Brooklyn – Colm Tóibín

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Overview of the Novel

Brooklyn is a 2009 novel by Irish author Colm Tóibín.
It won the 2009 Costa Novel Award, was shortlisted for the 2011 International Dublin Literary Award, and longlisted for the 2009 Man Booker Prize.
In 2012, The Observer named it one of 'The 10 best historical novels'.
In 2019, it was ranked 51st on The Guardian's list of the 100 best books of the 21st century.
A film adaptation was released in 2015, directed by John Crowley, with a script by Nick Hornby, starring Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, and Emory Cohen.
The film received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Ronan), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
A sequel titled Long Island was published on May 7, 2024, set in the 1970s, 20 years after the events of Brooklyn.

Plot Summary

Eilis Lacey is a young woman unable to find work in 1950s Ireland.
Her older sister Rose arranges a meeting with Father Flood, a Catholic priest visiting from New York City, who tells Eilis of opportunities in New York.
Eilis immigrates to Brooklyn, New York, takes a job in a department store, and attends night classes in bookkeeping.
She initially struggles with a boring job and a repressive boardinghouse run by the strict Mrs Madge Kehoe.
She meets and falls in love with Tony Fiorello, an Italian plumber, at local Friday night dances.
Eilis qualifies easily from her night school course, and her relationship with Tony becomes more serious; he confesses his love and plans to build a home on Long Island.
Eilis learns from Father Flood that her sister Rose has died in her sleep from a pre-existing heart condition.
She secretly marries Tony before returning to Ireland to mourn.
In Ireland, she re-enters town society, goes to the beach with her friend Nancy, Nancy's fiancé George, and George's friend Jim Farrell.
Eilis had disliked Jim before going to America but now finds him improved and starts seeing him; Jim is the only child of a publican and considered a good catch.
Eilis's mother hopes she will settle in Ireland and marry Jim, as Eilis has not told her about her marriage.
Eilis procrastinates about returning to Brooklyn by extending her stay and saves Tony's letters unopened.
A local busybody, Miss Kelly, reveals she knows Eilis's secret, prompting Eilis to immediately book her return passage, tell her mother the truth, and post a farewell note to Jim.

Reception and Critical Acclaim

Robert Hanks for The Daily Telegraph described Brooklyn as a 'controlled, understated novel, devoid of outright passion or contrivance, but alive with authentic detail'.
Scribner for Bookreporter said that Tóibín 'effortlessly captures the duality that lies at the heart of Eilis Lacey’s story'.
Tóibín was commended for his description of changes in American society during the 1950s, such as the department store's acceptance of 'coloured' customers, Long Island's suburban boom, and the arrival of television.
Many praised Tóibín's measured prose and the calm tone of the novel.
Eilis has been described as being 'so passive that you sometimes felt like giving her a good shaking'.

Themes: Time and Adaptability

The novel charts a young woman’s journey from Ireland to Brooklyn and illustrates the human capacity to gradually embrace new circumstances.
Eilis Lacey reluctantly leaves her small hometown of Enniscorthy to live and work in Brooklyn.
She is initially overwhelmingly homesick and struggles to fit in, but eventually comes to love her life in the United States.
Father Flood suggests that time and adaptability play a key role in her transformation.

Themes: Immigration, Social Status, and Reputation

The novel examines the effects of immigration on a person’s life.
Eilis is a lower-middle-class woman who uproots her life in Ireland to travel to the United States in the hopes of gaining economic opportunity.
In her small hometown of Enniscorthy, she has been trying to work as a bookkeeper for quite some time, but even her sister’s employer won’t hire her.
As a result, she takes a job in a grocery (in Brooklyn).

Themes: Communication, Hidden Emotion, and Secrecy

Colm Tóibín spotlights the difficulties associated with ineffective communication.
The Lacey family is presented as uncommunicative when it comes to their feelings; Eilis, her sister Rose, and her mother never talk about their emotions.
When Eilis goes to the United States, this emotional barrier helps her ease into a life of relative solitude, since she’s so used to keeping her feelings to herself.
However, it also prevents (full communication and openness).

Themes: Coming of Age and Passivity

Brooklyn is a simple coming-of-age tale charting the end of Eilis’s adolescence and the beginning of her adulthood.
Tóibín creates a portrait of a young woman entering the adult world while navigating a life abroad.
Eilis remains passive throughout the novel, despite her many advancements.
Although she gains various forms of success and ultimately begins to actively work toward new opportunities, the major decisions she (makes are often influenced by others).

