This is one of those books that I picked up at the library knowing it holds a place in the American literary canon and thinking it's one of those books one should read before they die. It is a classic for a reason.
The book details so much of what is a common American experience. Grandma comes to this country with nothing, her children work very hard to scrape things together, but with the opportunity of education the third generation rises to prosperity.
There are several other themes in the book that I enjoyed. I loved how Francie, the central character, feels about Brooklyn. She adores a place that is her own home town, but she feels that she'd rather not introduce the place to strangers because they would see the shabbiness of the place rather that the magic.
I loved how loyal the family was to each other including their alcoholic father who often made life more difficult rather than easy. The families kindness to each other along with their shared imagination and dreams for the future carry them through the tough times. I love how the mother constantly says, "Don't say shutup to each other," until at the end it becomes a family joke.
The happiness, hope and the imagination of this immigrant family begin in the mind of the old grandmother who in her broken English explains to her daughter that the key to rising above comes from education. She tells of two important books that will not only help to educate and inspire her children, but will teach them wisdom. She instructs her daughter to read to her children one page each day from The Holy Bible and one page from the works of Shakespeare.
If that isn't a recipe for success, I don't know what is.... This is a classic, if you haven't .... read it.
8 comments:
One of my all time favorites. I can't wait for my daughter to be old enough to read this.
You caught me! Haven't read that one and I have been the same way, knowing it should be on my list of to-reads so now it will be. Thanks!
So, perhaps I should run out and get this....Seems so. I adore the shots of your daughter below..She is so cute making those cookies....Are they tasty too?
this is a fav of mine as well. I just read it this year too. I loved all you said in your post about it.
I have even implemented the mother's strategy of saving money from this book into my own life, it motivated me so much. Just the strategy of course... not the tin can nailed in my closet, ha.
oh and I loved the part in the end when they felt a little sorry for their sister... hopefully you know what I mean. I don't want to give away too much of the story.
I loved that part at the end as well Sheesh, it just shows how important imagination is.... like Einstein said, "Imagination is more important that knowledge." I think that is true because imagination can help you know more than you can see.
so true... thanks for sharing that quote, it's wonderful! I probably have heard it before but never thought about it in the context of the children in this book before. How true it is.
I should paint tha quote on the ceiling of my kids play room or something... (when we get a play room of course)
Thanks for your insight, input, and recommendation!!!!!
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