Sorry, NY Times trend piece followers: there are no thick glasses or artisanal mayonnaise shops here. There's none of the Brooklyn we know and love today: no Das Racist, no Tribe Called Quest and no (gasp) Jay-Z. You don't even see a single slice of pizza, for Pete's (or Papa John's) sake.
In fact, Brooklyn gives us very little of what we've come to identify as BKLYN-centric… besides a trip to Coney Island. Regardless, the brief glimpse we get into this ever-changing borough—and particularly, its strong Irish community—provides us with insight into BK that still holds value today.
Questions About Visions of Brooklyn
- How does living in Brooklyn change Eilis? Does it change her for the better?
- In what ways do Tony and Jim embody the cultural differences between Ireland and America?
- Does the Irish community differ from the Irish-American community in Brooklyn? Explain. What does Eilis learn about American culture by working at Bartocci's?