I do love a listy post. I was contemplating doing one of my archive ‘Five Feat‘ posts about Brooklyn, one of NYC’s five boroughs, but when I started looking for posts, I found there were just tons of them!
What is it about Brooklyn?
A few facts: It’s the most populous part of NYC, and is situated at the western end of Long Island. It was originally a separate city, and would now be the 4th most populous one in the US after Manhattan, LA and Chicago. It was named after a Dutch town in the 17thC, and was annexed to become part of NYC in 1898. It has become a crossroads for immigration from all over the world, being very cosmopolitan. It is a cultural centre for the arts, which perhaps explains why so many writers live or were born there. You can find out more about Brooklyn on the Wikipedia page. There’s even a page for Brooklyn writers with over 200 listed – but ironically it doesn’t feature the late Paul Auster (although his wife Siri Hustvedt is there).
An A-Z of Brooklyn-born or based authors I’ve read
Here’s an A-Z list of the Brooklyn-born or -based authors that I’ve read and may have featured on my blog with links to some books reviewed-
- Paul Auster (1947-2024) Born Newark, NJ, moved to Brooklyn in 1981 when he married Siri Hustvedt. Iconic Brooklyn work – The Brooklyn Follies (2005)
- Jennifer Egan – (born Chicago, lives in Brooklyn) – A Visit from the Goon Squad
- Siri Hustvedt (born Minnesota, moved to Brooklyn in 1981 when she met Paul Auster). The Blindfold (1992) her NYC debut. Her memoir of life with Paul was brilliant – Ghost Stories (review coming).
- Jean Kwok (born Hong Kong, immigrated to Brooklyn aged 5) her 2010 debut Girl in Translation
- Erik Larson (born Brooklyn, 1954) – non-fiction author. Work includes The Devil in the White City
- Jonathem Lethem (Brooklyn born). Iconic Brooklyn work Motherless Brooklyn (2000)- (read pre-blog)
- Robert Silverberg (born Brooklyn, 1935) – wonderful SF author who I’ve been meaning to re-read some of for ages. Chris at Calmgrove read his Majipoor Chronicles last year, but I didn’t manage to join in. See #ReadingMajipoor
- Emma Straub (born NYC 1980, lives Brooklyn) – Classic NYC novel This Time Tomorrow (2022)
- Adrian Tomine (born Sacramento, lives Brooklyn) – The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist (review coming)
- Ned Vizzini (born Brooklyn 1981, d. 2013) – Iconic Brooklyn book – It’s Kind of a Funny Story (2006) superb YA novel about a teenager suffering from depression. Tragically Vizzini committed suicide in 2013.
- Donald E Westlake (aka Richard Stark, born Brooklyn 1933, d. 2008) – iconic NYC novel – Point Blank – the first Parker book (1962)
- Robert Anton Wilson (born Brooklyn 1932, d. 2007) – Co-author of the totally bonkers Illuminati Trilogy (1975, with Robert Shea) – read pre-blog, but oft-referred to.
- Meg Wolitzer (Brooklyn born) – Author of The Wife which I’ve yet to read, and Belzhar – A YA novel with Plath’s Bell Jar as a catalyst.
- Nicola Yoon (Jamaican-American who lives in Brooklyn) Everything Everything – 2015 YA novel about a girl allergic to everything.
Brooklyn Based Novels I’ve read by other authors
- Lawrence Block – The Matt Scudder books incl A Walk Among the Tombstones – I’ve read most of these pre-blog – my favourite Block character.
- John Brownlow – Assassin 18 – Hitman thriller partially set in Williamsburg.
- Michael Chabon – The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay – epic!
- Jean Hannah Edelstein – This Really Isn’t About You – superb memoir about her father’s cancer and her return to the USA, living in Brooklyn.
- Alice Hoffman – The Museum of Extraordinary Things – I’m sure I’ve read more set on Coney Island, but this is the only one I found.
- Emily St John Mandel – The Singer’s Gun – early scene in Williamsburg.
- Kimberley McCreight – Reconstructing Amelia – YA novel with a Brooklyn high school.
- William Norwich – Learning to Drive – a comedy about a driving test in Brooklyn.
- Tom Rachman – The Rise & Fall of Great Powers – one timeline set in Brooklyn.
I’m sure there are ones I’ve missed. And before you all mention it, Colm Tóibín’s Brooklyn was a non-starter for me (although I enjoyed the film). Talking of films, I shall leave you with my photo of the view in the poster for Once Upon A Time in America, taken during my last trip to the USA, and a day out in Brooklyn.
Do share your Brooklyn reads, so I can add to my list!
- Header pic by Peter Fitzgerald – Own work by uploader, based on content from OpenStreet Map, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7334362
Great post, thanks for all the book recommendations! I’ll add my two cents to the mix:
– Barbary Shore by Norman Mailer,
– all the books by William Boyle are set in Brooklyn – A special mention to Friendship Is a Gift You Give Yourself
– the marvelous Deacon King Kong by James McBride
I’ve never read Mailer – read a lot about him though! I should probably try one day! I shall look up Boyle’s books – I love noir. Thanks for the recommendation.
Great list! I am reminded of Act One by Moss Hart – one of my favorite books about growing up in New York – and, of course, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
I’ve never read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn – should I?
I remember it as a sensitive growing-up story…and certainly gives a sense of Brooklyn at a particular time.
I decided I should read it so I bought a paperback copy… but… it is a bit of a doorstopper. We’ll see…
I should really reread it as I keep recommending it. But I recall it as highly readable, the length not a problem.
Brilliant post, Annabel. Here’s a couple: My Coney Island Baby by Billy O’Callaghan and Jacqueline Woodson’s Another Brooklyn, a particular favourite.
Both of which I shall have to add to my wishlist.
Oh wow, such dedication! Auster’s NY trilogy title is working its way up my TBR pile but isn’t there yet I’m afraid, but you remind me to finish Silverberg’s prequel trilogy which I forgot about earlier this year.
Very interestimg post!
Love a New York setting so there are many temptations here!
If it’s any consolation, you’ve expanded mine!
Such an interesting post, Annabel, and I confess I’ve only read Auster. Lots more to explore here!
I discovered the prevalence of Brooklyn in my reading almost by accident. I enjoyed putting it together.
All these fascinating sounding books and I’ve not read a single one! I did start Devil in the White City some years back but couldn’t get into it – the text in my copy was so tiny
I seem to remember it being rather dense pages – but it was a book group pick, so I persevered – and did find it fascinating.
I’ve recently finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn so that came straight to mind, it gives a good account of the area at the turn of the 20th century.
This is a great list! Shout out to Westlake, his books are so fun! And Lawrence Block, I love all of his stories. And Auster and Hustvedt and Mandel and… Okay, I’m not going to repeat all the names, ha ha!
I agree, I remember loving A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, it’s been a few years since I reread it.
Wait, Sophie’s Choice takes place partly in Brooklyn, doesn’t it? I’m sure there are books I’m forgetting!
Brooklyn is just teeming with literaryness, isn’t it?! I must read more Westlake. You’re right about Sophie’s choice – I’ve never read it though, so it wasn’t in my list – but I liked the film.
I love reading NY-based stories, but the ones that came instantly to my mind you have already mentioned – Motherless Brooklyn and Tóibín’s Brooklyn. I know both as films, too.
I liked the film of Brooklyn but don’t gel with Tóibín’s writing. I enjoyed the movie of Motherless Brooklyn too.