I finished it a couple of days ago and I loved it so much. I don’t know why it spoke to me as it did but I could really connect with Francie (and the other characters). I think everyone connects with her because there is a bit of everyone in her. These everyday situations depicted in the novel make one feel understood in some way. Although it was so slowpaced and nothing really happened it still managed to captivate me so that I flew through it. You gain so much from the wisdom of all the characters and I definitely recommend reading it. Oh and the ending scene was so heartwarming. I cried although nothing really happened:). It’s one of my favourite books
I just finished this book and with a mother and grandmother from Brooklyn (we’re Irish) it hit HOME to me. I related to Francie in so many ways. Such beautiful storytelling and images. Myself as a writer it is now my all time favorite book. I’m glad I read this at 27.
A much-underrated book that is very relevant to our point in history in the US in 2022. It's a history of women and what they had to endure in the early 20th century. This was before there was a social safety net, things like birth control, and planned parenthood. In some ways, this novel was way before its time that way. Reading this for the first time this week, I thought it would be like the movies but it was nothing like that. It has the look and feels of a post-modern novel and storytelling; it doesn't have a plot but seems to hang together just the same. This is quite a novel. I don’t know why it wasn’t taught in my college literature classes.
SPOILERS "He turned and ran out of the flat. Francie went out into the hallway and watched him run down the steps. He paused in the well of darkness at the foot of the stairs and turned to look back up at her. Although it was dark, there was brightness where he stood. So like papa...so like papa, she thought. But he had more strength in his face than papa had had. He waved to her. Then he was gone." Destroys me, every time. A masterpiece of a book, stuffed with realistic characters and situations. As true to life as fiction can get. More people need to read it. Good video!
It IS a masterpiece!! But not for the faint of heart, I know a few people who struggle to get through it. But it's worth the investment, imo! I'm so glad you agree!! :)
"A tree grows in Brooklyn", the tender sapling, one miss Frances Nolan, pushes through the hard concrete of her childhood conditions, nourished by inner moral integrity and her undying adoration of her father. The plot moves upward and outward: her growth and our growth by learning of and from her beautiful existence.
I absolutely loved this book. Francie tugged at my heart strings and made me want to have a daughter just like her. What a beautiful story. Thank you for hosting this read-along, I look forward to more in the future :)
I am currently reading the book and I found your review absolutely precious. Your comments coincide perfectly with my own impressions so far even after only a few chapters. Thank you.
I just finished this book. My grandmother was born in Brooklyn in 1925 so at first it was just interesting to me for giving me a sense of what my grandma's childhood might have been like. But as I kept reading it I became so utterly drawn in by the world, the characters and the quiet sadness and yet hope that permeates everything in its pages. I knew I truly loved this book when I got started slowing down towards the end because I didn't want to say goodbye to Francie and the Nolans yet. This is absolutely a novel i plan on rereading through my life
This was such a fantastic review Katie! And now I'm even more bummed that I didn't get to read this with you guys. I think I'll try and read this in December! Then I can just talk to you about it :)
Oh my goodness, it's FINE that you didn't read it!! It's one of those books that you have to be in the right headspace for. But I can't wait to talk to you about it!! :)
A Girl and a Book You should definitely read it when you're ready and chat with Katie about it. Katie's insight (as well as the rest of the ladies in the Goodreads group) really added to my enjoyment of this book. It was a great book to chat about.
She really does have such great insights on books :) She is hands down one of my favorite people to buddy read books with! I'm glad you ended up enjoying it! I wish September wouldn't have been such a crappy reading month for me. But so it goes sometimes....
I didn't get to participate in the readalong since I had JUST finished rereading it when you posted your announcement video, lol... you captured the essence of this book so perfectly! It's such an amazing story... forever one of my favorites! Also! I didn't know Betty Smith attempted to publish this as a memoir... it just makes the story so much more impactful.
I know! I only learned about Betty Smith as I was researching the book! I felt like I needed to inform myself if I was going to host a readalong of it. And I'm so glad the book is one of your favorites - it speaks to the soul, for sure. :)
I just finished this book for our Well Read Mom group and I loved it soooo much! I know that I will read this again years later and relate to different things. I related to Francie growing into a woman, to Katie's parenting style and also learned a lot about my own relationships with my older children through their relationship.
You perfectly capture why this book is one of the top 4 life-changing books of my life. A friend of mine recommended it to me years ago and I'm forever grateful that she did. It's a beautiful, beautiful book.
