A Tree Grows in Brooklyn [75th Anniversary Ed]: A Special Edition of the Beloved American Classic Coming-Of-Age Novel (Perennial Classics)

I was seriously deprived as an adolescent. I never even heard of Betty Smith's classic novel "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn," let alone read it. And I was an avid reader who lived relatively close to Brooklyn. Whatever the reason for this significant omission in my early literary development, I remedied the situation recently, (yes, it took me a while). I can only echo here what millions of other readers have said since the book's publication in 1943, this is an extraordinary novel which enriches and delights. I can understand why The New York Public Library chose it as one of the "Books of the Century." Ms. Smith grew up in Brooklyn and drew from her own experiences to portray the hardships of the Nolans, a tenement family living in that borough's Williamsburg slums during the early part of the 20th century. Teenage Francie Nolan is an avid reader who wants to become a writer. She adores her father John, an alcoholic with a multitude of pipe dreams. He, in turn, loves his children and tries to be a good father, but he is not able to carry out his responsibilities. Nolan has become a dissipated man due to his alcohol addiction. Francie believes in him regardless, (and she's the only one), because they're soul-mates. Although it seems contradictory, the girl also possesses a strong practical streak. Her mother, Katie, abandoned all illusions for a better life long ago. She is rendered almost emotionless by a surfeit of her husband's grand schemes. However she stresses to her children that education is the only path out of the tenements. Grandma Rommely, Katie's mother, also reinforces the importance of education. There is a single ordinary tree visible from the Nolan's tenement window. It grows doggedly through the cement, in spite of harsh conditions which thwart it's development. Yet, it perseveres. For Francie and her father the tree symbolizes hope - the blossoming of life against all odds. It is like a beacon of of light in the darkness of their daily lives. Francie has the tenacity of that tree, and remains steadfast to her dreams. Unlike her father, she has the inner strength and resourcefulness to make them come true. The author poignantly depicts the Nolan's struggles to survive and grow in a world of poverty, hunger, class prejudice and tremendous loss. Francie, a courageous girl, of strong character, comes of age here under extremely difficult circumstances. The portrait of her family members and her relationship with them is beautifully drawn, especially her relationship with her brother Neely. And turn-of-the-century Williamsburg is brought vividly to life. Broader topics are also introduced which enhance the narrative tremendously, such as, WWI, immigration, and politics of the period. Smith's characters are strong and well developed. She uses flashbacks to tell the fascinating story of John Nolan's courtship of Katie, their marriage and early years together. "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" is a heartfelt, moving novel which touched me deeply. Betty Smith's prose is powerful, as are her storyline and characters. This is a book I will keep to reread in the future. I cannot recommend it highly enough. JANA

Love this book! A beautiful story about the richness and complexities of regular people’s lives.

This story is both historical but it fits in with childhood memories. Life simple and how to cope with being poor in the early 1900’s. It looks at family unity and working together. The only disappointment was although the main character is incredibly intelligent, she was successful in that she became accomplished, but wanted to see where her life was headed.

A perennial classic, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, was first published in 1943. I don’t remember how old I was when I first read the novel, nor do I remember absorbing as much of the rich, sensitive writing as I have with this second, recent reading. The book, set in the early 1900s, rarely leaves the Brooklyn area and most of that takes place in rough tenement neighborhoods. It is tough living, especially for poor people. And Francie’s family is poor. Her mother scrubs floors in three tenement buildings to keep the family in food and rent. Her father works as a singing waiter, when he can get a job, but he has a serious drinking problem. Even so, he’s a loving father and his children adore him. Mary Frances Nolan, or Francie, is the oldest child, followed by her brother, only a year younger. Much later another little girl is born. The story is told mostly from Francie’s point of view. Francie is always thinking, her creative mind trying to make sense of what is going on around her. The hardships and rough living conditions are accepted, mostly without complaint, but her dreams soar with her imagination, intelligence and creativity. At that time and place, graduating from sixth grade was an impressive accomplishment, but Francie has the impossible dream of going to college. Francie’s life is metaphorically compared to a Chinese sumac, the Tree of Heaven, common to Brooklyn tenement yards. The tree is indestructible; can seemingly grow out of cement. Francie often sits on a fire escape in the shade of the tree’s umbrella-shaped leaves to blissfully read and dream. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant story of perseverance and hope amidst hardship. Even if you read this book years ago, it’s worth reading again. This second reading brought fresh insights and a deeper understanding of our country’s attitudes and values of that time period. I recommend this book for anyone twelves years and older. It is truly an American classic.

