Keep “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” in mind for when you want to read about neighbors from long ago, who walked the streets you walk and who visited places you may visit.
The voting will be over by time you read these words; it ended February 28th. You can still cross your fingers and hope for the best that those who voted in the One Book One New York effort picked the lone classic (“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith). This book club aims to get all New Yorkers to read one book together at one time and the public was enlisted to cast their votes online for the following books: “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz, “The Sellout” by Paul Beatty, “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates and (oh did I happen to mention) “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith.
It will probably be a miracle if “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” gets chosen. It was the last book on the ballot and you had to scroll to the bottom of the webpage to reach this option. Well, there have been crazier results to recent elections. We at Greenline heartily approve a citywide book club and endorse reading whichever book is announced the victor in March. If it isn’t “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith, well you can always keep it in mind for when you are in the mood to read about neighbors from long ago, who walked the streets you walk and who visited places you may visit — like the School Settlement Association building on 120 Jackson Street!
This book club is a great way to support our local independent bookstores! Stop in a purchase a copy of the winner at either Spoonbill & Sugartown Books on 218 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 or WORD on 126 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222.
The Greenline 