Oh my goodness yes! It is one of the most beautiful books I've read in my life. My aunt gave it to me when I was probably about 12 and it's been one of my favorites ever since.
This is a great review. Everyone should read this book! Katie, you should create/host a rereadathon (re-read a thon?, re-readathon? I have no idea how you'd spell that), with challenges like others have, like re-read a book with blue on the cover, etc. It would be a great way to encourage re-reading and I'd love to participate myself.
I purchased my first copy of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when l was 13 at a used bookstore. I read it every year for several years. Over the decades l would buy this book first for my daughter, then my granddaughters, step granddaughters. I still have the original copy that l bought 50 years ago. I simply love this book. I went on and read Joy in the morning as well.
I really love your review. I just finished it yesterday and I really think it’s slow but just as you said maybe we think it’s slow because we are used to fast gratification. It doesn’t feel like anything but life-like.. the book, the story, is living.
oh I read that just a month or two ago and absolutely adored it. I didn't think it was about nothing, it was a strong character exploration of Francie. She was fabulous
Oh yes! I don't think it's about nothing, it's about SO much! There's just not a whole lot that happens in terms of *plot.* The fact that it's character driven is my favorite part of the book - you get to know Francie in ways you rarely get to know characters in a book. I'm so glad you loved the book so much! It's a heart and soul book.
It had been years since I'd read it as well - but I'm so glad that I picked it up again! I hope you reread it - it's such a wonderful book. And I definitely read it differently now compared to when I was a teenager. :)
I'm going to reread it and tab it because as I was reading there are many quotes from the book that really speak to me and that I wanna quote and keep near for the rest of my life. It's such a beautiful book, I love it so much.
I just read this book in chinese,and I wish I will read again in English one day(cause I'm not a native speaker,so it's hard for me now).But it already became my favorite book,even in Chinese.Francie taught me so many things,like brave,self-respect,patience..❤
Great review Katie! You brought up another great point about Francie's mom wanting her kids to be strong regardless of circumstances. This really tugged at my heart. I'm raising my nephew and niece and I want them to be strong regardless of circumstances in the beginning of their lives too. I could really relate to this desire for the kids. Thanks again for hosting this readalong! It was so much fun and added so much enjoyment to reading the book. I look forward to reading more books with you sometime soon.
Oh my goodness, Becky, I'm just so, so pleased that you participated in the readalong! What a joy and pleasure it was to get your insights on the book throughout the month! I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know how much you enjoyed reading the book. I can't wait for more opportunities to read with you!
I read this once in my early teens and remember very little about it. Somehow, though, it has survived multiple cross country moves and aggressive book purges all the way to my all having it now, in my 30s. It must have made an impact on me, and your lovely review gives me a glimmer of why. Will definitely be rereading.
I'm planning on starting a Booktube channel in the near future, so maybe I will! I actually found your channel when I was looking for a newbie tag to launch my channel with. Watched a few of your videos and subscribed :)
Oh my goodness - this book makes me want to visit Brooklyn so badly! Just to walk those streets would make my heart so happy. I hope you read it sometime!!
I finished it a couple of days ago and I loved it so much. I don’t know why it spoke to me as it did but I could really connect with Francie (and the other characters). I think everyone connects with her because there is a bit of everyone in her. These everyday situations depicted in the novel make one feel understood in some way. Although it was so slowpaced and nothing really happened it still managed to captivate me so that I flew through it. You gain so much from the wisdom of all the characters and I definitely recommend reading it. Oh and the ending scene was so heartwarming. I cried although nothing really happened:). It’s one of my favourite books
I bought my book at a thrift store it’s a first edition 1943. I love the story and the book so much
I just finished this book and with a mother and grandmother from Brooklyn (we’re Irish) it hit HOME to me. I related to Francie in so many ways. Such beautiful storytelling and images. Myself as a writer it is now my all time favorite book. I’m glad I read this at 27.
As I read this book all I could think about was how hugely different the Southern black transplant experience was at the same time in NYC.
wow!! if you don't mind me asking how so?
