I have many titles on my shelves that I have yet to read. Even though I may be in the middle of a good book, one of my favorite pastimes is browsing through a bookstore. It’s fun to pick one up from my continuous list of recommendations or just because I like the looks of a cover. It’s a weakness. I bought Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin sometime ago and as I was dusting my shelves recently I decided to finally break the spine and start reading it. I’m glad I did!

The 262 page novel is a sweet story about an Irish woman named Eilis. (pronounced A-Lish) In the early 1950s she immigrated to the United States for employment opportunities through a sponsorship of an Irish priest in Brooklyn. She was encouraged by her family because good jobs were scarce in Ireland after the war. As she departs her home country with trepidation, she also leaves behind her emotionally delicate mother and poised sister, Rose. 

Her travels across the ocean, the meeting of new friends in her Brooklyn boarding house, romance, and heartache make this book a simple yet entertaining read. It contains fairly light subject matter which makes it a great choice to pop in your vacation bag. The quaint cover of a 50s storefront was an attraction for me and because it was a New York Times Bestseller and won several awards in its debut in 2009, I felt it was a good choice to add to my collection.

This book was also made into a movie of the same name in 2015 and, of course, after reading the last page, I found the film on an online stream and tuned in. As usual, the book is much more detailed and somewhat different from the movie but it was certainly entertaining and I especially enjoyed the costuming and character portrayal. 

If you’re looking for an uncomplicated summer read with a well-developed main character, and a historical fiction genre, Brooklyn is a good choice! Hope you enjoy it while soaking up some summer sun with a cold beverage. Enjoy!