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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | Betty Smith
The American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century.This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.
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UwannaPublishme
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1. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
2. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
3. Becoming (Michelle Obama)

These 3 books rocked my world! Love them all!
Thanks for the tag @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@dabbe
#TLT
#ThreeListThursday

dabbe I'm making a list, checking it twice, and I'll make it available to all whether naughty or nice! 😂 Thanks for sharing. 💚💙💚 5d
UwannaPublishme @dabbe 😁😁😁 3d
39 likes2 comments
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goodbyefrancie
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Reading a favorite again. Francie Nolan and I are friends.

TheBookHippie Oh I love this book. 2w
Amiable One of the best books ever! 2w
dabbe LOVE this one, too! 💚💙💚 2w
47 likes3 comments
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tylerj4mes
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my friend started this & it sounds SO good…thinking about making it my next read for the spring🌸🍃😏 has anyone read this?

Deblovestoread One of my all time favorites! 2w
marleed I love this book. Had I read it as a middle grade reader I‘m confident it would have been my all time favorite book! 2w
CarolynM I enjoyed it🙂 2w
12 likes3 comments
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dabbe
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#poetrymatters
#tree
@TheSpineView

Blackout poetry has a goal of using pre-existing or “found“ text to create something new. Portions of the original text are kept, while other parts are drawn over or crossed out. Well-crafted blackout poetry can give new meanings to old texts.

Here's a blackout poem I created from one page from A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. 💚🌳💚

IndoorDame ♥️♥️♥️ 4w
dabbe @IndoorDame 💙💚💙 4w
TheSpineView Perfect 💚🌳 4w
See All 12 Comments
dabbe @TheSpineView 💚💙💚 4w
TheBookHippie Love 💚🌳💚 4w
lil1inblue So cool! I love blackout poetry. 😍 4w
dabbe @TheBookHippie 💚🌳💚 4w
dabbe @lil1inblue It was one of the best activities I ever did with my students. Such an excellent way to teach word choice. 😘 4w
AnnCrystal 👏🌳☺️👍💝. 3w
bthegood 💕 💕 3w
dabbe @AnnCrystal 💚🌳💚 3w
dabbe @bthegood 💚🌳💚 3w
55 likes1 stack add12 comments
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ahoffkosik
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The last “official” episode of my book pod for a minute dropped today… and it‘s not to be missed! Author Ore Agbaje-Williams — who wrote one of my favorite books of 2023 — joins me to chat about *both* of our first experiences reading A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. 🌳 Listen at the link in my bio!

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Cathyloves2read
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Pickpick

I loved this coming of age story! I guess it took me a while to read it being that it was published well before I was born. I absolutely loved the story. The tree symbolized so many things. How I felt for this poor family living in NYC back in the 1940s. There were many stories and life lessons within the pages. I‘d love to try to find a movie version. This book is truly a classic, and I‘m glad I finally read it!

rubyslippersreads One of my favorites. I don‘t know how many times I‘ve read it. 4mo
21 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MissyD
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Pickpick

#SummerEndReadathon. Book 7
I really enjoyed this story. The struggles of the family seemed sad at first but I couldn‘t help loving how they overcame the struggles and worked hard to have a better life.

TheSpineView Fantastic!🤩📖📚 6mo
17 likes1 comment
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Blueberry
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I'm having trouble getting into this. I know everyone loves it. When does it pick up?

bnp I tried this one 2-3 times over several years before I got into it. I think it focusses more on character than plot, but I did appreciate the portrayal of family and class, as well as Francie's story. 8mo
dabbe To me, it read like an autobiography with vignettes of Francie's life from childhood to adulthood. That's what helped me: thinking of it as reading a chapter a day/vignette a day. Once you fall in love with Francie (and you will), you'll fly to the end. 🤗 8mo
47 likes2 comments
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Blueberry
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"Serene was a word you could put to Brooklyn, New York."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

rubyslippersreads One of my very favorite books. 8mo
BiblioLitten I have been wanting to read this forever! 8mo
42 likes2 comments
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these_dreams
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First book choice of the newly formed book club of some of my closest friends. We call ourselves the “Book Bitches”. There are 4 of us and for this round we submitted old favorites. This was my friend Em‘s. Next month is Anne of Green Gables and that was mine 💚

