

Subtle yet unique ending that struck me as fitting.
I loved this. I‘d seen the movie and loved that too - but this really showed me a lot more of Eilish (the protagonist) inner thoughts and made me consider a couple of the relationships in a new light. I liked the way Toibin doesn‘t explain everything about Eilish to the reader, let‘s us sit with the little inconsistencies that make up a life. And his writing is just lovely. Two books in and he‘s fast become a favourite author.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and found it moving and hard to put down. Eilis grows up in 1950ies Ireland but emigrates to the US when the opportunity arises. In a gentle, straightforward style the writer tells us of her love for her family, her growing maturity, and the difficult decisions she has to make. Much is shown and not told, which I appreciated. This was the second book I read by the author after The Magician, and I‘ll definitely read more.
Just what i needed. Slow historical fiction / lite romance /didnt really need to think too much book. A palate cleanser? Set in 1950s Brooklyn a young Irish immigrant struggles to make her life her own. 3 🌟
I'm in NYC for a couple of weeks, right now staying at my son's apt in Brooklyn where we walked over to visit this iconic library. My Seattle friends are arriving tomorrow for a week of museum visits. My son will be visiting his wife's family in Israel and they have graciously lent us their apt for the week. ETA the top got cut off, but it's the Brooklyn Public Library.
I read it physically and in audio. Loved to listen the accent because is part of the region, culture, and identity. I think Eilis immigration in general was more manageable in comparison to other people, she had a job and persons that supported her. She even had some money when she left her country. But she questioned some of her decisions which would changed her life. There are some sad parts. Liked the story and author‘s writing style. 3.5/3.8⭐️
Just FYI, all these reviews I‘m posting are books I finished in July 🤦♀️
I actually really liked this book. It‘s slow and the plot is simple and yet I didn‘t want to put it down. I felt for Elis and though I wish she took more of a stand in her life, I never got mad at her. This book is not my typical read and I thoroughly enjoyed just slowly reading and going through this book.
With 30 pages left in this book I honestly had no idea how it was going to end 😰 In my head I knew how I wanted it to end, and I honestly thought I was going to chuck this book at the wall if it didn‘t end the way I wanted it to. There were good parts and parts that I didn‘t really think added anything. I‘m torn between 3 and 4 stars, but a definite pick 👍🏻
I loved the writing in this, I loved how all the domesticity was so subtle and revealed so much about the MC and the countries she lived in. The quiet time the writer took over the descriptions of Eilis‘ several homes and how her feeling change over time hit me really hard. I don‘t know if I‘ve read a better book about Irish immigrants in America
@MeganAnn You truly spoiled me I love everything the books have been on my to buy list for a long time. I now know what I‘ve been smelling the bathbomb. I love the blanket it‘s so soft. The tea is perfect and from one of my favorite sellers. The lights are beautiful and the candle smells good. And the ribbon will be going in my hair lol. Thank you again😊#Cozyswap @Avanders @ferskner @Chrissyreadit and thank you girls for putting it together🥳.
This book started a little slow, but before long I was enamored with Eilis and her circle. As her social butterfly sister shines in their small Irish community, Eilis plays the role of dutiful daughter, working hard and being a companion to their mother. But when the chance to study in America comes, her sister urges her to go and spread her wings. I only wish the ending hadn‘t been so abrupt. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Free space square for #bookspinbingo.
Sitting in my sunny spot, enjoying the morning. It‘s been a crazy week and I am glad for some quiet time. ❤️📚 Goal is to finish this book this weekend.
4.25 ⭐️ Finished my #doublespin book for September!! Anyways, I really enjoyed it. I did have the movie playing in my head as I read the book. An excellent portrayal of a young woman moving to Brooklyn and making a life outside of her small Irish town. #movietiein #historicalfiction #costaprize #fiction #brooklynnovel #nyc #bookstagram #bookreview
Reading this next. Another square on my #bookspinbingo. Hoping to squeeze it in before the end of the month! ❤️📚
Eilis is sponsored as an immigrant to Brooklyn from a small town in Ireland in 1950.
An interesting portrait of a time and place, though there were times I felt it was too sloooooowww and I was desperate for something to happen.
The final part was suspenseful but I thought the ending was a bit of a cop-out in that the main character didn't actually make her choice, it was made for her by Miss Kelly's knowledge of the truth.
Book: Tagged
Author: John Boyne
Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Band: Blue October
Song: Be Bop A Lula
#ManicMonday. #LetterB. @JoScho
I started to really like the book, but I did not like ending very much... 😕
Why is Mrs. Kehoe acting so suspicious? Also, what kind of name is Kehoe?
I listened to this on audio. I did not like the writing style and think if it had been reading it I probably won't have finished. The language was just so cold which created flat characters and a boring story.
From the first few sentences this feels like it is going to be a challenge. The language is fairly sterile and choppy. Might be a cadence that you have to get into the groove of?
As well as being an amazing bookshop, with a lovely cafe - they have such a great logo! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
https://centerforfiction.org
After the buddy read of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I really wanted to finally pick this up. Brooklyn isn‘t a character the way it was in ATGIB but it was nice to revisit the city through Eilise‘s eyes. Such a beautiful book!
It was a nice book but that's about it. I liked the basis of the plot but it just wasn't very engaging.
#ReadingEurope2020 #Ireland (7th country)
I forgot to post this for #ReadTheUSA2020 #NewYork after I read it. This #HistoricalFiction is about a young woman named Eilis who immigrates to Brooklyn from Ireland in the 1950s in search of work.
@ljuliel
This was so good that I read the entire book today! The story was interesting, and I loved how well Toibin wrote it in a way that you could really understand Eilis' thoughts and feelings about leaving her family in Ireland and moving to Brooklyn for better opportunities.
#ReadWithMrBook #January #OneWordTitle @MrBook
#Booked2020 #Winter #FinishInADay @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage
#LitsyAtoZ #B @BookishMarginalia
I‘m perfectly content to place my comfy armchair smack-dab in the center of Times Square and read Manhattan for a full year. But In an effort to track where else I may wander (and prioritize my TBR) I‘m participating in #ReadingEurope2020 and #ReadTheUSA2020. And look! I made it to Brooklyn - and I liked it, a lot! #NewYork
I remembered reading this book a few years ago and loving it, so I had to read it again. Perfect this time of year, especially for anyone who has ever felt divided between family and making a life for themselves.
Anyone want to be in #Liverpool a week on Friday? I have a ticket to see Colm Toibin and am double booked. Boo.
#freeticket
(Pic of the old home for destitute children, now student halls)
#Liverpoolbookfest
Why aren‘t you reading this yet? I saw the movie ages ago but going through and reading the book gave me more of Eilis‘ background. From homesickness, studying, love, and loss, Eilis discovers herself but not on her terms.
Overall good read, I have to go back and watch the movie now!
I always love when they unveil the poster for the Brooklyn Book Festival! 📚 #BKBF
NYC Littens! It's high time we had another meetup 🤗
My dad passed away 20 days ago. Dad loved history, and NYC TV shows, so I think he would have loved a visit to the city. I have a small urn of his ashes, and I‘ve decided to take him on little East Coast excursions with me. I was in the wrong lane and ended up on the Brooklyn Bridge. I was annoyed at first, but then realized it was 15 minutes well spent if my dad got to experience the bridge.
I confess I actually watched the movie version of this before reading the book. Both were highly entertaining and heartwarming. And the movie was very close to the book.
My next audiobook. I loved the movie.