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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
emotional
reflective
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
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
This classic novel is full of lovely prose, lovely narrative, and leaves me thinking about the characters and their beautifully developed lives and stories. Set in tenements of turn of the 20th century Brooklyn and New York City, Smith continues to help modern readers to see universal themes of endurance, hope, grace, forgiveness and the family bonds that hold for those of us lucky enough to have been blessed with safe and good families, regardless of social position or economic status.
emotional
reflective
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:
No
funny
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had given up on this book a few years ago, finding it too slow and plotless, and therefore pointless. After picking it up once again when my reading material was limited, I fell in love with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and urge future readers not to make the same mistake I did by giving up on the novel in the beginning. The first few chapters are admittedly slow, but they set the stage beautifully for the duration of the novel, and also set the foundations for extremely complex and well developed characters.
It does not take long for one to become entranced with New York in the early 20th century, or the devastatingly poor Nolan family residing in it. As I read on, the descriptions of each personality were expertly revealed through Francie Nolan's recollections and her keen, sharp, and sometimes overly idealistic observations.
I also learned that A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is anything but plotless- it charts a young girl's transformation from childhood to adulthood complete with life changing events and defining moments, and does so in the most realistic way that mirrors real life: gradually, yet definitely. It is a classic coming of age novel. Moreover, the ending is immensely satisfying, as it connects beautifully to the commencement of the novel, which proves not to be pointless after all.
I highly recommend reading this book, if only to remind yourself of the intricacies of growing up and dealing with life. However, I would suggest saving the novel for a time when you have time to read it slowly to better appreciate it.
It does not take long for one to become entranced with New York in the early 20th century, or the devastatingly poor Nolan family residing in it. As I read on, the descriptions of each personality were expertly revealed through Francie Nolan's recollections and her keen, sharp, and sometimes overly idealistic observations.
I also learned that A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is anything but plotless- it charts a young girl's transformation from childhood to adulthood complete with life changing events and defining moments, and does so in the most realistic way that mirrors real life: gradually, yet definitely. It is a classic coming of age novel. Moreover, the ending is immensely satisfying, as it connects beautifully to the commencement of the novel, which proves not to be pointless after all.
I highly recommend reading this book, if only to remind yourself of the intricacies of growing up and dealing with life. However, I would suggest saving the novel for a time when you have time to read it slowly to better appreciate it.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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:
Yes
This book is truly a story. It’s a story about life and about love and about suffering and about death and the beauty that can be found in all of it. The book takes place over 100 years ago but the human experience remains the same. We’re all just people doing the best with what we’ve got and we’re all lucky for it. I feel heavier after reading this book. I feel lighter after reading this book. What a truly spectacular story