A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Finishing a good book is always disappointing. In some ways it feels as if you've lost a good and familiar friend and, as such, I was sad to turn the last page of Betty Smith's most famous novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.

It's a soft, quiet book, slow moving but interesting in its details and lack of action. It's peaceful. Oh, it's sad and full of injustices, but it's real and in reality sadness doesn't exist in a vacuum. Even throughout the worst of times in life, there's happiness, and the same is true for Francie, the main character.

I hate to delve too much into the book. I am one who never reads the foreword of a book until I'm finished with the book since, all too often, the forward's author, in its attempt to give you a feel for the book, ends up giving away key plot lines and ruins any element of surprise. I can feel the essence of the book, myself, thank you very much, by reading the book. (That said, I did enjoy the foreword by Anna Quindlen that my copy contains but, like I said, I read it after I'd finished.)

But if you're one who doesn't mind having someone give away key plot lines and would rather go into a good book knowing what you're "supposed" to look for, here's a good review from The New York Times.