Context and Setting

The novel is set in the 1950s and explores the immigrant experience.
It depicts the changes in American society during the 1950s, such as the department store's acceptance of 'coloured' customers, Long Island's suburban boom, and the arrival of television.
The story moves between Enniscorthy, Ireland, and Brooklyn, New York.
The sequel Long Island is set in the 1970s, 20 years after the events of Brooklyn, and features Eilis and Tony, their children, and her in-laws on Long Island.

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1.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which city does Eilis Lacey emigrate to?
Easy
- ABoston
- BChicago
- CBrooklyn, New York
- DPhiladelphia
2.In Brooklyn, who first tells Eilis about the opportunities awaiting her in New York?
Medium
- AHer sister Rose
- BMrs Madge Kehoe
- CTony Fiorello
- DFather Flood
3.In Brooklyn, where does Eilis first meet Tony Fiorello?
Medium
- AAt her night school bookkeeping class
- BAt local Friday night dances
- CAt the department store where she works
- DAt Mrs Kehoe's boardinghouse
4.In Brooklyn, which of these events happens first?
Hard
- AEilis learns of Rose's death
- BEilis secretly marries Tony
- CEilis qualifies from her night school course
- DEilis returns to Ireland
5.In Brooklyn, what is the immediate consequence of Eilis learning from Father Flood that her sister Rose has died?
Hard
- AShe decides to stay in Brooklyn and marry Tony immediately
- BShe returns to Ireland to mourn and secretly marries Tony before leaving
- CShe gives up her job and night classes
- DShe moves out of Mrs Kehoe's boardinghouse
6.In Brooklyn, which of the following are true of Jim Farrell? (select all that apply)
Hard
- AHe is the only child of a publican
- BHe is considered a good catch
- CEilis disliked him before she went to America
- DHe is a plumber from Brooklyn
- EHe is Eilis's night school teacher
7.In Brooklyn, which of these statements about Eilis's time back in Ireland are true? (select all that apply)
Hard
- AShe goes to the beach with Nancy, George and Jim
- BShe falls back into the town society easily
- CShe tells her mother about her marriage straight away
- DShe saves Tony's letters unopened
- EShe is exposed by Miss Kelly, a local busybody
8.In Brooklyn, Eilis qualifies easily from her night school course in bookkeeping.
Medium
True or false?

