 15, 2015

Discussion: Group Reads Discussions

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Group Reads Discussions

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By Diane , Armchair Tour Guide · 3 posts · 1371 views

last updated Jan 18, 2013 07:12PM

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What Members Thought

Jul 05, 2009 Rebekah rated it liked it

Shelves: genre-classics, genre-young-adult, genre-book-club, genre-historical-fiction, genre-literature, genre-young-adult-coming-of-age, genre-novels, genre-adult, genre-adult-fiction, genre-new-york

I read this sometime in my teens and honestly don't remember much about it, positive or negative, so I will rate it 3 stars. ...more

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Jul 12, 2008 C. rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

This is a Classic that takes place in the early 1900's in Brooklyn, New York. It is the story of a family and its main character is a little girl named Francis. She grew up in a neighbourhood of immigrants due to her poverty. It is a good read, although the story doesn't move too fast, it does capture the reader. You feel for the suffering caused by poverty, alcoholism and need of expressed affection, as perceived by the child. You feel for the rushed growing-up Francis and her brother had to do ...more

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Mar 19, 2009 Suzanne rated it liked it

Shelves: juvenile, classics

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 18, 2008 SandyC rated it it was amazing

Shelves: best-books-ever, classics-literature, my-top-10, own-it

I absolutely loved this book! The author effortlessly conveys what it was like to be poor and live in the early twentieth-century in New York. Even through the story is told the eyes of a child, much of the subject matter is disturbing (child molesters, alcoholism, adultery). I highly recommend this as a MUST READ!

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Feb 20, 2010 Pam rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-club-choice, classics, re-reads, 2010

I remembered reading this for the first time and being enthralled with the story, the insight, the voice. That was over 20 years ago. In my first re-read, the story was no less enjoyable... but I confess that I must have forgotten some slow bits about 3/4 of the way through the book.

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Mar 28, 2012 Daisy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ny, classics, readers

In the essay in the back of my edition, Betty Smith's daughter writes in "Things I Want to Say About My Mother" that she liked Russian leather boots, her own hands, and ironing. But that's not the only thing I got out of this book.

("Betty Smith's Library at the Time of Her Death.") ...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Rachel N. rated it it was amazing

The story of Francie Nolan and her family growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900's. I fell in love with Francie and wanted to know more about what happened to her. Sad in parts but a great book. ...more

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