Brooklyn is about Eilis and her life in Ireland and in New York - plus the people around her who affect her moods and decisions. 

Colm Tóibín had a unique and fascinating writing style. He is new to me and I enjoyed the pacing and details. I like knowing the internal experience of characters. And seeing cultural differences in the page was interesting. Tóibín's writing made me feel like I was there - in Ireland, on the ship, at the shop, at the beach, and more. 

Sometimes I want to shake Eilis for her passivity. Reading about her and wondering what she would do kept me turning the pages (ebook). Knowing the second book in the series recently released prompted me to read Brooklyn first. It was a short and satisfying read. I smiled, laughed and even was teary a time or two. Recommend if you like literary books and writing with a strong voice.