Soal lainnya

9.In Brooklyn, Miss Kelly is the priest who arranges Eilis's move to New York.
Medium
True or false?
10.Match each character in Brooklyn to their role or description.
Medium
- Father Flood
- Tony Fiorello
- Mrs Madge Kehoe
- Jim Farrell
- Miss Kelly
- A priest from New York who tells Eilis of opportunities there
- A young Italian plumber Eilis falls in love with
- The strict woman who runs the boardinghouse
- A publican's only son considered a good catch
- A local busybody who reveals she knows Eilis's secret
11.Place these events from Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn in the order in which they occur in the novel.
Hard
- Eilis meets Father Flood in Ireland
- Eilis meets Tony Fiorello at the Friday night dances
- Eilis qualifies from her night school course
- Eilis learns from Father Flood that Rose has died
- Eilis secretly marries Tony before leaving for Ireland
- Miss Kelly tells Eilis she knows her secret
12.In which year was Brooklyn published?
Easy
- A2009
- B2011
- C2015
- D2024
13.Which award did Brooklyn win?
Easy
- AThe Man Booker Prize
- BThe International Dublin Literary Award
- CThe Costa Novel Award
- DThe Pulitzer Prize
14.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following are true of the boardinghouse where Eilis lives? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AIt is run by the strict Mrs Madge Kehoe.
- BEilis finds it repressive at first.
- CIt is located in Enniscorthy, Ireland.
- DIt is where Eilis first meets Tony Fiorello.
- EIt becomes part of the routine Eilis settles into.
15.Match each theme from Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn to a moment or idea it is associated with in the novel.
Medium
- Time and Adaptability
- Immigration, Social Status, and Reputation
- Communication, Hidden Emotion, and Secrecy
- Coming of Age and Passivity
- Eilis gradually comes to love her life in the United States.
- Eilis leaves Enniscorthy for economic opportunity in Brooklyn.
- The Lacey family never talk about their emotions.
- Eilis remains passive despite her advancements.
16.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following are true of Eilis's relationship with Jim Farrell? (select all that apply)
Hard
- AEilis knew Jim before going to America and disliked him.
- BJim is the only child of a publican and is considered a good catch.
- CJim is the priest who arranges Eilis's move to New York.
- DEilis's mother is desperate for her to settle back in Ireland and marry Jim.
- EJim is Tony Fiorello's brother.
17.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following is the immediate consequence of Miss Kelly telling Eilis she knows her secret?
Medium
- AEilis immediately books her return passage.
- BEilis decides to stay in Ireland and marry Jim.
- CEilis confesses to her mother about her marriage.
- DEilis writes a letter to Tony.
18.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, Eilis secretly marries Tony before she leaves for Ireland.
Easy
True or false?
19.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following are true of Tony Fiorello? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AHe is a young Italian plumber.
- BHe meets Eilis at local Friday night dances.
- CHe confesses his love for Eilis and his plans to build a home on Long Island.
- DHe is the priest who arranges Eilis's move to New York.
- EHe is Eilis's night school teacher.
20.Match each character in Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn to their action or description.
Medium
- Rose
- Father Flood
- Mrs Madge Kehoe
- Miss Kelly
- Organises a meeting with Father Flood for Eilis.
- Tells Eilis of opportunities in New York.
- Runs the strict boardinghouse.
- Tells Eilis she knows her secret.
21.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which character is described as a local busybody who tells Eilis she knows her secret?
Medium
- AMiss Kelly
- BMrs Madge Kehoe
- CNancy
- DRose Lacey
22.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, what is the immediate consequence of Miss Kelly telling Eilis she knows her secret?
Medium
- AEilis decides to stay in Ireland and marry Jim
- BEilis books her return passage to America and tells her mother the truth
- CEilis confronts Jim Farrell about the gossip
- DEilis writes to Tony asking for a divorce
23.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, Eilis's mother is desperate for her to settle back in Ireland and marry Jim Farrell.
Easy
True or false?
24.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following are true of Eilis's feelings about her life in Brooklyn over the course of the novel? (select all that apply)
Hard
- AShe is initially homesick and doubts her decision to emigrate
- BShe settles into a routine and begins to enjoy her life
- CShe never adapts and remains miserable throughout
- DShe considers remaining in Ireland when she returns for Rose's funeral
- EShe immediately regrets marrying Tony
25.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following best describes the novel's treatment of Eilis's passivity?
Hard
- AShe is always active and decisive in shaping her life
- BShe remains passive even as she gains success and opportunities
- CHer passivity is resolved early in the novel
- DShe is passive only in Ireland, but active in America
26.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, the novel is described as being written in a 'controlled, understated' style. Which of the following best describes the effect of this style on the reader's experience of Eilis's story?
Medium
- AIt creates a calm, measured tone that makes the emotional upheavals feel restrained and realistic.
- BIt makes the novel feel melodramatic and exaggerated, heightening every emotion.
- CIt suggests the writer is uninterested in Eilis's feelings.
- DIt makes the plot confusing and difficult to follow.
27.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which narrative perspective is used to tell Eilis's story?
Medium
- AFirst-person narration by Eilis
- BThird-person limited narration focused on Eilis
- COmniscient third-person narration that reveals all characters' thoughts
- DSecond-person narration addressing the reader
28.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, the novel is structured around Eilis's movement between Ireland and America. What is the main effect of this structural pattern?
Hard
- AIt emphasises the contrast between her two possible lives and the difficulty of choosing between them.
- BIt shows that Eilis never really settles anywhere and is doomed to be unhappy.
- CIt suggests that America is clearly the better choice from the start.
- DIt makes the novel feel episodic and without a clear focus.
29.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following are true about the novel's use of language? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AThe prose is often described as 'quietly perceptive'.
- BThe language is highly ornate and full of elaborate metaphors.
- CThe tone is generally calm and measured.
- DThe novel uses a lot of slang and colloquial dialogue.
- EThe writing avoids outright passion or contrivance.
