Reviews

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

bekkashayne's review against another edition

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slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

ink_squid's review against another edition

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2.0

Meh. Easy read, but lacking substance and a decent end. What was th deal with the lesbian boss? And thirty pages only for boy #2? All a bit odd.

bojangacic's review against another edition

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Emigracija je mentalni ugovor zaključen sa samim sobom, daje se pristanak na život građanina drugog reda i poslove plavog okovratnika kako bi jednom njihova deca uživala puna prava i mogućnosti. Dvadeseti vek je pun ovakvih priča bega od metaforičke i bukvalne gladi, trbuhom za kruhom, u zemlju decenijama krašene epitetom obećane, u grad koji, čak i danas, mnogi zovu prestonicom sveta.

Ostrvska topografija Njujorka reflektuje fizičko-simbolička barijera: Menhetn kao mesto života onih, po standardima te mlade države, smatrane "starosedeocima", i mesto rada imigrantske radne snage, mahom iz Italije, Poljske i Irske koji se na kraju dana vraćaju kućama u ostale delove, među kojima je centralno mesto zauzimao Bruklin.

Roman Koluma Toubina u sebi nosi priču jednostavnog jezika i složenih implikacija, malih života i velikih odluka. Put jedne mlade Irkinje od siromaštva rodnog Eniskortija, preko plavetnila Atlantika i useljeničkih redova na Elis Ajlendu do prilike za novo i bolje sutra.

Ejliš Lejsi je jedna od mnogih a tadašnji Njujork je krcat njenim sunarodnicima, rastrganim između lamenta za domovinom i preke potrebe za asimilacijom kao premisom ostanka i opstanka.

Bez i trunke pretencioznog, uz ljudskost i toplinu kao glavne adute, Toubin tiho pripoveda o preobražaju, od želje da se bude Irac u Irskoj do pronalaska mesta pod nekim novim suncem i postepenom, skoro pa i neprimetnom, utapanju u neku novu sredinu, neke nove ljubavi, neko novo "ja".

"Bruklin" je čulno iskustvo u svakom pogledu, nepogrešiva senzacija vremena i mesta, sva buka, haos i poletna energija šanse da se za života popne za koju stepenicu više na skali klasne stratifikacije. Čitalac je potpuno investiran u svaku situaciju i dilemu, do kraja navijamo za mladu Ejliš da donese pravu odluku za sebe i buduće generacije, jer na kraju, dom jeste tamo gde je srce, ali srce je tamo gde želi da bude.

katielinn97's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

erinlcrane's review against another edition

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2.0

Where to start with this one. I’d say it’s a 2.5, which I rounded down because I would have DNF’ed this if it wasn’t for a book club.

I have two WTF moments from this book.

1) Miss Fortini molesting Eilis. Why?? It happens and then we move on like she isn’t suddenly a predator.
2) The sex scene between Eilis and Tony. WOW. Rapey, though I think I could maybe buy that he’s unaware of her discomfort?? I don’t know. But the closing paragraph for that scene is what really got me like, what in the actual f… I saw red.

golsen's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

sophiejay's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

cassiope_fastigiata's review against another edition

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4.0

"It struck her on one of those nights, as she lay awake, that the next time she would open that suitcase it would be in a different room in a different country..." A poignant story of leaving home, returning, and then...

nina_readsbooks's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

cc_booklists's review against another edition

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2.0

2.50 Main character seemed like an empty shell, and I didn't understand her motives behind most of the decisions she made. I wouldn't recommend it.