Title: Brooklyn
Author: Colm Toibin
Publication date: 2009
Book's setting: 1950's
Random facts: Recommended to me by my friend Rachel, who read it in a college class.
Plot summary: Eilis is a young women living in her home country, Ireland, in the 1950's, unable to find work and dragging her family down. Her sister Rose, the more profitable sister, recommends she goes to America for work. Brooklyn is a very small story about a very short period of time in Eilis' life. Unlike many immigrant stories, Brooklyn is less about the immigrant plight and more about Eilis as a person, as she meets and falls for a Italian boy and has to make hard choices.
Favorite aspects: It was just beautifully written. Flooring. I was reading it so slowly, just savoring every word. Like I said before, it's a delicate story about one girl's adventure. It all felt so real and crisp.
Least favorite aspects: I don't know. It's rare, but I don't think if I was God I'd rush in and change anything about it. It's a gem.
Other works it reminded me of: Maggie-Now by Betty Smith
Sadie's merciless break-down: The book ends poising a little question of: was she maybe taken advantage of? Did she make the right choice? I don't know. I think she did. The romance was very harsh and realistic. Beautiful, exciting, but still laced with the sexism of the time. I spent a lot of the book worried about Eilis, for even though she was not courting a bad man, her naivety kept me feeling protective of her. I don't know. You read it and tell me.
Recommendation rate: I think everyone who likes to read should read this. If you love history you need to run out right now and buy it.