15 likes2 stack adds
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kissmehardy
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Pickpick

I'll always love Francie, of course, but I felt myself sympathizing so much with Katie on this #reread. Does that mean I'm getting old? #classics

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Lenamarcela339
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goodbyefrancie My most re-read book ever! 12mo
Lenamarcela339 @goodbyefrancie I remember reading it in high school and loving it. Excited to re read it ☺️ 12mo
11 likes2 comments
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MaggieCarr
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CuriousG
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I'm in a bit of a reading slump in that I don't have the ability to concentrate for long, however my goal for the Choose Your Own Goals Readathon is to finish the tagged book, and get started on one of the new ones I have recently purchased. I also would like to listen to audiobooks at least 15-30 minutes each day.
#marvelousmarch #marvellousmarch # readathon #chooseyourowngoals @Andrew65

Andrew65 Great to have you with us, good luck 😁 Hope it helps, been in a bit of a slump too. 13mo
15 likes1 comment
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CuriousG
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Continuing the #LitsyLoveReadathon in celebration of #LitsyLove being 5 years old. Got started with about 15 pages of A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. Will get to A Pattern Language later today, but first heading out for some time with my two favourite guys (partner and 🐕).
@LitsyLove @StayCurious @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

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CuriousG
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"It would seem as if all the unwanted children would stick together and be one against the things that were against them. But not so. They hated each other as much as the teacher hated them." p. 150

"They learned no compassion from their own anguish. Thus their suffering was wasted." p. 159

(As a teacher, reading the descriptions in this novel of how casual the adults were about judging/mistreating children is just a series of gut punches ?)

CuriousG I know in many ways this book doesn't even begin to touch on the racial dynamics of the era, however I find it helpful in being able to draw parallels between other works I have read that do, and the reality of many families that I work with as an educator. I work in a program in which the majority of our students are from a very marginalized community (despite the fact they are "white"), based on religion, language, and customs. 13mo
18 likes1 comment
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CuriousG
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"As she read, at peace with the world and happy as only a little girl could be with a fine book and a little bowl of candy, and all alone in the house, the leaf shadows shifted and the afternoon passed."

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 🌅 1y
CuriousG @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks this is my favourite reading spot. It won't look like this for many months and would take me a solid km of walking through thigh deep snow to get to right now though. But the quotation reminded me so much of the shadows the leaves make on the ground and pages of my book when I read here! 1y
21 likes2 comments
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CuriousG
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Had a New Years party with my God-children tonight, but was sure they would be in bed early enough that I could read myself into 2023...it's 12:40 and I'm just sitting down with my book now. Their parents may not be thrilled with me, but I caved and figured now they have something to brag to their friends about. Guessing most 7 year olds didn't see midnight. Lol

dabbe Love, love, love this book! Hope you do, too! 1y
CuriousG @dabbe Loving it so far! 1y
22 likes3 comments
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Eggs
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 🌲 💚 1y
Eggs Thanks Mrs Anderson💗💗💗 1y
59 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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dabbe
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Pickpick

A turn-of-the-century story in Williamsburg: Brooklyn, NYC, and a classic bildungsroman following the life of Francie Nolan and her hardscrabble life in the tenements of NYC. I loved Francie with all of my heart. I also learned a lot about immigrants in early 20th century NYC. #eyeopener

Here's a link to my blackout poem for this book, if interested: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_7HFc8TB005J1t-QJ3KabOa35dmI_mOk/view?usp=shari...

23 likes1 stack add
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emina.catic

“Make a wish.” She held out her little finger and crooked it. Francie hooked her little finger into Aunt Evy‘s. “I wish I could always wear a white dress and carry red roses and that we could always throw money around like we did tonight,” wished Francie.

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guidosophia
Pickpick

this book is very important in my family. it took me 9 years to get to it and even then it took me over a month to read. it wasn‘t bad, but it was a little slow moving for my taste. maybe my expectations were too high. i still enjoyed it and the nostalgic feel of it. i also like how the passage of time is so clear yet so subtle.

