49 pages 1 hour read

Colm Tóibín

Brooklyn

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín follows Eilis Lacey as she emigrates from Ireland to Brooklyn in the 1950s, finds a job in a department store, and falls in love with an Italian man named Tony. After her sister Rose dies, she returns to her hometown in Enniscorthy, and while there, she hides her relationship with Tony and begins falling for a local man named Jim. Eilis battles homesickness and the contrasting expectations of Brooklyn and her rural Irish home as she navigates her attempts at independence. The novel includes references to racism, anti-immigrant bias, and antisemitism.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín is widely praised for its evocative prose and well-drawn characters, capturing the immigrant experience with poignant detail. The protagonist's journey resonates emotionally, though some critics find the pacing slow and the narrative predictable at times. Overall, Tóibín's storytelling excels in its subtlety and rich depiction of life transitions.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Brooklyn?

A reader who enjoys Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín would appreciate emotionally rich narratives centered on personal growth and cultural identity. Fans of Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah will likely find Tóibín's exploration of immigrant life and self-discovery compelling. The novel is ideal for those who engage deeply with character-driven stories.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Romance

Historical Fiction

Irish Literature

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Love

Life/Time: Coming of Age

Society: Immigration

Topics

History: World