Brooklyn
Ratings80
Average rating3.4
After having read the second book in the series, I have come to rethink my opinion on this book. At first I gave it two stars because there is a sense of passivity in Eilis' character, she felt detached even from the reader; so when she makes decisions that hurt those around her she becomes quite unlikable. However, I cannot disregard the fact that the author quite subtlety sets the foundation for what is to come in the second book. The pacing of this book doesn't feel slow but it manages to appear reserved, just like Eilis. I think this book reflects the diffident or uncertain nature of Eilis as she goes through the trials and tribulations of a life thrust upon her. Though there was a questionable scene that was irrelevant to the overall story, most of the story was quite compelling.
I found the writing to be a little stilted, which was a surprise. The movie felt, in a word, lyrical, and I expected that a lot of that came from the book but nope, not the case. I had picked up this book because I wanted the feel of the movie, and also because I felt like, for all the lyricalness of it, the movie had some gaps; I thought that the book would fill those. I think that the book did a good job of telling us about Eilish and her immigrant experience, but it was very much telling from a remove, not inviting us in to feel it with her.
I was very surprised at how clearly the book showed that she only went back to Brooklyn because she was caught out in her deception, and that if she had been able to get away with it she would have somehow stayed and married Jim. In the movie I remember it being much more "I left Ireland because of catty bitches like you!", and Eilish feeling glad to leave. Much more ambiguity, which was interesting.
I listened to the audiobook version of Brooklyn. I remembered that it was a popular movie, even though I haven't seen it. I thought maybe I'd listen to the book, then try to stream the movie. It was...just okay. It was super character driven, which I usually tend to like, but this one got boring at times for me. I enjoyed it for the most part, but it just wasn't what I was expecting from such a popular movie.
The plot is fine, if a little boring. However the protagonist was very unlikable. Flighty, unfaithful, and apparently so indecisive she can be persuaded to move to another country or get married with little effort, as she appears to have no opinion on either matter. The peripheral characters are much more interesting, while Eilis appears to just float through the book with little consequence.
Eilis can't find work in Ireland, but, sponsored by a priest, she comes to America. Exhilaration...homesickness...jealousies...frustrations...Eilis shares all of these parts of the immigration experience with us, the readers. It's a poignant story and, most importantly, it feels very, very true.
The writing has a simplicity to it that made this book a quick an easy read while also conveying the deep emotion in the story, even while describing the normal day-to-day routine of the main character. I'm glad I read the book without having seen the movie first, because I feel like some of the simple emotion might have been lost if I was comparing it to the movie the whole time. (Disclaimer: I have not seen the movie as of the time of this review.)
Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn is simple storytelling at its best. This is a novel which doesn't accomplish much. It doesn't woo or provoke; it doesn't spend long developing characters or wallowing in language. It's a plot-driven story that really focuses on the story. Normally, I'm not a big fan of plot-driven fiction. For me, character is much more important and language can be a definite boon. The story here, however, is so wonderfully plotted and paced, so delicately handled, that I didn't mind the lack of additional layers. This is a novel that doesn't rely on bells and whistles. It doesn't need the added noise. Just the simple voice of an author telling a story that is beautiful and captivating.
Easy to read, with some moments that were really good (no spoilers). Yet it felt like there was some added dimension or texture missing? Eilis didn't seem to change or proactively make any decisions about her life, she just kind of ‘fell' into everything...
I listened to the audio version of this book, with appropriate Irish accents for many of the characters, something I would have lost if just reading. I might not have enjoyed the book as much as I did without those accents.
For my full review:
A lovely, wistful story of a young woman sent from her town in Ireland to New York in the 1950's in order to find work. The things the characters know or understand about each other but never speak about leads to a kind of heartbreak, but also make a new life possible. This one will stay with me for a while.
