Joy in the Morning, Betty Smith, Harper & Row, 1963, 294 pp
Sometimes even a reader such as myself needs a heartwarming book. The good thing about Betty Smith is that her version of heartwarming is always peppered with enough realism about the way life goes that she, narrowly, avoids sentimentality.
I have read her most famous novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, several times. I will probably read it again someday. Joy in the Morning was her last novel. After reading it I learned that she devoted much of her writing life to plays. In fact Annie, the heroine of this novel, is a budding playwright and overcomes anything in her way to become one.
It is 1927 when Annie leaves her Brooklyn home at the age of eighteen, against her mother's advice, to marry Carl. They had met in Brooklyn but Carl went off to a mid-western university to study law. Soon Annie followed. Carl's mother also opposed the marriage.
The early years of any marriage always involve adjustments, especially in the days when couples did not live together beforehand and had rarely had sex. Often a young couple is not financially secure. All of this is the case for Annie and Carl and this story is full of hardship. Then comes the Depression and the first pregnancy.
If there is one thing Betty Smith knows about life it is how women in those days provided the stability that makes a family, both emotionally and in the day to day practical matters. Annie is as dreamy as any young woman but she also has grit, a huge heart and a good sense of humor.
So she uses her imagination to outwit adversity and her stubbornness to keep writing those plays. Add to that her wisdom in how to keep Carl somewhat settled down when he (as we say in our house) "gets like he gets," and you can't deny she is a wonder.
I must say that all of Annie's lovely and admirable qualities do strain a reader's credulity but somehow I never care when reading Betty Smith. She just gives me hope and makes me feel happy. We all need that sometimes, right?
(Joy in the Morning is available in paperback by order from Once Upon A Time Bookstore.)
Yes, we all need happy reading once in a while. I just finished The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson; I'll be posting my review tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you agree Carmen. And I will stop by to read your review in the morning.
DeleteIn the dim (very dim) recesses of my memory, I seem to recall a movie based on this book. I don't think I ever read the book, but I do remember the story. "Heartwarming" pretty well sums it up!
ReplyDeleteThere was a movie in 1965 with Richard Chamberlain and Yvette Mimieux. Netflix doesn't have it but YouTube does. From the movie summary it sounds like the story was somewhat changed. Perhaps they made it even more heartwarming! I may watch it someday.
DeleteI recall reading Joy in the Morning but didn't love it as much as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a nice weekend.
Oh absolutely nothing she wrote was better than A Tree Grows in Brooklyn! I had an average weekend thanks.
Delete"A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is still on my TBR list, I hope to get to it some time this year. ;)
ReplyDeleteNice to know that you like it so much that you read it several times. So, I'll move it a little further to the top of the pile.
Happy Monday,
Marianne from Let's Read
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the book that led, in a long and winding way, to My Big Fat Reading Project. You will love it!
DeleteThis is one of my favourite books! I first read it as a teenager and have reread it many times since. I still have my original mass paperback copy. It's a wonder it's held up.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right that this comes off without being sentimental because Smith does inject problems - lots of them!
P.S. Is it just me or this cover all wrong? It looks like the late '40s/'50s to me and not 1927 - 1930.
In 1965 a movie was made from the book. I have a feeling that cover might have been a movie tie-in. You are right about the 40s/50s look. I think I would have loved the book as a teen.
DeleteYes, we could all use a bit of Joy in the morning. I might get to a Betty Smith book as well this year. I didn't realize her other book led to your Reading Project. hmm
ReplyDeleteIf you read one Betty Smith, read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Then you will know.
Delete