There were several reasons I finally picked up, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, by Betty Smith. For years, I’ve heard nothing but positive reviews. A couple of months ago a friend and fellow book-lover, Kathy, suggested I read it. Then, Jenna Bush-Hager from Read With Jenna Book Club mentioned, more than once, that it is one of her all-time favorite books. It was time to get this one in my hands. My only regret? That I didn’t read it sooner. It’s considered a classic and The New Yorker calls it “one of the greatest American novels”. 

This semi-autobiographical book is a coming-of-age story about a girl and her family at the turn of the 20th century in Brooklyn, New York in the summer of 1912. It follows little Francie Nolan for about a decade in her neighborhood where she lives a life of poverty. Her mother is faithful and hardworking but her father is an alcoholic and is the apple of Fancie’s eye. Her hope and dream? An education. 

Her extended family plays a pivotal role in her life, both positively and negatively along with their neighbors, who often scorn the family for their eccentric personalities. But Francie has incredible perseverance amidst hardship and heartache.

This is such a great book! It was emotional yet a joy to read. Honestly, it took me a long time to get through it. I started it at the end of November but with the holidays, I read it off and on and finished the 491 pages by mid-January. I had a “book hangover” after I finished, meaning I had to nurse and contemplate what I just read before moving on to another title.

There are many great passages in the book but my favorite comes towards the end. It reads, “Look at everything always as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time.” This book is a hard act to follow. Let me know your thoughts after you read it. Enjoy!