Brooklyn
Colm Toibin
May 2009
262 pages
Eilis was expecting a quiet life in her home village of Enniscorthy, Ireland. However, before she can say corned beef and cabbage, she finds herself on a boat to America, puking her way across the Atlantic. A friend of a friend of the family has arranged for a job in a department store and lodging at a boarding house. Eilis finds herself in Brooklyn, sharing a house with a group of women she doesn’t particularly like and working as shop clerk. To stave off the homesickness, her priest signs her up for evening classes in bookkeeping. She begins dating a nice Italian boy and settling into her new life when she is called back home. And once she’s back home it seems as if her mother is making plans for her to stay. Only after an awkward confrontation does Eilis realize she has to return to Brooklyn.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t what I got. This book ended up being somewhat of a disappointment, mainly because the main character had no spine. Oh sure, there were occasional glimmers in her snappy comebacks to her fellow boarders, but overall, it was as if Eilis was just along for the ride. And sure it was the 1950s and Eilis was a dutiful daughter, sister, girlfriend and parishioner, but good grief, she pretty much let everyone make all the major decisions in her life. It made for a non-eventful story. And Brooklyn was absent as a character, too. Eilis’s life was her job, the church, school and the Friday night dance. That’s pretty much all the reader sees of Brooklyn.
However, most others seem to like it. Check out these reviews:
And don’t get your panties in a wad, FTC…this one came from the library.
Bummer. I’ve been wanting to read this. I’ll just keep it safely buried in the TBR pile for now.
Beth F´s last blog ..Review: The Book of Fires by Jane Borodale
I agree that Eilis was passive (irritatingly so) but I thought the novel evoked the emigre experience wonderfully well. The novel spoke to me on a personal level, it resonated with my own family’s experiences as well as my own of moving to a different city as a young woman; I found it a gentle, beautifully yet subtly written novel but can appreciate why it’s not for everyone. You raise a very valid point regarding Brooklyn being missing as a character.
Claire (Paperback_Reader)´s last blog ..Tuesday Teaser and Trivia
Have you read anything else by Toibin? He’s an author I’d like to try, but wasn’t sure where to start with him. This book has been getting a lot of publicity lately, I guess because it’s his most recent, but I’m not sure that it appeals all that much to me (although I have been on a roll with gentle, quiet novels this year!).
Steph´s last blog ..“The Believers” by Zoë Heller
I liked this book but did not love it. I was told to try Blackwater Lighthouse (i think it is called).
Diane´s last blog ..Waiting on Wednesday – Private Life
I think I’d probably have the same response as you did to this book. I’ve got issues with female protagonists who have no backbone…all it does is frustrate me.
Michele @ Reader’s Respite´s last blog ..WTF Wednesday (on a Thursday)
haven’t read anything by this author but i like the premise. i am not a fan of wimpy characters and this would have annoyed me to no end. thanks for an honest review!
There are mixed reviews all over the net for this one. I considered pitching it to my book club but decided not to after reading all of the reviews on it. Looks like a made a wise decision.
Ti´s last blog ..Reading Funk
I just wanted to say that I love your reviews. They are always to the point and it is easy for me to tell if I would like the book or not. This one wouldn’t be for me. Anyways, great review!
Samantha´s last blog ..A Quick Break
Ugg, spineless characters annoy me to no end. Blarrg.
Andi´s last blog ..I’m Excited About This Book
Odd. It doesn’t sound like it’s actually about anything!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Review of The Ask and The Answer by Patrick Ness
The sad part is that a lot of women were probably exactly that same way in the 1950′s. Great review, as always.
Kathy´s last blog ..Wondrous Words Wednesday
This was one of my favorites last year mostly because of its incredibly tight focus on one woman’s experience. It was a refreshing change from all the epic fiction that tends to be popular. And yes, Eilis is sometimes annoyingly passive, but I think that’s true to the period, and to give her credit, when something had to be done, she did it–she just sometimes waited longer that many of us would. I can see why others wouldn’t care for this, but I thought it was just lovely.
Teresa´s last blog ..Family Matters
This just doesn’t grab me.
I would love to see the FTC’s panties though.
Jenners´s last blog ..A Perrotta-thon! Reviews of "Election" and "Little Children
I haven’t heard of this one, but it seems like one I will pass on. Thanks for the review though. They are always very helpful!
Julie´s last blog ..Waiting on Wednesday "Stuff"
A weak main character can make for a pretty boring book. The story looks like it could have been an exciting one.
Stacy´s last blog ..In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote
I just bought this one. Sorry you didn’t like it too much!
Stephanie´s last blog ..Book Review: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt
I really like the way you write. When you talk about “puking her way across the atlantic” and you say Brooklyn should have been a character, those things make your entries v. interesting to read. Keep it up,
The Reader
I’m a Bookworm
The Reader´s last blog ..Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk
I wasn’t a fan of this book either. It was too gentle for me and I felt as though it was a story I had heard many times before. I agree with you about Brooklyn too – there was no atmosphere. Disappointing.
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last blog ..To the Lighthouse – Virginia Woolf
I am a big fan of Colm Toibin’s work (my fav of his so far is Blackwater Lightship) so I am looking forward to Brooklyn. My Mom came to NY from Ireland in the 60′s so I am expecting to see some parallels in her life. She is also anxiously awaiting it – I hope we are not disappointed!
Colleen (Books in the City)´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon: January 31, 2010
Ah this has actually been on by TBR list for a while, what with my boyfriend living in Brooklyn and all. I haven’t read any Toibin before,and I think I’ll give it a shot eventually anyway! I do think it’s a shame if the environment wasn’t described in much detail, though…Brooklyn has so much character.
Kari´s last blog ..Chunkster: Dodgy history