written October 13, 2022
9.9 / 10 stars
I finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn a week ago. First of all, this book is beautiful in that it never shies away from describing the sordid poverty of Francie's life and the people of Brooklyn's. I like a coming-of-age that isn't too embellished and tells life the way it is--just like how Francie's mother explains things the way things are with certainty and conviction, "Mama never fumbles."
Betty Smith gives much to the characters that it’s as if I got to know them myself. I learned good and harsh lessons from them.
I recently returned from a trip from Vegas. They call it "Sin City" as historically, back then men would lounge and flock to Vegas to gamble, brawl, and did what men did for pleasure there. Now, ever since it has been commercialized for the past 50 years(?) or so, to make it more family friendly, they have added many shows, attractions, and entertainment deals in Vegas.
I'm not going to lie--my family spent exorbitant amounts of money there on food and excursions. It made me sick to my stomach while I read this book. And I am constantly reminded of what I saw in Vietnam in my travels of 2020. It was my first time visiting this motherland that I know as an "otherland," but I could see that the nation is still building on top of its ashes from centuries of war. There were dilapidated buildings and makeshift metal parts for roofing everywhere— this image repeated over and over as I motorcycled to the outer factory districts of Ho Chi Minh City. It was not only poverty I saw, but people making the best of what they had.
That's how I could relate to it, in this moment... But I think the main difference between my perspective and what this book has given me is the insight to how a young girl could still be strong as that Tree that Grows in Brooklyn. She comes from practically nothing, but a loving couple, though a flawed father, a tin can of pennies hammered to a closet door, and has an endearing brother. I think this goes to show how strong family bonds can be as well, as long as you have trust and do things together, contribute to the welfare of the family..etc. The thing is... in a way, Francie wasn't really poor. Francie was rich in that she had a thirst for education, a willing mother and grandmother pushing to have this education, and all the sufferings she went through made her into a lady of compassion and understanding, which is what I, too, would love to be.