Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

27 reviews

applesaucecreachur's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

Not even sure what I can say about this book. I spent so long reading it during a very strange, turbulent time in my life. To be sure, some portions did not age well in both their language and their attitudes. Other passages, though, felt almost like biblical prescriptions. (Mary Rommely could sell me every single copy of a book she wrote on life advice.) Following a lonely, reflective, bookish protagonist as she grew more and more aware of the world was heart-breaking in the most unexpected ways. It made me want to cry, cheer, and scream with rage over the lot of women in a world built on our labor and suffering. Not a page went by where I wasn't rooting for the loving, gritty, and at times luckless Nolan family. I look forward to returning to this book as a time capsule of who I was when I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Antisemitism

Minor: Blood, Body horror, Gore, War, and Alcohol

lisakate1126's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Such a beautiful book! Much more character/setting focused than plot focused, but that made it all the more enjoyable since I normally read plot-heavy books. I loved Francie and can understand why it’s such a classic. Would recommend for anyone who loves books!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Grief

Moderate: Antisemitism and Infertility

thewoodlandbookshelf's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Antisemitism and Racial slurs

slayne's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual assault, and Violence

Moderate: Antisemitism, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, and Xenophobia

Minor: Child death, Rape, and Suicidal thoughts

alchemy's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, Grief, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Death, and Alcohol

bookishandlegal's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Death of parent

Moderate: Antisemitism and Pregnancy

thaatswhatsheread's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

3.0

I finished it, and the reading experience was easy and I found myself interested in Francie's story, but I felt uncomfortable about the casual Antisemitism in the first part of the story. I can see why people like it. There is a coziness to the story, especially as we get to know the colorful characters in Francie's family and neighborhood, and it's definietly quite quotable. My copy had plenty of great quips and descriptions underlined.

I wish Francie had been a bit more active in the roles that she played, but I found myself finding her mother Kate to be a more interesting character. I was glad that we got the section where we saw how she and Johnny met, and how life hardened them to the point where they are when we first meet them. I found myself happier for her at the end of her arc.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Antisemitism, Child death, and Infertility

Minor: Addiction and Death of parent