A friend recommended this novel since I enjoy historical fiction. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn follows the path of a turn of the 20th century family in Brooklyn. Although Ms. Smith wrote the book in the 1940s, its message is timeless. The reader watches as the central character, Francie, grows up determined to have a better life for herself. Francie is 2nd generation American who comes from a working class neighborhood of Brooklyn. Francie adores her Irish father who does not have steady work and often comes home drunk. Her father loves Francie dearly and encourages her to dream and to become a writer. He even supports her efforts to go to a better school despite the distance the school is from their home. Francie's mother, Katie, works hard and long as a housekeeper and keeps the family together. Katie recognizes the value of education and reads to her children from the Bible and Shakespere nightly. She also encourages their imagination. When the family moved into a house with a piano, Katie had the children sit with her during lessons so that they all could learn to play since the family could hardly afford lessons for one. Francie is very close to her brother, one year her junior, who is also pushed to achieve more than what the parents have been able to do. While money is always tight, the family always has a roof over their heads and usually they have food. Francie's maternal grandmother and aunts add to the moral fabric and are there to support the family when needed. There is conflict between having the children work so that the family can survive vs. allowing them to focus on education. Francie and her brother are able to do both, but the logic that Katie uses when forced to choose was not intuitive, but the right choice. What I loved about the book is that it showed how the children grew up with very little material things. Another message is to look at everything around you with the attitude as if it was the first or last time that you have seen such things. Recognize beauty of which it beholds and you will live a much for fulfilled and hopeful life. Sure, the children had conflicts with their parents, but in the end, they recognized how important their relationship was with each other and that having money didn't equate to having happiness. It is a wonderful, timeless, coming of age story that should be required reading for today's youth.

As is stated in this book's forward, this story isn't about one thing. There isn't one topic, one climax, one point. It meanders quietly, yet poignantly through the growing up years of a young girl living in the poverty stricken tenements of 1912 Brooklyn, NY. To describe the plot is impossible if one wants to do it justice. There's just too much that would have to be left out and that that would be a shame. Suffice it to say it keeps one's attention to the elimination of everything else. Upon research, I found it is actually an autobiography of the author (which makes it even more moving and unforgettable) who, upon request turned it into a story. I also learned while it became a huge best-seller when originally published in 1942, it was also hugely controversial. People didn't want to see poverty and injustice, reality in their stories. Looking in that mirror could be just too uncomfortable. Honesty is fine - up to a point - but truth is sometimes awfully hard to stomach. Taking from the book: " Honesty is casting bright light on your own experience; truth is casting it on the experiences of all" And, that's what Ms. Smith did so well. In her story we see bits of ourselves, for good or bad. We relate to the too-skinny girl who doesn't fit in. We remember the cruel children, the harsh teachers, the humiliating situations that coat the human experience. We also remember the joys that make childhood magical, the dreams that make growing up an adventure, no matter one's social class. Francie's life is filled with life - humanities. It's a story of living among the desperately poor through the eyes of one who knows nothing else. But, lest one think it is depressing and dark, it's also a story of love, of family, of the infallible will to do better in a country where better is always promised but sometimes disappoints. It's innocence shines through even while its hideousness is obvious. It is a quiet, heart-wrenching, soul-felt, yet ultimately hopeful story. It accepts weakness but inspires greatness. It admits ugliness while searching for beauty. It acknowledges great despair while encouraging great hope. All with a clear, simple voice of an 11 year old girl

The book itself is really, really good. But there were so many errors on the Kindle version, it was like playing “Let’s guess this word”. Symbols in stead of letters for a word, two and three words put together as one word. It made it a challenging and frustrating read for sure.

