To Brooklyn with Love

by Gerald Green

Pocket Books 77054 $.95

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Green attended Columbia College, where he edited the Jester, starred in several Varsity Shows, and was a member of the Philolexian Society. He graduated from the college in 1942 and, after serving in the US Army in Europe during the Second World War, where he was also the editor of the army's Stars and Stripes newspaper, he returned to New York to attend the Columbia Journalism School.

Green wrote many novels, the best known being The Last Angry Man, published in 1956. It was adapted into a movie by the same name which was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Muni) and Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White. His other novels include His Majesty O'Keefe (co-authored with Lawrence Klingman), adapted into a 1954 film, North West, Portofino PTA, To Brooklyn With Love, My Son the Jock, The Lotus Eaters and East and West. His 1962 novel Portofino P.T.A. was adapted into a musical, Something More!, by composer Sammy Fain and lyricists Marilyn and Alan Bergman.

He wrote the teleplay for Holocaust, a critically acclaimed 1978 TV miniseries that won eight Emmy Awards, including one for "Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series," and was credited with persuading the West German government to repeal the statute of limitations on Nazi war crimes. He later adapted the script into a novel of the same title. In recognition for this effort, Green was awarded the Dag Hammarskjöld International Peace Prize for literature, 1979. Green won another Emmy nomination for his 1985 TV script for Wallenberg: A Hero's Story. Green was also a writer, producer, and director for NBC News. In 1952, he co-created (with Dave Garroway) NBC's The Today Show.

Green lived in Stamford, Connecticut for twenty years and moved to New Canaan, Connecticut. His first wife, Marie, died of cancer. They had three children: Nancy, Ted and David. He married Marlene Eagle in 1979, becoming stepfather to Dr Janie Worth (Née Eagle), Julie Cardo (Née Eagle) and David Eagle. Green died of pneumonia in Norwalk, Connecticut on August 29, 2006.

Reviews

[NanCy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a treasure trove of nostalgic period and place detail. It is the story of a family and the authentic activities and emotions of a 12 year old boy growing up during the great depression. I was involved like a tractor beam. It was a fast read and a joyful one. Everything takes place in a single day. Easy to recommend this book.

[Phillip Frey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a boy growing up in Brooklyn's Brownsville during the depression. It takes place in one dynamic day with great characters surrounding the boy.

[A.K. Frailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written novel but very depressing to my mind. I didn't see any characters that I admired or enjoyed reading about. I saw the ugly side of New York life and not much hope.

[Jean S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my all-time favorite books as a kid. I recently found my falling-apart, coverless copy that hadn't seen the light of day in more than 30 years, and read it again for probably the 10th time. I grew up in the leafy suburbs of New Jersey, but for some reason this book really spoke to me, then and now. It takes place over the course of one scorching summer day in Brownsville, Brooklyn at the height of the Great Depression. The hero is Albert Abrams, age 12, the smartest kid in his school, eternal bully victim, last kid picked for every sport, who lives a life in books and on the streets populated with an amazing cast of characters. This story highlights the universal truths of childhood across the decades in much the same way as Jean Shepherd's "Christmas Story."

[Marsha Raasch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of ho-hum. I did enjoy the depictions of Depression -era Brooklyn. But the book was mostly sad: a lonely, intelligent, non-athletic boy, his practical and over protective mother, and his angry-at-life doctor father were the main characters.

[Daphne Gutierrez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not interested in the subject matter whatsoever

[Rachel S. Herman · Rating 3 out of 5]

On page 218 hope to finish as it is somewhat boring. Too much description for me about a boy who is an only child and his father is a Dr. Unfortunately being a Dr does not prove lucrative during this time period about 1934, during the depression. But I just read intro Chapter and it has me curious again. My father (who I never met) read this book and kept it in his library so I will finish, bored or not. I feel somehow this will bring me a bit closer to a man I call father but he never got a chance to be a dad to me, his only daughter.
Did finish it last night and I am wondering if this is not like what my dad lived through as a boy. He was born early 1932 so he could have experienced a similiar boyhood as he was an only child for 9 years then my Aunt was born in 1941. So do now after reading glad I did not give up and read it through to the end!

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

No matter who you is, or who you are, I recommend this book. It's got a definitely Mark Twain quality to it. It feels real. Honest. Heartbreaking at times. For maximum enjoyment I recommend reading it at the height of summertime, when the city and the heat become too much for any sane person to bear. Since it might be forever before I think to do a separate review, I'll tell you right here this book made me think back fondly on Be True to Your School by Bob Green. It's got that same teenage innocence to it. And that one's good for fall, a very quick read, too, in case you're looking for something to get you into a September state of mind.