Brooklyn
by Colm Toibin
- Used
- Fine
- Hardcover
- Signed
- first
- Condition
- Fine/Fine
- ISBN 10
- 0670918121
- ISBN 13
- 9780670918126
- Seller
-
Hastings, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Synopsis
Colm Tóibín’s most recent novel, The Master , won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, Le prix du meilleur livre étranger, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. His other books of fiction include The Story of the Night , The Blackwater Lightship , a finalist for the Man Booker Prize and the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, and the short fiction collection Mothers and Sons . Tóibín was one of the 2008 Scotiabank Giller Prize judges in Toronto. He lives in Dublin, Ireland.
Reviews
Times were tough and jobs were scarce in post-World War II Ireland. The Lacey family of Enniscorthy had already found itself fractured by the death of the father and the subsequent emigration to England of the three sons. Poised, lovely Rose Lacey is secure in her office position, but her concern for her sister's future leads her to suggest that Eilis accept an offer from an Irish priest now living in Brooklyn to help her resettle in the U.S. The journey in third class is hard, her lodgings with Mrs. Kehoe are far from homey, and Eilis suffers from debilitating homesickness. Then she meets Tony, who slowly but surely wins her over with his Italian charm. Just as she is feeling a measure of comfort in her new life, Eilis learns of Rose's sudden death and knows that she must head back over the Atlantic for a month at "home." After a few days back in Ireland, Eilis is no longer sure that he wants to return to Brooklyn and Tony. Toibin's insights into the mind of a young woman hit the mark. But, perhaps because of its mid-century setting, I found the book almost too quaint and Eilis somewhat lacking in depth. Her fractured life was depicted so matter-of-factly that it failed to stir me emotionally. On the other hand, even after finishing the book, I find myself trying to put myself in Eilis's shoes and thinking about how I would have responded. This is a good read, although not, in my opinion, this author's best work. "The Blackwater Lightship" still has my vote.
The plot and characters are woven together neatly, but about 2/3 of the way through the book, there is an event which doesn't fit with the flow of the story. In retrospect, it seems to be added as a way to highlight some personal choices the author has made in his own private life. It would have been an excellent book without the intrusion of those elements, but that really ruined it for me.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Tarquin Rees Modern Firsts (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- P409
- Title
- Brooklyn
- Author
- Colm Toibin
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st
- ISBN 10
- 0670918121
- ISBN 13
- 9780670918126
- Publisher
- Penguin
- Place of Publication
- UK
- Date Published
- 2009
Terms of Sale
Tarquin Rees Modern Firsts
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About the Seller
Tarquin Rees Modern Firsts
About Tarquin Rees Modern Firsts
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Title Page
- A page at the front of a book which may contain the title of the book, any subtitles, the authors, contributors, editors, the...
- Dustwrapper
- Also known as book jacket, dust cover, or dust wrapper, a dust jacket is a protective and decorative cover for a book that is...