Bokm club discussion questions-Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

Brooklyn: A Novel

by Colm Toibin

PBR Book Review: (by- Linda )
This is what I call a quiet book. The writing is open and clear but subtle, it does not overpower, allowing you to take in and get caught up in every detail. The lyrical style creates powerful emotions as you follow the lead character Eilis on her journey to maturity. She starts out as what can almost be described as an outsider to her own life; she is pulled and molded by the wants and desires of family, no voice or identity of her own, living in her sister's shadow and defined though the eyes of others. Slowly you watch her morph, into a woman with inner strength and conviction. In the process it is easy to sympathize with her as she experiences loss, adapts to a new cultural, and struggles to make decisions. Although this is the classic immigrant story of hope and resilience, it also leads to a better understanding and appreciation of what women of the 50's endured as they paved the way for "modern" women of today.

Buy From Amazon.com


*Author Website: http://www.colmtoibin.com/

*Discussion Questions



1. Can you relate to the kind of women Eilis is? Why do you think she takes such a passive role in her own life? Why does she go to America? Do you think she really wanted to go?

2. How is Eilis different from her sister Rose? Why do you think Rose encouraged Eilis to go to America?

3. Father Flood states "Parts of Brooklyn are just like Ireland. They're full of Irish". How similar is Eilis's hometown, Enniscorthy to her new one, Brooklyn. Do you think her prospects for a future are better in America than they would have been in Ireland?

4. Discuss how you think she adapts to her new home in America. Describe her relationship with her landlady. What was Father Flood's role in her life?

5. Does Tony's family share similar traits to Eilis's family in Ireland?

6. Discuss why after returning to Ireland Eilis responds as she does to her Irish admirer. Do you think she acted out of character?

7. Discuss the factors that act as a catalyst for Eilis's emotional growth. Would she be a much different person if she stayed in Ireland?

8. How do you feel about the decision she made in the end? Do you think it was the right one?

9. What did you learn about the immigrant's experience? About life in the 1950's in Brooklyn and Ireland?

(Discussion Questions by Publisher)
Book Summary
Colm Toibin's New York Times bestselling novel-now an acclaimed film starring Saoirse Ronan and Jim Broadbent nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture-is "a moving, deeply satisfying read" (Entertainment Weekly) about a young Irish immigrant in Brooklyn in the early 1950s.

"One of the most unforgettable characters in contemporary literature" (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Eilis Lacey has come of age in small-town Ireland in the hard years following World War Two. When an Irish priest from Brooklyn offers to sponsor Eilis in America, she decides she must go, leaving her fragile mother and her charismatic sister behind.

Eilis finds work in a department store on Fulton Street, and when she least expects it, finds love. Tony, who loves the Dodgers and his big Italian family, slowly wins her over with patient charm. But just as Eilis begins to fall in love, devastating news from Ireland threatens the promise of her future.
PbrHome - totes, wine bags, pillows for the book lover
Go There Now
More Reading Suggestions
Popular Books
If you have a passion for reading and, like most, have no time to find the right book, browse the most popular books trending right now. They are all page-turners, and they all let you escape from reality.

Popular Book-  The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Song of Achilles
By Madeline Miller
A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, THE SONG OF ACHILLES is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer's enduring masterwork, The Iliad. An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously...More


Popular Book-The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by Taylor Jenkins Reid
In this entrancing novel "that speaks to the Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor in us all" (Kirkus Reviews), a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the...More


Popular The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient
by Alex Michaelides
The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman's act of violence against her husband-and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. Alicia Berenson's life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter...More


Popular Book- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Circe
By Madeline Miller
In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child-not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for ...More


Popular Book- The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
The Unhoneymooners
By Christina Lauren
AFor two sworn enemies, anything can happen during the Hawaiian trip of a lifetime-maybe even love-in this romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Roomies. Olive Torres is used to being the unlucky ...More


Visit Our Blog
Browse A Little
PBR book reviews and Reading guides for book clubs
Visit out Etsy Shop
10 Books I Can't Stop Recommending