Ellie Crabbe the lack of gainful employment, poverty and racism that has kept AA in the lower class in the North that last until the 2000s.
i did read the book and i cried because the book ended
Omg i just finished and I cant stop the tears
A much-underrated book that is very relevant to our point in history in the US in 2022. It's a history of women and what they had to endure in the early 20th century. This was before there was a social safety net, things like birth control, and planned parenthood. In some ways, this novel was way before its time that way. Reading this for the first time this week, I thought it would be like the movies but it was nothing like that. It has the look and feels of a post-modern novel and storytelling; it doesn't have a plot but seems to hang together just the same. This is quite a novel. I don’t know why it wasn’t taught in my college literature classes.
SPOILERS
"He turned and ran out of the flat. Francie went out into the hallway and watched him run down the steps. He paused in the well of darkness at the foot of the stairs and turned to look back up at her. Although it was dark, there was brightness where he stood.
So like papa...so like papa, she thought. But he had more strength in his face than papa had had. He waved to her. Then he was gone."
Destroys me, every time. A masterpiece of a book, stuffed with realistic characters and situations. As true to life as fiction can get. More people need to read it. Good video!
It IS a masterpiece!! But not for the faint of heart, I know a few people who struggle to get through it. But it's worth the investment, imo! I'm so glad you agree!! :)
"A tree grows in Brooklyn", the tender sapling, one miss Frances Nolan, pushes through the hard concrete of her childhood conditions, nourished by inner moral integrity and her undying adoration of her father. The plot moves upward and outward: her growth and our growth by learning of and from her beautiful existence.
Noel Newlon - 👌🏼❤️🇦🇺🐨
I absolutely loved this book. Francie tugged at my heart strings and made me want to have a daughter just like her. What a beautiful story. Thank you for hosting this read-along, I look forward to more in the future :)
Oh thank you so much! I LOVED hosting the readalong and I will for sure host another one in the future.
3:14 According to the description, this video was made 7 decades after the book was written.
I am currently reading the book and I found your review absolutely precious. Your comments coincide perfectly with my own impressions so far even after only a few chapters. Thank you.
I just finished this book. My grandmother was born in Brooklyn in 1925 so at first it was just interesting to me for giving me a sense of what my grandma's childhood might have been like.
But as I kept reading it I became so utterly drawn in by the world, the characters and the quiet sadness and yet hope that permeates everything in its pages.
I knew I truly loved this book when I got started slowing down towards the end because I didn't want to say goodbye to Francie and the Nolans yet. This is absolutely a novel i plan on rereading through my life
Just started reading this, a beautiful and evocative story so far. This book is a keeper.
What happened to the tree?
This was such a fantastic review Katie! And now I'm even more bummed that I didn't get to read this with you guys. I think I'll try and read this in December! Then I can just talk to you about it :)
Oh my goodness, it's FINE that you didn't read it!! It's one of those books that you have to be in the right headspace for. But I can't wait to talk to you about it!! :)
A Girl and a Book You should definitely read it when you're ready and chat with Katie about it. Katie's insight (as well as the rest of the ladies in the Goodreads group) really added to my enjoyment of this book. It was a great book to chat about.
She really does have such great insights on books :) She is hands down one of my favorite people to buddy read books with! I'm glad you ended up enjoying it! I wish September wouldn't have been such a crappy reading month for me. But so it goes sometimes....
A Girl and a Book Yes it does. Hopefully October will be a better reading month for you.
I didn't get to participate in the readalong since I had JUST finished rereading it when you posted your announcement video, lol... you captured the essence of this book so perfectly! It's such an amazing story... forever one of my favorites! Also! I didn't know Betty Smith attempted to publish this as a memoir... it just makes the story so much more impactful.
I know! I only learned about Betty Smith as I was researching the book! I felt like I needed to inform myself if I was going to host a readalong of it. And I'm so glad the book is one of your favorites - it speaks to the soul, for sure. :)
Life Between Words yes! It sure does! It's just one of those stories that you'll carry throughout your life
I just finished this book for our Well Read Mom group and I loved it soooo much! I know that I will read this again years later and relate to different things. I related to Francie growing into a woman, to Katie's parenting style and also learned a lot about my own relationships with my older children through their relationship.
You perfectly capture why this book is one of the top 4 life-changing books of my life. A friend of mine recommended it to me years ago and I'm forever grateful that she did. It's a beautiful, beautiful book.
Oh my goodness yes! It is one of the most beautiful books I've read in my life. My aunt gave it to me when I was probably about 12 and it's been one of my favorites ever since.
This is a great review. Everyone should read this book!
