Betty Smith's classic novel tells the story of a young girl growing up in turn-of-the-century Brooklyn. Her heroine, Francie Nolan, survives a childhood of extreme poverty and successfully transitions from adolescence to a working, collegebound adult. This coming-of-age story is replete with symbolism - from Francie's loss of innocence to her growing up and maturing into an individual. Smith uses beautiful language to describe the neighborhood Francie grows up in, and paints a beautiful picture of what it was like to grow up in troubled times - as the big cities exploded with progress and moved from the steam engine age to the industrial age, as WWI erupted, as Francie's poor Brooklyn neighborhood filled with immigrants, intertwined with classic growing-up themes - puberty, first heartbreak, rebellion and a little girl too young to absorb the grown-up world around her. Although Smith's book was long, there were no unnecessary scenes, and she insinuates plenty to ensure you are aware of the adult world Francie Nolan is forced to grow up in - from her Aunt Sissy, a "bad girl", to the stoning of a neighborhood woman who "got in trouble". Francie's life is also filled with strong female role models like her aunt Sissy - her mother, grandmother and two aunts are described as being made of "invisible steel" and often overshadow the men in their lives. Francie grows into one of these woman as she gradually gains her mother's respect and equality as a woman, and revisits her childhood as an adult. Great novel, I wasn't bored for a minute.
Overall: 10 out of 10.
Details:
Paperback: 528 pages
Publisher: Harper Perennial Modern Classics (May 30, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061120073
ISBN-13: 978-0061120077
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