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

I hadn’t read this for over fifty years, so it was time for a re-read for sure. I remember loving it as a kid, and it didn’t disappoint me as an adult. It’s not really a kids’ book at all. Great characterizations and vivid, specific descriptions help convey this period in time. A little preachy at times, but the values stressed—hard work, the value of education, making your own way—are certainly commendable. Definitely worth your time.

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

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 beautiful story. I was absolutely sucked into this book. Very relatable topics that span generations. I didn't think I was going to like this book but I absolutely enjoyed it. The characters are supportive , likeable and very strong family beliefs. Enjoy

When asked what my favorite book is, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is my answer. I may have read it 4 or 5 times over the years. It’s a slice of early 1900s Americana in poverty stricken Brooklyn that we must not forget featuring the coming of age story of sensitive, intelligent and compassionate Francie Nolan. This is the kind of book that you hate to finish because you have to say goodbye to your new friends.

I've wanted to read this book for decades. Finally I didIt was like reliving my childhood. I became Francie and saw her tiny world of Williamsburg, Brooklyn through her eyes. She was remarkable. This book is truly one book everyone should read. I absolutely loved it. Now, I'm sad it's come to an end. The good thing about books - you can read and cherish them over and over.

I believe one of the best qualities of Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is Smith’s ability to take a time period, a family, and a place and paint and depict a realistic portrait. Her novel is a sketch and timeline of an immigrant family in the early portions of the 1900s living in Brooklyn. We follow the Nolan family, and more specifically we zero in on Francie Nolan as a youngster and then later as a young adult. While Smith is not going to wow anyone with her prose, she uses a simplistic approach to create a very powerful and heartfelt picture of life, with themes such as poverty, love, pain, courage, and coming of age. I think it is this simplicity that adds to the portrait of time and place.There is a moment that I think seems to signify the title of the novel quite eloquently. It is when Francie’s mother Katie Nolan is speaking to others about her baby, who is struggling to live: “Who wants to die? Ever thing struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of the grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It’s growing out of the sour earth. And it’s strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong. My children will be strong that way.” I think this a fitting quote and moment because it typifies the entire struggle of the Nolan clan, symbolic of their poverty and their circumstances, yet the tree’s struggle and will to live a metaphor for courage and perseverance amid those difficulties.This is not a book where there are ultimately rainbows, unicorns and butterflies on the other side of desperate times and life’s harsh realities. At times, the novel can be quite depressing and many characters struggle hard fights and sometimes lose in painful ways, and you feel for them.Nevertheless, I think this adds to the power of the novel because Smith has an honesty approach in telling her tale. There’s a lot of pathos and emotion amid A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and so I was glad to be reading another book alongside this one to sort of balance everything out.On a side note, I know this book is often categorized as a “young adult” novel, but I would sort of question that due to some of the subject matter.I think A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a very powerful book. It does take an emotional investment on the part of the reader at times but, ultimately, we become invested in the Nolans and Francie and their lives.

The book itself was terrific. The text however was terribly transcribed. Words ran together, the words 'of her' were written as 'other' all throughout, and words were written with symbols mixed in or simply just as symbols. Most of the time I could figure out what was meant, but sometimes I couldn't figure it out and that was frustrating and disappointing.

The story starts with the narration of a little girl named Francie Nolan descendant of Irish immigrants living near Brooklyn at the beginning of the20 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.

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

A real page Turner with endearing characters. Enjoyed every minute of it. I don't suppose today's Brooklyn looks the same.

Un libro muy recomendable. Nos hace vivir la adolescencia de Francie, una etapa difícil para todos y en este caso en un entorno no muy favorable. Es una historia de supervivencia y esperanza plasmada de realismo y de la posibilidad de vencer dificultades cuando los lazos familiares se mantienen, particularmente entre padres e hijos y entre hermanos.

This Kindle edition of the book is censored, although this is not made clear in the description. I do not recommend it for those who want to experience the author’s work as it was originally intended.