Which books shaped you? It's a simple question, but often tight up in so much memory.
As a life-long reader, I can remember many moments in my life when I wanted to cry for the sheer joy of the words I was reading. I wanted to reach into the book and pull the character out, so I could meet him or her. They seemed to have given me so much (and I could never give anything in return!
One of the books I've loved (and learned from) was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Francie Nolan is a strong female character (young), who overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds (and she LOVES to read). It seemed that if I could read about the brutal realities of this fictional young girl, that somehow it would be possible to rise above whatever crossed my path. As Francie's life came to life upon the page, I felt there must be hope for me (that I'd make it, that I'd become something I'd never yet even dreamed of becoming).
The novel inspires us to "reach for the sky"--as NPR broadcasted today! As Kee Malesky says, "Francie and her struggles - some very unpleasant things happen to her - did make me think that I could be strong and self-reliant, and do whatever I wanted with my life." (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is currently also being featured as one of the 88 "Books That Shaped America" in an exhibition running until September--according to NPR).
In A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith writes: "Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." It's precious (more than we could ever know, or hope to imagine...)
Comments
When I saw the beginning of this I thought of “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” right away. Then I saw that Esther had chosen that same book. That was a nice coincidence! I loved that book and read it many, many times. Another favorite was “Gone With the Wind”. I also enjoyed anything by Louis L’Amour. Thank you Esther for the nostalgic trip down memory lane!
I love the subject this week. I smiled when I read the question of which books shaped America and shaped me. I am a U.S. History teacher and I will pose these two questions to my students this coming term.
Thanks for causing me to ponder these questions!
I always enjoy your newsletter!
Thank you for the title and for your choice of book. I really benefit a lot from your comments and reflections .
I would be glad if you went further with this title as to other literary works that shaped America like The Great Gatsby .
Waiting for more of your catchy and interesting picks.
Being English, for me the books are different, but when I think of America I think of Twain and Melville, along with Steinbeck and Fitzgerald.
I think of Huckleberry Finn (Twain), McTeague (Frank Norris), and Sister Carrie (Theodore Dreiser).
Was Betty Smith awarded the ‘Pulitzer Prize’ for the said book, ” A Tree Grows In Brooklyn”, if not the ‘Nobel Prize for Literature’ for all her writings?