30.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, the novel's style is often described as 'controlled, understated' and 'devoid of outright passion or contrivance'.
Medium
True or false?
31.Match each aspect of Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn to the correct description of its narrative method or effect.
Hard
- Narrative perspective
- Tone
- Structure
- Prose style
- Third-person limited, focused on Eilis's consciousness
- Calm and measured, avoiding melodrama
- Movement between Ireland and America to contrast two lives
- Quietly perceptive, with authentic detail
32.Place the following stages of Eilis's emotional journey in Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn in the order in which they occur in the novel.
Medium
- Eilis feels overwhelming homesickness and doubts her decision to leave Ireland.
- Eilis begins to settle into a routine and falls in love with Tony.
- Eilis returns to Ireland for her sister's funeral and reconnects with her hometown.
- Eilis secretly marries Tony before leaving for Ireland.
- Miss Kelly reveals she knows Eilis's secret, prompting Eilis to return to America.
33.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following best explains how the novel's calm, understated tone contributes to its presentation of Eilis's passivity?
Hard
- AThe restrained tone mirrors Eilis's own reluctance to assert herself, making her passivity feel natural rather than frustrating.
- BThe calm tone makes Eilis's passivity seem heroic and admirable.
- CThe understated style suggests that Eilis's choices are unimportant.
- DThe tone creates a sense of irony, as Eilis is actually very active.
34.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, the novel has been described as having a 'calm tone' and 'measured prose'. Which of the following critical approaches would best analyse the writer's methods in a short quotation from the novel?
Challenge
- AIdentify the narrative voice, comment on the choice of detail, and explain how the tone creates a particular effect on the reader.
- BSummarise the plot events in the quotation and relate them to the theme of immigration.
- CCompare the quotation to a similar moment in another novel by a different author.
- DDiscuss whether the quotation is realistic or not, based on your own experience.
35.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following are features of the novel's structure and form? (select all that apply)
Hard
- AIt is divided into parts that follow Eilis's time in Ireland and America.
- BIt uses a frame narrative with a narrator looking back from old age.
- CIt moves chronologically through Eilis's experiences.
- DIt includes letters that reveal characters' feelings.
- EIt is written in verse.
36.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, the novel is written in the first person, with Eilis narrating her own story.
Easy
True or false?
37.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, the novel is praised for its 'authentic detail'. Which of the following is an example of such detail that helps to create a sense of time and place?
Medium
- AThe department store's acceptance of 'coloured' customers
- BEilis's ability to fly to America
- CThe use of mobile phones by characters
- DThe presence of a television in every Irish home
38.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, which of the following are true about how the writer presents the theme of communication and secrecy? (select all that apply)
Hard
- AThe Lacey family is presented as uncommunicative about their feelings.
- BEilis's habit of keeping feelings to herself helps her adjust to solitude in Brooklyn.
- CThe novel suggests that secrecy always leads to happy outcomes.
- DEilis's secret marriage creates tension when she returns to Ireland.
- EMiss Kelly's revelation about knowing Eilis's secret acts as a turning point.
39.Place the following elements of the novel's structure in the order in which they appear in Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn.
Medium
- Eilis's life in Enniscorthy, Ireland
- Eilis's journey to Brooklyn and initial struggles
- Eilis's relationship with Tony and settling into life in America
- Eilis's return to Ireland after Rose's death
- Eilis's decision to return to America after Miss Kelly's revelation
40.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, who organises the meeting between Eilis and Father Flood?
Easy
- AEilis's older sister Rose
- BEilis's mother
- CMrs Madge Kehoe
- DMiss Kelly
41.In Brooklyn, what is the name of the strict woman who runs the boardinghouse where Eilis lives?
Medium
42.In Brooklyn, what is the full name of the young Italian plumber Eilis falls in love with?
Medium
43.Complete the sentence about the opening of Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín.
Easy
Eilis Lacey is a young woman who is unable to find work in ____ Ireland, and her older sister is called ____.
44.Complete the sentence about Eilis's work in Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín.
Medium
In Brooklyn Eilis takes a job in a ____ and undertakes night classes in ____.
45.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, what is the name of the local busybody who tells Eilis she knows her secret?
Medium
46.Complete the sentence about the novel Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín.
Easy
Eilis Lacey is a young woman who is unable to find work in 1950s ____.
47.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, what is the first name of the strict woman who runs the boardinghouse where Eilis lives?
Medium
48.Complete the sentence about the theme of communication in Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín.
Medium
In Brooklyn, Tóibín presents the Lacey family as ____, which helps Eilis adapt to a life of relative ____ in America.
49.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, what is the surname of the strict woman who runs the boardinghouse where Eilis lives?
Easy
50.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, what is the first name of the young Italian plumber Eilis meets at the Friday night dances?
Easy
51.Complete the sentence about the setting of Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn.
Medium
Eilis Lacey leaves her small hometown of ____ in Ireland to live and work in ____, New York.
52.Complete the sentence about the plot of Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn.
Medium
While Eilis is working she learns from Father Flood that her sister ____ has died in her sleep from a pre-existing ____ condition.
53.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, what makes Eilis decide to return to America?
Hard
54.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, how does Eilis's relationship with Jim Farrell complicate her situation in Ireland?
Hard
55.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, explain how Eilis's feelings about her life in Brooklyn change over the course of the novel.
Hard
56.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, explain how the theme of communication and secrecy shapes Eilis's relationships in Ireland after she returns.
Hard
57.In Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, explain how the novel presents Eilis as a passive character and why this is significant.
Hard

