One of the great ideals of American culture is the American Dream. It is the belief that everyone can come to the country to start a great life. Everyone has some origins in that story, and they aren't often grand statements of justice, but more the personal freedoms of the self. In Colm Toibin's "Brooklyn," he details an Irish girl named Eilis' journey west, where she gets a job, an education, and a boyfriend. The story lacks a major conflict that uproots everything that came before, but it does explore the struggle to maintain an identity in a new land. It's a powerful story, and one that works in its simple prose and bashful protagonist, who makes the dream of coming to America sound almost commonplace in a way that makes her more than an immigrant, but an actual American citizen.
In the 1950's, Eilis is a young woman who decides to leave Ireland for a new life in America. The first section details her simple life with her family. It's not particularly memorable, but it does give us a sense of who Eilis is. She is quiet and reserved, choosing to observe public dances from afar. There's a dignity to everything she does and her drives are simple. She simply wishes to be successful. For all of Eilis' struggles, she lacks a cynicism that could make later events into groan-inducing prose. Instead, she is open and willing to discover the new life, which doesn't always have a convenient answer. As she adjusts to life in America, she explores how her values relate to the new country while commenting on the odd differences.
The comparisons aren't quite as jarring as a Yakov Smirnoff routine, but instead deal closely with her character. The book chooses to focus on small interactions between strangers, of whom generally give her positive advice. Whether it's her memorable journey across the Atlantic Ocean or working retail, she learns a lot when it comes to living in a community. There are a few exchanges where she reminisces of home life, such as an event where an Irish man reminds her of her father, but it's also about dealing with those thoughts in a new environment - where the decision to run home is impossible. Eilis is on her own, even if she lives in a home full of colorful women and dates an Italian man named Tony who has a casual grasp on hip culture of the times.
Toibin's prose is key to getting this story to work. Since most of the plot is driven more by observations, it is difficult to call Eilis an exciting character externally. She does what is necessary to live a full life, but she wouldn't be endearing if Toibin merely wrote about her habits. Instead, the balance of comparing old and new cultures as well as her shifting views on life create one of the most uplifting stories of its kind. She isn't defined by her immigration, but more how she becomes accustomed to things without sacrificing her identity. The story eventually shifts to a more personal narrative involving Tony and Eilis' relationship, but it's still an interesting exploration of how she has changed as a person. The language is delicate, managing to find endearment in her timidity along with the world that she comes to call her home by the end. If nothing else, the book captures adjusting to a new environment very well.
"Brooklyn" is a light read for those who want a different take on the immigrant experience. It's a romance not only of people, but of culture and ambition. Eilis has dreams by the end as she declares Brooklyn her home. Compared to most stories, her journey lacks a deeper text beyond the joys of potential. However, she embodies a reality that would be ideal in its unassuming nature. She becomes American while still maintaining her Irish roots, and there's a sweet element to how these two concepts merge together. It's a beautiful book, and one that thankfully got a faithful and good adaptation, that will pick up your spirits and make you appreciate the finer things in freedom, even if they don't seem that spectacular from the outside.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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