Thursday, July 26, 2018

Books from the Backlog - A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!  Today's book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.

Blurb:  The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.

Why It Needs to Get Off the Backlog:  This is such a classic and I know so many people who absolutely adore it.  Not only have I never read it but I really don't even know that much about it.  A few years ago I decided it was time to read it and bought a really pretty copy.  Have I read it?  Of course not!  But I really feel like I should.

Have you read this one?  What classic do you have on your shelf that you know you should read but just haven't managed it yet?

14 comments:

  1. I don't read classics so I don't have any lurking on my shelves! As for books in general, I now have over a thousand unread on my physical shelves and ereaders and I need to get to all of them!

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  2. I read this when I was younger and then reread it a few years ago. I really like it. Will be interested in what you think if you get to it. I'm thinking I might like it on audio. Maybe I'll try it that way for another reread.

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  3. I read this a few years ago and loved it! It looks a little long but reads really quickly!

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  4. I haven't even heard of this one, it sounds amazing although is it too harrowing? Read it and let me know!!

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  5. I still need to read this one, too. Hope you get the chance soon.

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  6. I'm doing a Classics challenge at the moment. This would be perfect!

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  7. I almost bought this one for the same reason but decided not to since there would be no guess as to when I would actually get around to reading it. I hope you enjoy it once you get the chance to read it.

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  8. Katherine there is a fix for the email comments to come back into your box. Beth from Beth Fish Reads sent it to me and it works! If you need to do it email me at thebookdate(at)gmail(dot)com and I'll send them on to you.

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  9. I very much like the cover, but have plenty of books at present stacked up all clamouring to be read to consider anything else right now!

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  10. I read this years and years ago and it was delightful.

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  11. I have not read this one yet either, but I know I need to.

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  12. I haven’t read this one either and I’m from Brooklyn, NY. 🤦🏽‍♀️
    I really need to read Northanger Abby.

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  13. The movie is one of my all time favorites, but I have not read the book either; I am ashamed to say. :/

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