Catatan ulasan

## Brooklyn – Colm Tóibín (2009) **The novel** - A 2009 novel by Irish author Colm Tóibín. - Won the 2009 Costa Novel Award; shortlisted for the 2011 International Dublin Literary Award; longlisted for the 2009 Man Booker Prize. - In 2012, *The Observer* named it one of "The 10 best historical novels"; in 2019 it was ranked 51st on *The Guardian*'s list of the 100 best books of the 21st century. - A 2015 film adaptation was directed by John Crowley, written by Nick Hornby, and starred Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson and Emory Cohen. It received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Ronan) and Best Adapted Screenplay. - A sequel, *Long Island*, was published on May 7, 2024, set in the 1970s, 20 years after the events of the first novel, featuring Eilis and Tony, their children, and her in-laws on Long Island. **Plot in brief** - Eilis Lacey cannot find work in 1950s Ireland. Her older sister Rose arranges a meeting with Father Flood, a Catholic priest visiting from New York, who describes the opportunities awaiting her there. - Eilis immigrates to Brooklyn, works in a department store and takes night classes in bookkeeping. She finds the job boring and the boardinghouse, run by the strict Mrs Madge Kehoe, repressive, and doubts her decision. Letters from Rose and her mother bring severe homesickness, but she begins to settle into a routine. - She meets and falls in love with Tony Fiorello, a young Italian plumber, at local Friday night dances. She qualifies easily from her night school course, meets Tony's family, and their romance becomes serious; Tony confesses his love and plans to build a home on Long Island. - Father Flood tells Eilis that Rose has died in her sleep from a pre-existing heart condition. Eilis secretly marries Tony before returning to Ireland to mourn. - In Ireland she slips back into town society. She goes to the beach with her friend Nancy, Nancy's fiancé George and his friend Jim Farrell. Eilis had known and disliked Jim before America, but now finds him much improved and they start seeing each other. Jim is the only child of a publican and considered a good catch. Eilis's mother is desperate for her to settle back in Ireland and marry Jim, as Eilis has not confided in her or her friends about her marriage. - Eilis procrastinates about returning by extending her stay, and saves Tony's letters unopened as she considers remaining in Ireland with Jim. Eventually the local busybody Miss Kelly tells Eilis she knows her secret, having heard through the grapevine that someone from New York had seen her at a wedding registry. This is the turning point: Eilis immediately books her return passage, tells her mother the truth about her marriage, and posts a farewell note to Jim as she leaves town by taxi for the docks. **Themes** - **Time and Adaptability** – the human capacity to gradually embrace new circumstances. Eilis reluctantly leaves Enniscorthy, is at first overwhelmingly homesick and struggles to fit in, but eventually comes to love her life in the United States. - **Immigration, Social Status, and Reputation** – the effects of immigration on a person's life. A lower-middle-class woman, Eilis uproots her life in Ireland for economic opportunity; in Enniscorthy even her sister's employer won't hire her as a bookkeeper. - **Communication, Hidden Emotion, and Secrecy** – the difficulties of ineffective communication. The Lacey family are uncommunicative about their feelings; Eilis, Rose and her mother never talk about their emotions. This emotional barrier helps Eilis ease into a life of relative solitude, but also prevents… (the novel explores the costs of this secrecy). - **Coming of Age and Passivity** – a coming-of-age tale charting the end of Eilis's adolescence and the beginning of her adulthood. Eilis remains passive throughout, despite her advancements; although she gains success and begins to work toward new opportunities, the major decisions she… (are often made for her or by others). **Style and reception** - Robert Hanks in *The Daily Telegraph* called it a "controlled, understated novel, devoid of outright passion or contrivance, but alive with authentic detail, moved along by the ripples of affection and doubt that shape any life: a novel that offers the reader serious pleasure." - Scribner for Bookreporter said Tóibín "effortlessly captures the duality that lies at the heart of Eilis Lacey's story", offering both a classic immigrant saga and a story of "one young woman's grasp of a hard-won maturity." - Tóibín was commended for his description of changes in American society during the 1950s, such as the department store's acceptance of "coloured" customers, Long Island's suburban boom, and the arrival of television. Many applauded his measured prose and the calm tone, though Eilis has been described as being "so passive that you sometimes felt like giving her a good shaking." **Exam focus (Paper 1, Section B: Prose)** - Questions require knowledge of the whole text, with reference to relevant detail including direct quotations from across the text (AO1). - Show understanding of characters, relationships, themes and settings (AO2). - Analyse ways the writer creates meanings and effects through form, language and structure (AO3). - Give an informed personal response to the question and whole text (AO4). - This is an open text exam: you may take your copy in, with highlighting, underlining or brief handwritten notes. Sticky notes and separate pieces of paper are not allowed.

