A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Our Book of the Month for October was first published in the UK in 1944, and is set in the slums of Williamsburg, Brooklyn where The Nolans live from 1902 - 1919. It's a poignant story of family relationships, and a resourceful child called Francie.

Random House

Francie is a reader, and despite getting short shrift from the Williamsburg Librarian, she does love her local library!

'The library was a little old shabby place. Francie thought it was beautiful. The feeling she had about it was as good as the feeling she had about church. She pushed open the door and went in. She liked the combined smell of worn leather bindings, library paste and freshly inked stamping pads better than she liked the smell of burning incense at high mass.'

Betty Smith's own experiences provided the framework for 'A Tree grows in Brooklyn' which was made into a film in 1945.

Sci - Fi

We haven't explored much Science - Fiction as a group, so it was something completely different for a book of your own choice this month. We've just added to our sci-fi collection in the library, so there was plenty of choice from vintage classics right up to the present day. Pop in and take a look at some of the books on display, or pick up a leaflet to give you some ideas

Most of the group rated their books from 3.5 to 4.5 out of 5, with 'The Martian' by Andy Weir getting the highest rating. Here's a few of the titles selected, and some feedback from our group.

The Death of Grass by John Christopher & The Lost Fleet by Jack Campbell 

These two books compliment each other so well given that I chose them randomly.

It was amazing, and based on today's world. It shows just how we can disrupt and ruin

the world we know today. Food problems, tampering with nature, a blight affecting all grasses, trees, rice etc. because a virulent strain of weed grows so fast and sours the Earth, reducing it to a stagnant brown soil that will not sustain much beyond potatoes and beetroot. Our aspirations of seeking for other life in the vast universe of space asks more questions, without reasonable answers. It shows that human nature has a long way to go to achieve peace. Elizabeth

The Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle

Written in 1963, this classic novel portrays a world where the humans are reduced to savage beasts and the apes are the ‘civilised ‘ masters of the planet. Nowadays better known as a film or TV series, this book is much more than a science fiction novel. The author wanted to comment on many aspects of society's present (and possible future) by constructing an upside-down world. It can be read as an allegory of slavery, man’s treatment of animals and racism.

It is a novel to make you think while you are being entertained. Cath