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LibrarianRyan
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This tree isn‘t growing it‘s falling. I think my car is okay but there is minor roof damage and I will need new handrails and part of a fence for my back yard. Plus I really think the insurance should take the rest of the tree down.

emz711 Glad everyone is safe! 2y
Chrissyreadit Oh no!!! I‘m glad no one was hurt ❤️ 2y
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MegaWhoppingCosmicBookwyrm Yikes! Hope they do take it down. 2y
ravenlee Goodness! When I had half a tree come down in a hurricane, we left the rest standing after the tree service trimmed it. Then a few weeks later another hurricane edge rolled through and the rest of it came down, on our shed and house. Don‘t wait to get it taken care of. 2y
Bookwormjillk Yikes, I hope insurance steps up. 2y
Erinsuereads I hated that book as much as I hate this post 🤯🤯🤯 2y
JenReadsAlot Yikes... 2y
julesG Glad you're all okay! But, yikes! 2y
ju.ca.no Oh no… 2y
Soubhiville Oh no! Sorry you‘re dealing with that. 2y
DisneyFan So glad everyone is okay! 2y
Ruthiella Oh dear! Hope you get it all sorted without too much hassle! ❤️ 2y
LibrarianRyan @ravenlee trust me we are not. I hoping insurance will take the rest down. I don‘t know yet. But I have another tree like it that is dead and each year we get more of it down as it‘s 5k to bring it down so we have done 1500 at a time. And I find it ironic the dead tree is still standing but the live healthy one is the one that breaks. We lost one last year as well but it fell perfectly. We did even know it fell 2y
LibrarianRyan @ravenlee until Josh went to work 2 days later. It could not be seen from the front even though it was a front tree. We have done this before but it‘s just a giant mess. I have to see what insurance says tomorrow. 2y
IndoorDame Yikes! Good luck getting it sorted. 2y
59 likes16 comments
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AmyK1
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The tagged is one of my favorites-I‘ve read it several times. Also excellent are:
The Thursday Murder Club
This Tender Land
A Thousand Splendid Suns

#letterT #alphabetgame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

erzascarletbookgasm I loved the tagged book too! ❤️ 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing 📚 2y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TheLudicReader
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Thanks for the tag @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I am a little behind because I was away, so this is me trying to catch up. #alphabetgame This is actually harder than it looks.
Everyone should read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. The Banquet by Carolyn Slaughter is disturbing and fabulous. Coventry by Helen Humphreys is a quiet, beautiful book and Daisy Jones is the only book I have liked by TJR.

TrishB All Helen Humphreys books are lovely ❤️ 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love Daisy 💕 2y
32 likes3 comments
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BeckyWithTheGoodBooks
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Here is my #bookspin list for August!!

Bookwormjillk Great list! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
21 likes3 comments
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jlhammar
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This book has a special place in my heart as it was a favorite of both my grandmother and mother. I finally read it a few years ago and absolutely loved it.

This was one of the most popular titles among the Armed Services during WWII. It brought comfort to many missing their homes and loved ones. When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning is really fascinating if you want to learn more.

#MothersDay #MayMoms
@Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alfoster So agree! I loved this book in high school!❤️👏 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
LeahBergen It‘s such a good read! 2y
See All 6 Comments
Aims42 I thought “When Books Went to War” was fascinating also!! I learned so much and the writing style wasn‘t like reading a history textbook, it was enjoyable. Because of that book I also picked up “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” because of its impact on the soldiers in WWII 2y
Eggs A true classic! Great choice 👍🏼 2y
PaperbackPirate I love this book too! 💙📚 2y
68 likes1 stack add6 comments
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BrownGirlReading
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Pickpick

I haven‘t read this book since I was 12 or 13 so it was a real joy re-reading it and discussing it on the podcast with Christi. This is definitely an American classic that takes us through the ins and outs of life during the beginning of the twentieth century in Williamsburg. We follow Francine and her family and all the difficulties of being poor in America at that time. It‘s captivating, emotional, and informative. It‘s a must read!