Eilis Lacey: The protagonist: a young woman unable to find work in 1950s Ireland who immigrates to Brooklyn, New York.
Rose Lacey: Eilis's older sister, who organises the meeting with Father Flood; she dies in her sleep from a pre-existing heart condition.
Father Flood: A Catholic priest from New York who tells Eilis of the opportunities awaiting her there; later informs her of Rose's death.
Tony Fiorello: A young Italian plumber whom Eilis meets at local Friday night dances and falls in love with; they secretly marry before she returns to Ireland.
Mrs Madge Kehoe: The strict woman who runs the repressive boardinghouse where Eilis lives in Brooklyn.
Jim Farrell: The only child of a publican, considered a good catch; Eilis knew and disliked him before America but finds him much improved and starts seeing him in Ireland.
Miss Kelly: A local busybody who tells Eilis she knows her secret, having heard through the grapevine that someone from New York saw her at a wedding registry; this is the turning point.
Nancy: Eilis's friend in Ireland; she goes to the beach with Nancy, Nancy's fiancé George and Jim Farrell.
Enniscorthy: Eilis's small hometown in Ireland, which she reluctantly leaves.
Time and Adaptability: A theme: the human capacity to gradually embrace new circumstances; Eilis eventually comes to love her life in the United States.
Immigration, Social Status, and Reputation: A theme: the effects of immigration on a person's life; Eilis, a lower-middle-class woman, uproots her life for economic opportunity.
Communication, Hidden Emotion, and Secrecy: A theme: the difficulties of ineffective communication; the Lacey family never talk about their emotions, and Eilis keeps her marriage secret in Ireland.
Coming of Age and Passivity: A theme: the novel charts the end of Eilis's adolescence and the beginning of her adulthood, yet she remains passive throughout despite her advancements.
Costa Novel Award: An award won by Brooklyn in 2009.
International Dublin Literary Award: An award for which Brooklyn was shortlisted in 2011.
Man Booker Prize: An award for which Brooklyn was longlisted in 2009.
Long Island: The sequel to Brooklyn, published on May 7, 2024, set in the 1970s, 20 years after the events of the first novel.

Kartu flash

Who wrote the novel Brooklyn and when was it published?

Brooklyn is a 2009 novel by Irish author Colm Tóibín.

What awards and recognition did Brooklyn receive?

It won the 2009 Costa Novel Award, was shortlisted for the 2011 International Dublin Literary Award, and was longlisted for the 2009 Man Booker Prize. In 2012, The Observer named it one of "The 10 best historical novels".

Where is Brooklyn ranked on The Guardian's list of the 100 best books of the 21st century?

In 2019, the novel was ranked 51st on The Guardian's list of the 100 best books of the 21st century.

Who is the protagonist of Brooklyn and what is her situation at the start?

Eilis Lacey is a young woman unable to find work in 1950s Ireland.

How does Eilis come to emigrate to Brooklyn?

Her older sister Rose organises a meeting with a Catholic priest, Father Flood, visiting from New York, who tells Eilis of opportunities and employment prospects there.

What job does Eilis take up in Brooklyn and what does she study?

She takes a job in a department store while undertaking night classes in bookkeeping.