Young Francie Nolan is growing up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at the beginning of the 20th century. Life isn’t easy for the Nolan family. Francie’s father Johnny likes his liquor and has a difficult time keeping a job. Francie’s mother Katie is a strong and determined woman, who manages to take care of Francie and her brother Neeley as best she can – working long hours scrubbing several neighborhood tenements, while stressing to the children how much their success in life depends upon an education. Through all the struggles, heartbreaks, laughter and pain, the Nolan family moves forward and readers are witness to it all. I read this book long ago while in elementary school, and decided to re-read it as part of the #bucketlistbookclub Instagram group. As I read, I realized that I have a much greater appreciation for A Tree than I did at the time of my initial reading years ago. I wondered what I could possibly say about this classic story, that hasn’t already been said. Then I realized that talking about how the book affected me this go around would be the best approach. Although many people think of A Tree as a children’s book, it’s far from a book that is meant only for children. The book deals with some very adult topics, but does it in a delicate enough way to be appropriate for ages 12 and up (in my opinion, at least). There are so many wonderfully truthful elements within the book that one can’t help but be almost certain that the author is writing from true life. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is full of quirky, glorious characters. The book is endearing, touching, emotional and uplifting. It’s a timeless story of love, family and coming of age. There were several chapters that truly pulled at my heartstrings. There were parts where I actually laughed aloud. In a word, this book is WONDERFUL and I can’t recommend it enough. If you haven’t yet read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I urge you to do so. If you read it as a child, I’d encourage you to revisit the book as an adult. Absolute perfection!

Another one of my favourite books at last on Kindle. Yaay!! My granny came from Jersey City to Scotland just before the period in which the story is set and my paperback was originally hers. She told me stories about the things mentioned in this book. It's a basic story of life in ordinary working class New York, but it has amazing little touches of real life, like the folk travelling in from Brooklyn all standing at the same time to see a clock to check if they were late for work or not. The tiny real details of life are celebrated and vividly brought to you in this story of a family's every day survival. Fab! Try it out if you can? You might love it as much as I do?

The story starts with the narration of a little girl named Francie Nolan descendant of Irish immigrants living near Brooklyn at the beginning of the 20 th century. The family has to struggle through a life of poverty and its exposure to the fierce rules of working conditions of that period. Her father, a dreamer, gets only access to odd jobs, whereas her mother is the down-to-earth woman who finally becomes the principal source of income. Despite this almost desperate situation, the story tells also about hope and positive developments by beliefing in oneself and continuous striving for a better life. Francie dreams since she was a little girl of becoming a writer and against all odds she manages even to study at university.

What a beautiful, heart rending account of life in Brooklyn at the beginning of the 1900s and the trials and tribulations of the Nolan family. You are taken on their journey of hardship but with modern progress comes improvement and by then end of this story you feel the next generation being able to take a step up from the last. I loved it.

I first read this book many years ago, when I was in my early teens. One or two of the passages stuck in my mind for some reason, but other than that it didn’t make much of an impression on me. Now, reading it approximately 50 years later, I’m deeply impressed by it. It’s a tender, loving portrait of a forgotten world – tenement dwellers in Brooklyn in the years before World War I. The main character is Francis, a young girl of exceptional promise who has a talent for observing the world around her, finding the positive in almost everything, and writing. All the characters are drawn with sympathy and tenderness, including the alcoholic father, the dying neighbour, and the hard-working young mother. But what struck me most was the lost world in which the story takes place. These people had absolutely nothing at a time when (literally) a few pennies could make the difference between having and not having any dinner. The deprivation was of a kind that we in North America rarely see anymore: things like people living out their whole lives in the space of a few city blocks, babies dying for want of basic medical care, children contributing a few important pennies to the family’s struggle to eat each day, and so on. But these people kept on, and the determined few managed to build lives for themselves and their children. I understand that the author originally wrote this as a memoir, but was convinced by a publisher to rewrite it as fiction. What a remarkable childhood Ms Smith had, and what an exceptional person she must have been to be able to look back on those days with such fondness and tenderness. I highly recommend this book. As the cliché goes, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry. You’ll get lost in it and come away with a deep appreciation of how much things have changed for the better . . . and for the worse.

The story of the family tells us of what’s important for us and families.