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akathleen's review against another edition
5.0
you know the feeling you get when you reconsume a piece of literature you read freshman year of high school? yeah... this book changed me
akovach's review against another edition
5.0
Such an enjoyable read. The Author describes precious moments in a day of the life in Williamsburg, NY. So many relatable life truths.
annarosen's review against another edition
4.0
I love seeing that so many were as taken with this book as I was. It's been a very long time, but certain characters and plot poings have lingered all these years in my imagination.
livschuett's review against another edition
4.0
i read this book because my mom always said it was one of her favorites and i can see why; there’s a lot of her in Francie’s imagination and creativity.
“Once in the washroom, Francie overheard a remark about Miss Armstrong being the boss’s mistress. Francie had heard of, but never seen one of those fabulous beings. Immediately, she examined Miss Armstrong closely as a mistress... Francie looked at her legs. They were slender and exquisitely molded. She wore the sheerest or flawless silk stockings, and expensively made high-heeled pumps shod her beautifully arched feet. ‘Beautiful legs, then, is the secret of being a mistress,’ concluded Francie. She looked down at her own long thin legs. ‘I’ll never make it, I guess.’ Sighing, she resigned herself to a sinless life.”
“Once in the washroom, Francie overheard a remark about Miss Armstrong being the boss’s mistress. Francie had heard of, but never seen one of those fabulous beings. Immediately, she examined Miss Armstrong closely as a mistress... Francie looked at her legs. They were slender and exquisitely molded. She wore the sheerest or flawless silk stockings, and expensively made high-heeled pumps shod her beautifully arched feet. ‘Beautiful legs, then, is the secret of being a mistress,’ concluded Francie. She looked down at her own long thin legs. ‘I’ll never make it, I guess.’ Sighing, she resigned herself to a sinless life.”
traveltounravel's review against another edition
"Who wants to die? Everything struggles to live. Look at that tree growing up there out of that grating. It gets no sun, and water only when it rains. It's growing out of sour earth. And it's strong because its hard struggle to live is making it strong. My children will be strong that way."
"She was made up of more, too. She was the books she read in the library. She was the flower in the brown bowl. Part of her life was made from the tree growing rankly in the yard. She was the bitter quarrels she had with her brother whom she loved dearly. She was Katie's secret, despairing weeping. She was the shame of her father stumbling home drunk. She was all of these things and of something more...It was what God or whatever is His equivalent puts into each soul that is given life - the one different thing such as that which makes no two fingerprints on the face of the earth alike."
"She was made up of more, too. She was the books she read in the library. She was the flower in the brown bowl. Part of her life was made from the tree growing rankly in the yard. She was the bitter quarrels she had with her brother whom she loved dearly. She was Katie's secret, despairing weeping. She was the shame of her father stumbling home drunk. She was all of these things and of something more...It was what God or whatever is His equivalent puts into each soul that is given life - the one different thing such as that which makes no two fingerprints on the face of the earth alike."
deannainrb's review against another edition
5.0
One of those books that you don’t want to end, with characters you know you’ll miss!
Set in pre-war Brooklyn, the story follows the Nolan family, in particular, young Francie, who, despite having no money and dismal prospects, dreams of a better life. Vividly captures the hardships so many faced during the era, and the tough decisions that had to be made.
Set in pre-war Brooklyn, the story follows the Nolan family, in particular, young Francie, who, despite having no money and dismal prospects, dreams of a better life. Vividly captures the hardships so many faced during the era, and the tough decisions that had to be made.
aggity18's review against another edition
5.0
The first book I've read in a long time that I was sad to finish because I'd miss the characters.