Katie, you should create/host a rereadathon (re-read a thon?, re-readathon? I have no idea how you'd spell that), with challenges like others have, like re-read a book with blue on the cover, etc. It would be a great way to encourage re-reading and I'd love to participate myself.
That is a FABULOUS idea!!! I will definitely, definitely add that to my list of ideas!! Thank you!
You're welcome! I look forward to it.
Thank you so much for this spoiler free review :)
I hope I'll have the time to read it this week!
I purchased my first copy of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when l was 13 at a used bookstore. I read it every year for several years. Over the decades l would buy this book first for my daughter, then my granddaughters, step granddaughters. I still have the original copy that l bought 50 years ago. I simply love this book. I went on and read Joy in the morning as well.
I really love your review. I just finished it yesterday and I really think it’s slow but just as you said maybe we think it’s slow because we are used to fast gratification. It doesn’t feel like anything but life-like.. the book, the story, is living.
oh I read that just a month or two ago and absolutely adored it. I didn't think it was about nothing, it was a strong character exploration of Francie. She was fabulous
Oh yes! I don't think it's about nothing, it's about SO much! There's just not a whole lot that happens in terms of *plot.* The fact that it's character driven is my favorite part of the book - you get to know Francie in ways you rarely get to know characters in a book. I'm so glad you loved the book so much! It's a heart and soul book.
oh I loved it so much, enough that I'm thinking of buying my own copy....
Great discussion! I have not read this book in years, and to be honest, I had forgotten most of it. Thanks for such a thoughtful discussion!
It had been years since I'd read it as well - but I'm so glad that I picked it up again! I hope you reread it - it's such a wonderful book. And I definitely read it differently now compared to when I was a teenager. :)
I'm going to reread it and tab it because as I was reading there are many quotes from the book that really speak to me and that I wanna quote and keep near for the rest of my life. It's such a beautiful book, I love it so much.
I just read this book in chinese,and I wish I will read again in English one day(cause I'm not a native speaker,so it's hard for me now).But it already became my favorite book,even in Chinese.Francie taught me so many things,like brave,self-respect,patience..❤
Katie, this is a wonderful review! Really fantastic! I will definitely read this at some point. It sounds like a very good book to read more slowly.
Merel, I think you'll LOVE this book whenever you get to it! And it's a great book to read slowly; it's definitely one to savor.
Great review Katie! You brought up another great point about Francie's mom wanting her kids to be strong regardless of circumstances. This really tugged at my heart. I'm raising my nephew and niece and I want them to be strong regardless of circumstances in the beginning of their lives too. I could really relate to this desire for the kids.
Thanks again for hosting this readalong! It was so much fun and added so much enjoyment to reading the book. I look forward to reading more books with you sometime soon.
Oh my goodness, Becky, I'm just so, so pleased that you participated in the readalong! What a joy and pleasure it was to get your insights on the book throughout the month! I can't tell you how happy it makes me to know how much you enjoyed reading the book. I can't wait for more opportunities to read with you!
Just started. I’m on Part 2 now
I read this once in my early teens and remember very little about it. Somehow, though, it has survived multiple cross country moves and aggressive book purges all the way to my all having it now, in my 30s. It must have made an impact on me, and your lovely review gives me a glimmer of why. Will definitely be rereading.
I'm planning on starting a Booktube channel in the near future, so maybe I will! I actually found your channel when I was looking for a newbie tag to launch my channel with. Watched a few of your videos and subscribed :)
Nargle Catcher oh I'm so excited!! I'm so glad I started a booktube channel!! I hope you start one! Let me know when you do. :)
I definitely will! It'd be nice to know at least one person is watching so I don't feel like I'm talking to myself LOL! :P
i just read over 200 pages and i like it already
I'm reading this for a Rory Gilmore book club this month and you totally amped me up for it! 🙏💛
This has always been one of my favorite books! This review was spot on.
Oh my goodness, thank you! I'm glad I captured the essence of the book. I was a little nervous about my review and how it would come together...
Intro to long lady
i know this is irrelevant, but i live in brooklyn and it made me so happy to see this review ❤️ its on my TBR now :)
Oh my goodness - this book makes me want to visit Brooklyn so badly! Just to walk those streets would make my heart so happy. I hope you read it sometime!!
you should, some of the neighborhoods are lovely! i'll definitely pick it up! maybe it'll give me a new perspective :)
This is great! Thank you.
Not only is the Novel wonderful…..The Movie is also….
I’ve never watched the movie! I didn’t even know there WAS one!