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Bethany

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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

by Betty Smith

bookshelves: currently-reading

Reading for the 4th time

read in January 2022

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Bethany said: " This is becoming an annual read for me as I love this classic so much.
This is the tender coming of age story of Francie Nolan and her life while growing up in poverty in Brooklyn, the hardships that come with it, and Francie’s perseverance and resil This is becoming an annual read for me as I love this classic so much.
This is the tender coming of age story of Francie Nolan and her life while growing up in poverty in Brooklyn, the hardships that come with it, and Francie’s perseverance and resilience through it all. It will transport you right to early 1900s in Brooklyn. While a work of fiction, you will very much feel like you know every character - from young, bookish Francie to Johnny - Francie’s dreaming, singing, alcoholic father, Katie- Francie’s determined and hard working mother, Neeley- Francie’s younger brother, her favorite aunt Sissy who loved men and children and many other people in Francie’s life!

It may be Francie’s story but I do admire her mother, Katie’s determination for self-reliance (scrubbing floors and star bank) and value she puts in reading (a page of Shakespeare and the Bible every single night!) and education to help her children have a better life than her own.

Francie’s story from adolescence to adulthood (from school, work, love) moves me to tears of compassion and empathy every time. It’s a classic for a reason.

Favorite quotes -

“Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time: Thus is your time on earth filled with glory.”

“Dear God," she prayed, "let me be something every minute of every hour of my life. Let me be gay; let me be sad. Let me be cold; let me be warm. Let me be hungry...have too much to eat. Let me be ragged or well dressed. Let me be sincere - be deceitful. Let me be truthful; let me be a liar. Let me be honorable and let me sin. Only let me be something every blessed minute. And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost.”

“People always think that happiness is a faraway thing," thought Francie, "something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up; a place of shelter when it rains - a cup of strong hot coffee when you're blue; for a man, a cigarette for contentment; a book to read when you're alone - just to be with someone you love. Those things make happiness.” ...more "

Feb 06, 2023 10:04AM · see review