Colm Toibin - Brooklyn

Review by Maggie Perkovic on show 2/9/10
COLM TOIBIN - BROOKLYN
I CHOSE THIS BOOK AS IT WAS THE WINNER OF THE 2009 COSTA NOVEL AWARD.
SET IN THE 1950'S, AN ERA I DO LIKE TO STUDY, IT IS SET IN THE IRELAND OF THE SOUTH WHERE WORK IS LIMITED AND POVERTY RIFE.
OUR FAMILY, THE LACEYS, HAVE RECENTLY BEEN BEREFT OF THEIR FATHER. THEIR TWO BOYS ARE IN ENGLAND WORKING AND LEFT AT HOME IS THE BEAUTIFUL AND CLEVER ROSE, WHO WORKS AS AN ACCOUNTS MANAGER IN A BIG FIRM, AND THE YOUNG EILIS WHO IS STUDYING ACCOUNTANCY AND LOOKING FOR WORK TO HELP THEIR MOTHER WHO IS STILL GRIEVING FOR THE FATHER.
ROSE TOGETHER WITH THEIR PARISH PRIEST HELPS EILIS TO FIND WORK IN AMERICA IN BROOKLYN WHERE SHE LIVES IN A RESPECTABLE BOARDING HOUSE AND STARTS WORK ON THE SHOP FLOOR IN A BIG STORE. LATER SHE GOES TO NIGHT SCHOOL TO CONTINUE HER STUDYING AND IMPROVE HER WORK PROSPECTS.
SO FAR SO GOOD BUT WHERE THIS STORY DIFFERS IS THE WAY THE AUTHOR REALLY SHOWS US HOW A YOUNG GIRL THINKS.
THE SADDEST ASPECT BEING THAT EILIS DOESN'T WANT TO GO, HER FAMILY DON'T WANT HER TO GO, BUT THEY ALL KNOW IT IS FOR THE BEST AS THERE IS NO HOPE OF A FUTURE IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE THEY LIVE IN.
SHE SETTLES IN BROOKLYN BUT FEELS VERY HOMESICK UNTIL SHE MEETS A YOUNG MAN AT NIGHT SCHOOL AND THEY BECOME AN ITEM, WITH A PROMISE TO MARRY. HOWEVER A TRAGEDY AT HOME BRINGS HER RETURN TO HER FAMILY AND SHE HAS TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT HER FUTURE.
IT IS BEAUTIFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY WRITTEN, A SLOW PACE BUT THE DETAIL IS ENCHANTING AND THE 1950'S DELIGHTFULLY BROUGHT TO LIFE.
I ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH, MAYBE BECAUSE YOU COULD EMPATHISE WITH THE CHARACTERS AND WISH THEIR LIVES TO BE BETTER.
THE DESCRIPTION OF EILIS' TRIP TO AMERICA, STEERAGE CLASS, IS VERY AMUSING.
YOU CAN ALMOST SHARE HER NAUSEA, BUT SHE NEVER COMPLAINS, SIMPLY ACCEPTS ALL THAT LIFE THROWS AT HER.
I WAS SORRY WHEN I HAD FINISHED THE BOOK AND WOULD LOOK FOR MORE BY THIS AUTHOR
review by Mags