Reviews

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

blue_goose's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

aejohnson85's review against another edition

2.0

I can't say that I really enjoyed this all that much. I found it hard to connect with Eilis - particularly towards the end. I enjoyed her passage to America and her beginnings in Brookyln, but found the sections on her work at the shop and the "drama" with the others at the rooming house to be a bit blah. Really liked Tony when he finally appeared (I expected him to show much earlier due to the synopsis of the book). The ending didn't leave me satisfied at all, rather, I was exasperated with Eilis and her relationship with Jim. Did she really love him?! She acted indifferent to him for most of the time, though willingly let him pull her close and take photos, etc. Then, she was suddenly questioning if she really loved Tony! I found her foolish in the whole Jim situation (as she had already willingly married Tony before heading home). Also, the decision that she'd better get back to Brooklyn was abrupt but I guess she didn't want Miss Kelly to tell the truth about her marriage to Tony....though really, what is stopping her? Who knows what will happen to Eilis once she returns to Brooklyn, but I do know that Jim will be better off without her....

mgwalker8's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

3.5

kpolhill's review against another edition

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

1.0

anniebyrne's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

4.75

Direct, to-the-point but emotional style of writing, quite Fitzgerald like, gorgeous, loved it. Lots of characters, but each are given detail enough to flesh out their individuality, no NPCs here, everyone has a bit of quirk, bit of back story. It was honest and thoughtful, and Eilis' as a protagonist was charming, and then as the book progressed, she became a very interesting character. Wouldn't give it 5 stars just because it didn't hit me as hard as my 5 star read, but it did make me smile and cry, and it has stayed in my mind since finishing it.

vittorialikestoread13's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

4.5

bekkashayne's review against another edition

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

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

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

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