Booklyn’s Best

Nov 25, 2008 10:37 AM | 2 comments

With the holidays coming up, travel time is a great time to read (for those who don’t get car-sick, that is…) As you’d expect, our librarians each have strong opinions about what you should be reading, but many agreed on the top books about Brooklyn to read:

1)       A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. Why? “… because it’s such a touching story and because it captures the geography and culture of Brooklyn during such a definitive time for the borough. Really portrays the heart and soul of immigrant communities and the struggles they faced – the classic NYC Story, Brooklyn-style.”

2)       Motherless Brooklyn (tied for second) by Jonathan Lethem. Why? “… for {depicting} the gritty side of our Borough.”

2)       Fortress of Solitude (tied for second) by Jonathan Lethem. “Completely captures the feeling of being in NYC and Brooklyn in the 1970s when the subways were covered with graffiti. Written so well that you can even smell it.”

3)       Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall. “This book explores themes that are universal – identity, racism, values. It is so well-written that one feels as though one is living in the Brooklyn brownstones depicted in the novel.”

If you haven’t read our top “Booklyn” picks, you can borrow these from your local library, or put one on hold via our website.

We have some other top Brooklyn books on our list, but we're curious what are the top Brooklyn books on your list?

Comments

11/26/2008 10:25:14 PM #

I'm a big fan of the Akashic Noir series, and Brooklyn Noir is one of their best. NO: correction - Brooklyn Noir 2 is one of their best, with classic Noir by authors ranging from Lovecraft to Donald Westlake to Maggie Estep, etc. I'm going to do a story by Stanley Ellin from this collection for our own library's adult storytime. Brooklyn Noir 3 is pretty great too, with some great true crime writing. We are FINally getting Seattle Noir this coming year.

David Wright

11/30/2008 3:34:31 AM #

I'm very possibly a "ringer," as I no longer live in Brooklyn--not in almost 40 years; ugh, I'm a geezer--but I'd vote for Vincent Riccio's, All the Way Down. Made an impression on me as a kid.

Steve Tiano

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