"Brooklyn" Review

Hello to all of you lovelies! Thanks so much for stopping by. I'm really excited to discuss the most recent novel I have finished. "Brooklyn" written by Colm Toibin, tells the story for Eilis Lacey. Eilis is a small town girl from Ireland, who makes the brave choice to start fresh in America, during the hard years that follow World War II. 

The decision to move did not come easy for Eilis. She was comfortable with her life in Ireland-- though she wasn't exactly the happiest girl in the world, while she was there-- it was home. But with the support of her sister, Rose and a family friend/priest, Father Flood, who offers to sponsor Eilis in America-- she makes the choice to move to Brooklyn. However, Eilis's journey has a rocky start-- sea-sickness, rude suite-mates and bad weather make the boat trip over a challenge. But with a little luck and determination, Eilis finds her way to a Brooklyn neighborhood that is "just like Ireland," and living in a boarding house with four other girls and the woman who runs it, Mrs. Madge Kehoe-- a fellow Irish native. 


For the first few months, Eilis is home-sick and lonely. Her only constellation are letters from her sister Rose and her mother. Though Eilis tries to busy herself with her job at the department store on Fulton Street, getting involved with Father Flood's church and taking bookkeeping classes at night, she is struggling to feel "at home" in her new city. 
Until one day, Eilis attends a church social and meets a young, Italian plumber named Tony. As the two of them grow closer, Eilis and Tony develop a deep bond and fall in love. Their connection is true and Tony becomes Eilis' rock and emotional tether to Brooklyn. Their relationship evolves quickly and Tony introduces Eilis to his family and begins including her in family holidays and traditions. Slowly this bond with Tony and her accounting qualifications from night school, helps Eilis begin to find her way in this strange new city-- which has now become her home. But just when Eilis's life in New York begins to make sense, tragedy strikes back in Ireland.
Eilis discovers the death of her sister Rose and is asked to return home. But before she leaves, Tony wants Eilis to marry him. When the two get married in a private ceremony at City Hall, they believe that this is the beginning of their lives together.
However, life has a tendency to throw a wrench into the mix. While Eilis returns to Ireland to mourn the loss of her sister, she quickly falls back into the town society with ease. Eilis finds herself spending a lot of time with her childhood friend, Nancy, Nancy's fiance George, and their friend Jim Farrell. Though their friendship starts off innocent Jim is obviously interested in Eilis and wants to take their relationship further. And Eilis' mother is all too eager to have Jim apart of their family. The Farrells are well-known among the town, as the owners of a successful, local pub and Jim is about to take over the pub entirely. 
As Eilis and Jim grow closer, she begins to distance herself from her life in New York--including her feelings for Tony. But "real-life" has a way of interfering and Eilis is conflicted about whether or not to return to Brooklyn. Leaving letters from Tony piling up and remaining unopened, she continues to extend her stay in Ireland. She begins to doubt the choices she made in America and finds it difficult to leave he life she is building in Ireland. She is faced with an impossible decision-- because in both worlds Eilis has a job, a relationship and family.  But only one can be the right choice.


After weighing he options, Eilis must decide if she wants to stay in Ireland, where it will always be simple and comfortable or return to New York, where she has carved out a life of her own. It is a nearly impossible choice, but personally I think Eilis makes the right choice for herself. She has built something in New York that solely belongs to her and no one else. And she share's it with other people, however it is a unique experience that Eilis has created on her own, through her determination and her spirit. 

While I was reading "Brooklyn," I became very emotional. It was heartbreaking to read Eilis' struggles, leaving behind everything and everyone she had ever known, in order to create her own way in the world. And I can completely justify and understand her wanting to stay in Ireland. But in saying that, I didn't like how Eilis handled the situation. I was frustrated with Eilis for not being honest with her mother, Jim and most especially Tony.

Yet, I loved the both relationships Eilis was able to build with both Jim and Tony. Both men, brought out a side of Eilis that was true. I appreciated how Toibin was able to create these two very distinctive worlds and relationships that addressed problems and choices that real people faced. 
 Have you had a chance to read "Brooklyn," yet? If so, what do you think? Who was your favorite character? Would you have made the same decision as Eilis? Would you have returned to New York or stayed in Ireland? Let me know, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

For now, I say good night and hope that my random ramblings have peeked your inner bookworm. ~BL