By Betty Smith
I first read this story when I was about 13. I loved it then and I loved it when I read it again as an adult. I did not grow up in Brooklyn, but lived in Queens as a child.
In a coming-of-age story set in the early 20th century, Francie Nolan is growing up in the immigrant neighborhood of Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Though both her parents were born in the US, life is not easy for Francie, her little brother and her mother, as they struggle to make ends meet while Francie's beloved father grapples with his alcoholism.
There are joyous moments as Francie and her brother celebrate Christmas, especially after "earning" a Christmas tree by standing firm when the tree was thrown at them by the vendor (an annual tradition) or trips to the seaside via subway - and frightening moments, as when a vagrant exposes himself to Francie in the dark foyer of her apartment building. Still, for the most part, life in Brooklyn is vibrant and exciting, bustling with the many cultures that came together in Williamsburg.
Despite Johnny Nolan's drinking problem, the author presents the Nolans as a loving family. Katie Nolan loves her husband and works hard to support her family, nailing a tin can to a closet floor to save pennies in the hope the family will some day own a piece of their own land. For her part, Francie is a good student, never gives up on her father, and remains hopeful about the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment