Helpful Score: 4
This book brought me back to my own late teenage/early 20s years because Toibin so beautifully captured the mindset of a young woman entering adulthood. It amazed me that the book had been written by a man because the female characterization was spot on. Brooklyn doesn't have an intense, fast-paced plot line, but what I enjoyed was that it was a snapshot of a fairly ordinary young woman's life. She could be you or me, and I could relate to her emotional struggles, ambivalence and torn loyalties. The first half of the book was slow and I had difficulty making progress, but the second half took off and by the end, I was rushing through every page to find out what choices she'd made.
Helpful Score: 4
Beautifully written and engaging read about a young Irish girl who immigrates to Brooklyn during the 1950s. Very highly recommend. I'm looking forward to reading some of Mr. Toibin's earlier works.
Helpful Score: 3
I enjoyed this book. Reader should keep in mind that this isn't a feel-good love story. I found it fasinating because of the characters and how realistic they were to the time and their ethnic background. The main character, Eilis, was very innocent at the beginning but came to be very stoic in the end. I found this to be a great portrayal of the times right after WWII and what it would be like to be an immegrant living in Brooklyn. I wanted the novel to go on after the end. What happened in all of their lives?!
Helpful Score: 3
As others have mentioned, the main character is incredibly passive. She lets others make almost all decisions for her. Perhaps this is to show how limited a young woman's options were.
The writing is somewhat flat. If there were not some sex and a small amount of profanity I would say it feels like a book written for a child.
It was interesting to read what NYC was like in this social group at that time. Particularly interesting to me was the description of a mid-priced department store bravely choosing to court "coloured women" as customers, and the fuss this creates.
An odd little book, while I wasn't enthralled, I suspect it is a story that will stay with me, as at the ending the main character has a difficult decision to make. And in the end, it is once again made for her.
The writing is somewhat flat. If there were not some sex and a small amount of profanity I would say it feels like a book written for a child.
It was interesting to read what NYC was like in this social group at that time. Particularly interesting to me was the description of a mid-priced department store bravely choosing to court "coloured women" as customers, and the fuss this creates.
An odd little book, while I wasn't enthralled, I suspect it is a story that will stay with me, as at the ending the main character has a difficult decision to make. And in the end, it is once again made for her.
Helpful Score: 3
contrary to what others wrote, I believe the protagonist did make many decisions, including the final one. I read from a feminist perspective, I will be 70 next birthday. Perhaps younger readers feel more empowered, however, that has not been woman's lot, historically. I am beyond thrilled that has changed.
