A quick mini-review as "LbW" February winds down.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is not just a novel loosely based on incidents in the life of its author, Betty Smith. It's a (slightly) fondly nostalgic look back at poverty stricken childhood in Brooklyn in the decade prior to the entry of the US into World War I. One might even argue that Brooklyn itself (specifically Williamsburg) is the main character of the book rather than Francie. This was a very interesting book to read, particularly the sections describing what children do with the pocket money of five pennies on a Saturday, and we had a very lively discussion at "Literature by Women".
On to The Poisonwood Bible.
*Incidentally, I recently read a New Yorker article that looked at the shopping currently available in Brooklyn, particularly the Park Slope and Williamsburg areas; very hipster
Eeeee! This is one of my all-time favorite books, and I must admit I love the details the best: the coffee canisters and the rituals and routines. Also, Brooklyn is almost hysterically gentrified these days. I was with my agent in Park Slope a few years ago and it was quite the scene.
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