Mitch Love that cover! 2y
Tamra Such a joy! 💕 2y
BrownGirlReading @Tamra Yes it is!❤️ 2y
BrownGirlReading @Mitch I bought this expressly because I feel it‘s the best cover!🥰 2y
22 likes4 comments
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aperfectmjk
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Pickpick

Y'all! I am so mad at myself for waiting so long to read this one! I LOVED this! Easily made it's way into my top 5! 💕

#Bookspinbingo #MustReads2022 #ClassicsChallenge @TheAromaofBooks

Addison_Reads I read this for the first time last January and felt the same way. It's such a wonderful book. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
41 likes2 comments
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BayouGirl85
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Panpan

I know this will be unpopular but what did I just read?! I can possibly see that appeal of a tween girl reading this. For me, it just wondered, no clear direction/plot. I really wanted to like it though. It rambled, that's the best description I can give.

January Book 11/25 #LItsyLove #bookspinbingo

27 likes1 stack add
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QBub
Pickpick

The most requested book by GIs in WWII. I think I can see why: many soldiers probably identified with Francie Nolan‘s family (poor, food insecure, yet proud and determined not to be limited by their circumstances). Read through lens of a baby‘s experience, this was an eye opener regarding life in Brooklyn‘s tenements of the early 20th century.

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UwannaPublishme
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Thanks for the tag @TheAromaofBooks
#SundaySoapBox a little late! 😆
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

⭐️Classic:A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
⭐️Memoir:Becoming
⭐️Writing:Bird by Bird
⭐️Fave Anne Tyler:Ladder of Years
⭐️Fave Fannie Flagg:The All-Girl Filling Station‘s Last Reunion
⭐️Humor:Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons
⭐️Heartwarming:A Man Named Ove
⭐️Children‘s audio:Ramona series
⭐️Bookish:Ex Libris
⭐️Inspirational:The Boy,the Mole,the Fox and the Horse

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Lots of great ones!! 🙌🏻📚❤️ 2y
TheAromaofBooks Oooo I love the organization here! I don't think I have read any of these except for Ove, so I will have to check some of them out!!! 2y
UwannaPublishme @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I can blame a LOT of these on Litsy! 😆 2y
See All 8 Comments
UwannaPublishme @TheAromaofBooks Be careful, I gravitat toward offbeat and odd books.🤣But I loved them all and can‘t stop talking about each one. 2y
PurpleyPumpkin What a fantastic list! While I‘ve read a bunch of these, there‘s lots I haven‘t. So, thanks for adding to my tbr!😂🙌🏽📚 2y
UwannaPublishme @PurpleyPumpkin 🤣🤣🤣I‘m sure you‘ll be doing the same for me soon! 📚 2y
PurpleyPumpkin It‘s funny how this keeps happening, isn‘t it!😆And I love it!👍🏽 2y
UwannaPublishme @PurpleyPumpkin Me too! 😆👍🏻📚 2y
49 likes8 comments
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Hollie
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We did gifts last night and I received three new books, plus this gift box that was themed around my all time favorite book. Happy holidays, Littens!

Amiable What a wonderful gift! I love this book, too. 2y
Tamra Such a great book! 💜 2y
LeahBergen Wow! I love it. 😍 2y
45 likes1 stack add3 comments
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IselaKay
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Pickpick

My most favorite read this year so far and if I had to choose my favorite book of all time it would be in the running! I loved and related to this coming of age story so much!

Definitely recommend!

Bookwormjillk One of my favorites of all time. Such a great book. 2y
IselaKay @Bookwormjillk it really is! 2y
14 likes2 comments
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AmyK1
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Pickpick

This is the 3rd time I‘ve read this and I still love it ❤️

41 likes2 stack adds
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AmyK1
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“Serene was a word you could put to Brooklyn, New York.”

#firstlinefridays
@ShyBookOwl

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AmyK1
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Starting this #reread while I wait for my flight to take me to Illinois for a long awaited weekend with my best friend. ❤️

EvieBee Nice! I love this book and it‘s definitely due for a reread. 2y
UwannaPublishme Great choice! One of my all-time faves. 2y
39 likes2 comments
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Kristin_Reads
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Pickpick

5⭐️ || Oh, my heart, I love this! I wonder why I never picked it up before? I thought it was a children‘s book, but it is so much more. It was interesting to learn that the author originally intended this as memoir before her publisher required a change into fiction. A beautiful coming-of-age story.

