A Tree Grows in Brooklyn discussion

Our book for February is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Please feel free to comment as you read the book. No need to wait until you finish to post any of your thoughts. You can even just post to say "hey I am reading the book".

I have read the book.
I love this book & the movie too!

Geil wrote: "I have read the book.
I love this book & the movie too!"

Wait...there's a MOVIE?? How did I not know this??

I saw the movie first and liked it so much that I read the book. It's one of very few movies that actually honors the book it was based off of.

I agree, Tmason. Terrific movie, directed by the famed Elia Kazan, and with such a great cast and performances!

One of my all time favorites.

This is one of my favorite all time reads. I nominated it for a win of 'The Great American Read' by PBS.

I thought the book was wonderful.

I've read this wonderful book twice and seen the excellent movie.
I'm glad more people will be exposed to it.

I saw brief snippets of the movie, however; the book supersedes the movie in my opinion.

Rhonda wrote: "Our book for February is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Please feel free to comment as you read the book. No need to wait until you finish to post any of your thoughts. You can even just ..."

This is a fabulous read. I will read it again for February. I always like contrasting Francie's life to mine growing up in almost the same neighborhood of Brooklyn. Although, mine was the 1970s. Still a simpler time, but a great contrast. My stories of family, friends, and fun come alive in "Growing Up Greenpoint: A Kid's Life in 1970s Brooklyn." Growing Up Greenpoint: A Kid's Life in 1970s Brooklyn

I still love this book and movie! Haven’t seen the movie for awhile though. But a person can always read it any time!
Happy reading friends!

I had bought this book a while ago based on some must-read recommendation..and it was lying in my book shelf for a long time, until last month during a long due cleanup I picked it up..and couldn't put it down again ! Such a lovely book , and a beautiful portrayal of those times ...absolutely loved it..

One of my favorite books. I tried to get my daughter to read it, but she had no interest. Sadness.

This is one of my favorite books. All the little details and ways of life are so fascinating and wonderful to me. It was amazing to see Francie overcome so much as she grows up.

I especially love the character development on Francie’s part, and the way characters like Katie and Johnny are all flawed as people and parents.

I couldn't agree more about TREE. The movie is surprisingly good, too, but I wouldn't put it quite in the same class as the novel.

There’s a movie? I wasn’t aware. When did it come out?

AuthorandArtist13 wrote: "There’s a movie? I wasn’t aware. When did it come out?"

Just two years later -- 1945. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038190/faq
You should try to see it!

If I can find a copy, that would be wonderful!

AuthorandArtist13 wrote: "If I can find a copy, that would be wonderful!"

Amazon!

Jannelies wrote: "AuthorandArtist13 wrote: "If I can find a copy, that would be wonderful!"

Amazon!"

Oh, perfect! I’ll have to check.

https://www.amazon.com/Grows-Brooklyn...

Thank you!

I really like the struggle of a girl in this story .It was wonderful . I am speechless.

This book left me amazed--I fell in love with the story, and it's the perfect novel anyone could ask for, my utmost favorite Coming-of-age novel. Most definitely one of those books you will read again, and then you will procrastinate reading it because you don't want it to end.
One of my favorite things about it was how the story goes along, including so many details and perspectives among a variety of characters.

The story illustrates and illuminates the world little Francie Nolan is living in. The book develops into a river, which you are watching, the flow of Francie attending school, the unexpected current you witness in which her father dies, and the steadiness of when she goes through ups and downs of contentment and discontentment.

I would happily suggest this story to anyone in my life, it's such a WONDERFUL novel, and it took me weeks to finish because mid-book I already knew I'd hate to find myself at the last, and final page.

Happy reading!

An unassuming book that packs the wallop only the knocks in life can provide. A poor female child struggles to survive and thrive in very relatable terms. It's a treasure of a story. I almost pity anyone who hasn't had the privilege of reading and owning it.