A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

Beautiful I must say. A story about a girl named Francie Nolan who lived in Brooklyn with her family. Not rich, yet happy. She has a brother named Neeley and a strong hearted mother Katy who married to her handsome father, Johnny Nolan. The story was set in 1916-1919 which makes it feel so old and vintage. Betty Smith really is a marvelous writer. She explained everysingle corner of Brooklyn in a clear way. She wrote this story in a heart-warming way. A family story containing a lot of lessons about how to live when there's no one to count on. I'm happy to meet Francie Nolan, Neeley, Katie and Johnny. They were an unrich family who counted on daily income. They ate small pieces of black-yeast-bread and drink a cup of black coffee for the dinner. Sometimes, if they're lucky, they have more for dinner like some creamer for their coffee and a little piece of neat's tounge. Katie worked as a housekeeper and Johnny as a singer waiter. They didn't get much but enough to rent a house, to pay for Francie and Neeley's school, and to fulfil their daily needs. Johnny almost everynight came home drunk and sing lots of songs till he arrived in front of the door of their flat.There's a moment when Francie realized that her mother loved Neeley more than she does to her. Francie was good at writing imaginative stories and poems. She always wanted to show those to her mother but she discouraged herself not to. Because she knows, her mother wouldn't give a damn abou it. She's too busy for works. They moved a lot. Sometimes because they no longer were able to pay for the rent or, they wanted to find a better place to stay. They ended up in a flat in the Williamsburg.  At Christmas, children in Williamsburg compete to get a free pine tree. At the end of 24th of December, a pine tree seller would give a way a small pine tree. But a kid has to be strong to get it, because the seller would throw it to him and if he could get over it and not falling, he'll get it. Francie and Neeley wanted that tree so much, but they were tiny and really thin.They did it together, both of them, thrown by a tree. Neeley almost fell to the ground but Francie held him so he stayed in his position. And they got the tree, with scars all over that body, bleeding nose, only for a small pine tree they could decorate for Christmas. They pulled the tree all the way home. Katie would buy some cordwood for Christmas if they have more money. Those were happy years of Nolan's family, until Johnny died and everything changed. Katie was 5 month pregnant and she still needs to pay for her children's school also for daily needs. Seems like everything becomes heavier. But Katie was strong enough to face this. She's a strong girl, as strong as a bullet that she used to kill a man who was trying to rape Francie on her way back home from school. Francie decided to have a job and lied to a company that she was 17 when in fact, 15. She made $20 in a week, which was so much for the Nolan's family. The third baby was finally born. Her name was Anne Laurie which was actually a song 's title that Johnny sang when he was alive.Francie came into a summer college, met Ben and fell in love with him. Katie was finally married to Officer McShane whose his wife dead because of disease (they met in a summer camp)

This book is and American classic story, a fiction, but when you read it and illustrate it in your mind, you can get special sensation and feel that this is not a fiction. Betty Smith was a German immigrant who lived in Williamsburg with her family. Her mother was also a famous novel and play script writer. They both wrote wonderful words to read. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is a beautiful story that taught us to struggle for life. Don't hesitate to do something you think it's true. And to love the life you have. Make the most of it. This is, generally a cliche story but Betty gave it to us in such and extraordinary way. It's beautiful, very beautiful her way to mention everything the family happened to do. Bookstore still publishes this book but with different cover, mine was really animated but it was the best cover illustration I think than other version. Edo said that the illustrator could be an introvert person based on his drawing. Anyway, there's no way I could describe more about this book and I am not going to insist you to buy it butif you want to feel what I feel than better buy one. No regret, I guarantee you :)