BittersweetBooks I just read this one a few weeks ago and loved it too! Can‘t believe it took me so long to read. 3y
LatrelWhite Always wanted to read that pushing it up on my TBR pile😊 3y
Kristin_Reads @BittersweetBooks @LatrelWhite I cried when it ended! It had been on my TBR for decades. Enjoy! 💗 3y
70 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Valink
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On a sailing trip with a friend & after two buddy reads we decided to read some of each other‘s favorites. She recommended A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to me & I recommended Beartown to her.

megnews ❤️ this one 3y
marleed Oooh, I loved them both. Had I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as a middle-schooler (well, junior high in my day) rather than a grandmother, I‘m pretty sure this would have been my favorite childhood book. 3y
Valink @megnews I don‘t know how I‘ve never read this!! 3y
Valink @marleed I already recommended Daisy Jones and a few others to her, so she‘s working her way through all my favorites! 3y
24 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Ladygodiva7
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Book 19 of 2021.

24 likes2 stack adds
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BittersweetBooks
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People always think that happiness is a faraway thing, something complicated and hard to get. Yet, what little things can make it up; a place of shelter when it rains—a cup of strong hot coffee when you‘re blue; a book to read when you‘re alone—just to be with someone you love. Those things make happiness
☕️📚🌳☺️

26 likes1 stack add
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Erin.Elizabeth10
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Pickpick

Wow, I absolutely loved this book!! So good! It reminded me of Anne of Green Gables or Little Women. An amazing, long story of a girl growing up. I cried when the book ended! Sooo good. Looking forward to discussing at book club!

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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

A bittersweet tale of family, love, and poverty in pre-WWI Brooklyn.

Tamra A favorite! 💙 3y
Nebklvr @Tamra My only beef is the mean librarian 3y
41 likes2 comments
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Katherineteale
Pickpick

“ I need someone. I need to hold somebody close. And I need more than this holding. I need someone to understand how I feel at a time like now. And the understanding must be part of the holding.”

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Yoricke_SouthAfrica
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Pickpick

What a truly wonderful book!! This book will go down as one of my top favourite books. I loved every, single minute. It's just a fantastic story, well written. Wow!! 5+ stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Leftcoastzen Love your old edition! And the book ! Great read. 3y
RebL I think about her tea habit all the time. 🫖 3y
Suet624 Oh gosh. I read this when I was a teenager. I really want to read it now that I‘m in my 60‘s. 3y
marleed I just read in in December and loved it. I‘m sure if I‘d of read it at other points in my life it would have been among my all time favorite books. I love your hardcover! For entertainment, I‘ve been keeping an eye out for a hard copy while thrifting books and I‘ve yet to find one. So hang on to your copy! 3y
56 likes1 stack add4 comments
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STORYBOOK-CAFE
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"Dear God,' she prayed, 'let me be something every minute of every hour of my life." — ?

Desha So beautiful! 🌸 3y
61 likes1 comment
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Yoricke_SouthAfrica
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Continuing on my current classic reading journey.
I've never heard of this book before, but it came so highly recommended, that I'm very excited to get it started.

TheLudicReader It‘s so beautiful. Some references are dated, but you will never forget Francie. 3y
Yoricke_SouthAfrica @TheLudicReader I started it last night, and it immediately pulled me in. I know I'm really going to enjoy this book. 3y
54 likes2 comments
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JackOBotts
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I knew little of the basic plot going into this novel. While it got off to a slow(er) start, I was soon swept up in the day-to-day events of Francie Nolan and family. This was a lovely read, and I‘m so glad this title was recommended to me. 💜
#newyearwhodis

dariazeoli I‘m so glad you liked it! It was definitely a book I wished I‘d read when I was a kid - I thought I had! 3y
IamIamIam Loved this! A few years ago, I listened to the audio and it was perfect!!! 3y
KCofKaysville One of my faves 3y
40 likes3 comments
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STORYBOOK-CAFE
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"From that time on......the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again, never miss the lack of intimate friends. Books became her friends and there was one for every mood.” - Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn