Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a wonderful coming-of-age novel that explores themes of poverty, resilience, education, family, gender roles, and the immigrant experience, among many others in early 20th-century America. Many of these themes are still relevant today. The book is way better than the film, which itself is very good.
What knocked me out was Smith's ability to develop the character of Francie from a young child to a young woman in such a gradual way that by the end of the book, I felt as though I had grown up with her. Her ability to absorb the hurts of childhood tormentors was inspiring, but the teenager's apparent forgiveness of the liar Lee may have been too saint-like for credulity.
However, I particularly related to the character of the alcoholic father, Johnny, who struggled with a condition all too common among men emasculated by poverty and an inability to support themselves or their families. A common belief that alcoholism was due to a weakness of character in the years prior to more enlightened thinking espoused by organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous meant that men and women suffering from the disease had little in the way of support unless they were fortunate enough to have a strong and loving family. But, as in the case of the tragic figure of Johnny, it was not always enough. I appreciated the way the author showed the heartbreaking effects of the condition on both the alcoholic and the family.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a great American novel that I heartily recommend.
by SteveRT78