A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - No Spoilers

[Trisha]

Please post your comments here!

[Emily]

I read this book last year, and though I don't remember anything super specific, I remember liking it A LOT more than I thought I would.

It is a beautiful story of growing up.
I love how set the mother is in certain ways of raising her children, and I love the entire symbolism of the tree that grows In Brooklyn.

Has anyone else read it?

[Mo]

Emma, I also read it last year and have almost the same recollection as you do. It was a sweet book.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

I remember liking this book the first time I read it. It has been a few years though. I am looking forward to a reread.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Starting today, ready to discuss for next week.

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith will be our Revisit the Shelf Group Read for August 2019.

[Darren]

wahey! my nomination was chosen! :oD
I'd like to thank Leni for not losing faith, and all the late nominators for making it possible! ;o)

I "obtained" a hardback copy of this a while back - I was in a car-park and I noticed that some crates of stuff had been left near the rear-entrance of a charity shop (which was closed at the time - the stuff had effecively just been "dumped") - it then started to come on to rain, and several of the crates contained books which were just going to be ruined in the next few minutes - quickly peering at some of the titles I spotted A Tree Grows In Brooklyn which I had on my TBR list, so I "rescued" it!

[Brina]

Ooh I read this two years ago and loved this book. I think I read it in two days. It helps that I have summers off. Not sure if I’ll reread but I’ll pop into the spoiler thread once discussions start in August.

[Rosemarie]

This book was very popular with American GIs serving in World War Two.
I read it a couple of years ago and loved it.

[Xan]

This book was written three-quarters of a century ago, yet it has three of the most memorable characters I've ever met. Francie, her mother, and her father still resonate with me, and I read this many years ago.

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Darren wrote: "wahey! my nomination was chosen! :oD
I'd like to thank Leni for not losing faith, and all the late nominators for making it possible! ;o)

I "obtained" a hardback copy of this a while back - I was ..."

I have a similar story for my book! I have neighbors we had known for 30 years. They were about 25 years older than me though. When he died and she moved to be closer to her children, they had boxes of books they did not want and let me pick out some. I ended up with over 20 hardback books all published between 1920 - 1945. I love them.

This will be a new read for me.

[Michele]

Yay! I finally read this classic for the first time this past winter. Would love to discuss.

[Paula W]

I read it a year or so ago, and I loved it. For those who prefer audiobooks, Kate Burton narrates a version on Audible that is fantastic. She is Richard Burton’s daughter, and better known in modern times as Ellis Grey on Grey’s Anatomy and VP Sally Langston on Scandal.

[Gabrielle]

I finally found this book in a French version by Maurice Beerblock. The paperback edition is from 1946 and very damaged. The cover is so ugly that it makes you want to throw the book in the fire! The pages are terribly yellowed, the font is tiny and not very clear. Who feels like opening this book? :)
As I didn't know Betty Smith, she's not famous at all in France, I had a quick look on Wiki. She is quite a woman... no more hesitation, I'll read A Tree grows in Brooklyn!

[Mike]

I wasn't planning on reading this book as I have WAY too many books on my plate at the moment, but I ran across a nice copy at the Goodwill for $2 so I now will be reading this along with Pale Fire and Midnight's Children.

[Jen from Quebec :0)]

One of my all-time favorites! I have already read this about 4 times in my life (so far!) but I will still try to pop in and out on this group read, for sure. --Jen from Quebec :0)

[Franky]

I bought a copy and have started it a few days ago. Enjoying it and despite its length, I'm going through the book pretty quickly.

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Franky wrote: "I bought a copy and have started it a few days ago. Enjoying it and despite its length, I'm going through the book pretty quickly."

That's great to hear Franky! It is nice to hear all the positive reports from people. I plan to start reading this weekend.

[Gabrielle]

I've already read a third of the novel. I didn't know Betty Smith before. I am very moved by this reading. There is so much similarity in the behaviours and reactions of the mothers, grandmothers and aunts of little Francie, with my own mothers and grandmothers! There are so many things that little Francie feels that are familiar to me! So many beautiful analyses and women's thoughts! I'm very touched. Moreover, it is very easy to read, there are no lengths. For now, thank you Catching up on Classics for sharing this book with me!

[Emily]

Checked this out today and looking forward to reading this with the group as it's been awhile since I've done a group read! This one has been on my TBR for way too long.

[Terry]

This is a great book. I wont be re-reading it, though, because I want to read books I haven’t t read.

[Gabrielle]

I finished it yesterday. As I say in my review it's the best book I read this year!

[Lynn, Old School Classics]

Gabrielle wrote: "I finished it yesterday. As I say in my review it's the best book I read this year!"

Everyone seems to have liked this book so much. I am glad it was such a success!!