Scan barcode
A review by aprilmei
Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith
4.0
Another wonderfully told story by Betty Smith. Her writing is so simple yet details the complex observations and interactions with people by a person with a compassionate heart. The dialogue is wonderful and exudes so much life.
What is it like to be in love and get married while still a teenager? What is it like to become disconnected from your parents because of your choice to marry young? What is it like to find out you love education but aren't able to pursue it properly because of previous disadvantages due to income/poverty and getting pregnant young? What is it like to worry about money and taking odd jobs in order to put food on the table? What is it like to pay 75 cents for a steak dinner for two? What is it like to be honest and live with integrity and kindness to others, where they see such good and potential in you that they want to help you and give you breaks, especially, if you're having a hard time? You can find out in this book.
There are hints that Annie's stepfather molested her, but it is never said outright what happened or why it was part of the story unless stuff like that happened somewhat commonly and the author just wanted to shed light on it.
"'I see,' he said again. 'Are you French?'
'No. I'm Brooklyn.' Before he could say it, she said it. 'You see?' That made him smile, which had been her intention." pg. 44
"She went from room to room, floor to floor, stack to stack, reveling in books, books, books. She loved books. She loved them with her senses and her intellect. The way they smelled and looked; the way they felt in her hands; the way the pages seemed to murmur as she turned them. Everything there is in the world, she thought, is in books. Things that people said and did and the way they thought and acted even from away back. Away back! Long before Jesus was born, even. Everything that ever happened or could happen or didn't happen is in these books. Everything since the world began." pg. 48
"'It isn't meant to be cute. Now stop acting so silly, Carl, and get back to your torts.'
'What torts? Tell me what torts? You are my tort; my one and only tort. The first time I laid eyes on you, I said to myself: She's the tortiest tort in the world. And she's for me.'" pg. 69
"'Oh, be a little weak instead of so strong all the time. Go ahead, treat yourself to a fault once in a while.'" pg. 234
Book: borrowed from the neighborhood Little Free Library on 33rd Ave.
What is it like to be in love and get married while still a teenager? What is it like to become disconnected from your parents because of your choice to marry young? What is it like to find out you love education but aren't able to pursue it properly because of previous disadvantages due to income/poverty and getting pregnant young? What is it like to worry about money and taking odd jobs in order to put food on the table? What is it like to pay 75 cents for a steak dinner for two? What is it like to be honest and live with integrity and kindness to others, where they see such good and potential in you that they want to help you and give you breaks, especially, if you're having a hard time? You can find out in this book.
There are hints that Annie's stepfather molested her, but it is never said outright what happened or why it was part of the story unless stuff like that happened somewhat commonly and the author just wanted to shed light on it.
"'I see,' he said again. 'Are you French?'
'No. I'm Brooklyn.' Before he could say it, she said it. 'You see?' That made him smile, which had been her intention." pg. 44
"She went from room to room, floor to floor, stack to stack, reveling in books, books, books. She loved books. She loved them with her senses and her intellect. The way they smelled and looked; the way they felt in her hands; the way the pages seemed to murmur as she turned them. Everything there is in the world, she thought, is in books. Things that people said and did and the way they thought and acted even from away back. Away back! Long before Jesus was born, even. Everything that ever happened or could happen or didn't happen is in these books. Everything since the world began." pg. 48
"'It isn't meant to be cute. Now stop acting so silly, Carl, and get back to your torts.'
'What torts? Tell me what torts? You are my tort; my one and only tort. The first time I laid eyes on you, I said to myself: She's the tortiest tort in the world. And she's for me.'" pg. 69
"'Oh, be a little weak instead of so strong all the time. Go ahead, treat yourself to a fault once in a while.'" pg. 234
Book: borrowed from the neighborhood Little Free Library on 33rd Ave.