A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

There are just too many wonderful books that I want to read and it seems not enough time to read them all...but I did manage to finish my latest, and have two more on my nightstand that are ready to go.  Yesterday my oldest daughter and I went to Indigo and I had to avert my eyes from some of the tables of books, sometimes it is almost painful as I want to read it all.  At the same time, I am re-working a large canoe piece as the canoe felt 'disconnected' from the rest of the painting for me.  I've begun by making it larger and bolder, overlapping more of the landscape and am looking forward to where this will lead.  I've also ordered a glass palette to cover my entire taboret and am excited to go pick it up today :)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith

Every June my family heads to the Crossroads Farmers Market for the Calgary Herald book sale which is a fabulous fundraiser for a number of causes, including the Children's Hospital.  This summer I stumbled upon an original 1943 copy of Betty Smith's 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' whose story is told by Frances Nolan, a young girl growing up in a poverty-stricken area of Brooklyn in the early 1900's.  The book is physically beautiful and the story is a lovely telling of difficult times.  Though her father Johnny was an alcoholic, Francie's family saw the beauty in him.  The image of the tree, which was considered a weed, runs throughout the novel to signify the strength that lies within each of us to grow, overcome and even flourish despite our circumstances.