What makes Eilis doubt her decision to emigrate early on?

Her initial experiences of a boring job and living in a repressive boardinghouse run by the strict Mrs Madge Kehoe.

Who runs the boardinghouse where Eilis lives and how is she described?

Mrs Madge Kehoe, described as strict, runs the repressive boardinghouse.

Who does Eilis meet and fall in love with, and where?

She meets Tony Fiorello, a young Italian plumber, at local Friday night dances.

What are Tony Fiorello's plans for the future?

Tony confesses his love for Eilis and his plans to build a home on Long Island.

How does Eilis learn of her sister Rose's death?

While Eilis is working, Father Flood tells her that Rose has died in her sleep from a pre-existing heart condition.

What does Eilis do secretly before leaving Ireland to mourn?

She secretly marries Tony before she leaves.

Who is Jim Farrell and how does Eilis's view of him change?

Jim Farrell is the only child of a publican, considered a good catch. Eilis knew him before going to America and disliked him, but now finds him much improved and they start seeing each other.

Why does Eilis's mother want her to stay in Ireland?

Her mother is desperate for her to settle back in Ireland and marry Jim, as Eilis has not confided in her about her marriage.

How does Eilis procrastinate about returning to America?

She extends her stay and saves Tony's letters unopened as she considers remaining in Ireland and building a life with Jim Farrell.

Who is Miss Kelly and what is her role in the turning point?

Miss Kelly is a local busybody who tells Eilis she knows her secret because she heard through the grapevine that someone from New York had seen her at a wedding registry.

What does Eilis do after Miss Kelly confronts her?

She immediately books her return passage, tells her mother the truth about her marriage, and posts a farewell note to Jim as she leaves town by taxi for the docks.

What does Robert Hanks for The Daily Telegraph say about Brooklyn?

He called it a "controlled, understated novel, devoid of outright passion or contrivance, but alive with authentic detail, moved along by the ripples of affection and doubt that shape any life: a novel that offers the reader serious pleasure."

What does Scribner for Bookreporter say about Brooklyn?

That in his "quietly perceptive prose", Tóibín "effortlessly captures the duality that lies at the heart of Eilis Lacey's story", offering both a classic immigrant saga and a story of one young woman's hard-won maturity.

What aspects of 1950s American society did Tóibín receive praise for describing?

The department store's acceptance of "coloured" customers, Long Island's suburban boom, and the arrival of television.

What criticism has been made of Eilis as a character?

She has been described as being "so passive that you sometimes felt like giving her a good shaking."

Name the four themes LitCharts assigns to Brooklyn.

Time and Adaptability; Immigration, Social Status, and Reputation; Communication, Hidden Emotion, and Secrecy; Coming of Age and Passivity.

How does the theme of Time and Adaptability appear in Brooklyn?

Tóibín illustrates the human capacity to gradually embrace new circumstances: Eilis is overwhelmed by homesickness at first but eventually comes to love her life in the United States.

How does the theme of Immigration, Social Status, and Reputation appear in Brooklyn?

The novel examines immigration's effects on a person's life: Eilis, a lower-middle-class woman, uproots her life in Ireland for economic opportunity, having struggled to find bookkeeping work in Enniscorthy.

How does the theme of Communication, Hidden Emotion, and Secrecy appear in Brooklyn?

Tóibín presents the Lacey family as uncommunicative about their feelings — Eilis, Rose and their mother never talk about their emotions, an emotional barrier that eases Eilis into solitude but also prevents connection.

How does the theme of Coming of Age and Passivity appear in Brooklyn?

The novel charts the end of Eilis's adolescence and the beginning of her adulthood, yet she remains passive throughout despite her advancements and successes.

Who directed the 2015 film adaptation of Brooklyn and who wrote the script?

It was directed by John Crowley with a script written by Nick Hornby.

Which actors star in the 2015 film adaptation of Brooklyn?

Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, and Emory Cohen.

What awards recognition did the 2015 film adaptation of Brooklyn receive?

It won numerous awards, including three Academy Award nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Ronan) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

What is the sequel to Brooklyn, when was it published, and what is it about?

Long Island was published on May 7, 2024. Set in the 1970s, 20 years after the first novel, it features Eilis and Tony, their children, and her in-laws on Long Island.

What honour did Long Island receive upon release?

It was selected by Oprah Winfrey as an Oprah's Book Club 2.0 selection.

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