Customer Reviews

A Brownstone in Brooklyn

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In "A Brownstone In Brooklyn," Mr. Julius Thompson paints a picture of life in Brooklyn during the turbulent 60's. It's the story of how good people can be oppressed and held down for so long that they must resort to "any means necessary" to overcome, and how one's family is not always defined by a blood line. It's also the story of how one such extended family bands together to raise an extraordinary young man, our main character, Andy Michael Pilgrim. Mr. Thompson shows us what life was like for a young man during the Vietnam War as the Civil Rights Movement took a sudden violent turn after the death of Dr. King, and how many young men, without the love given to Andy by his extended family, didn't make it. This is an excellent story, and an excellent lesson, that I highly recommend for readers of all ages.

An interesting retrospect of one man's perseverance in overcoming cultural, personal, and historical challenges to obtain his goals. This book creates connections to the reader's sense of survival and desire for achievement, while making statements about political and social movements of the 70's that existed in Brooklyn, New York. A great book to read to get an understanding of struggles and triumphs in an exciting time and place. This book is hard to put down until it is completely read!

This book was excellant. It gave a very good account, on how things were during the civil rights movement. It seems that the gang and drug life just did not start in the last few decades, but has been around for a long time. It was a fresh reminder of how family and frineds use to stick together and pool their resources. Bottom line it was excellent. The type was easy reading.

The greatest compliment one can pay the author of his memoirs is: "I know those people! I really do!" While reading this novel, I feel privileged to sit at the table beside Andy (Mr. Julius Thompson) while his mama, Golda, dishes out a sumptuous ~ though modest ~ feast. My hand is in Andy's. My other hand is in Andy's Step-father's (Marvs) strong, black hand while, following his example, we bow our heads, and feel his love and his deep and unshakable faith as he leads us in grace. Mr. Julius Thompson takes us on a literary journey through the tempestuous sixties. His main character, Andy Michael Pilgrim, has a dream ~ a dream in an environment and generation that could easily crush a less enduring black man's dreams. With riots and death all around him, Andy persists in the pursuit of his dream. With the love of his life, Leslie, beside him, Golda's love (leaning heavily on him, sometimes, as a mother's love will tend to do), Marvs' guidance and love giving him direction, and a whole wacky cast of lovable characters ~ his extended family ~ urging him on, Andy moves relentlessly forward, overcoming towering obstacles, until his dream is realized...

Yes, I know those people. I love those people. And, thanks to Julius Thompson and his book, "A Brownstone In Brooklyn," you'll find youself knowing and loving them, too.

A Brownstone in Brooklyn chronicles a short but critical portion of the life of Andy Michael Pilgrim. Andy has grown up in a Brownstone on Gates Avenue in Brooklyn and all of its residents have contributed to his upbringing. However, this book takes place during a turbulent time in American history. The civil rights movement seems to be taking a more violent turn, and young men across the nation are being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War...

The lively cast of characters keep this novel fresh and entertaining while the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat. Thompson does a wonderful job highlighting how people's lives are influenced by the types of choices they make. He also highlights how much one person's actions can impact the lives of others in meaningful ways. The book started out a little slow, but gradually picked up momentum. I would have liked a bit more character development for Andy's character earlier in the book. In the early parts of the book I felt like I was reading about his day to day life without enough background to really care about his character, but by the end I felt like I knew him well. A Brownstone in Brooklyn is an enjoyable read that truly demonstrates that it takes a village to raise a child.

Julius Thompson`s "A Brownstone in Brooklyn" is about a young driven Black man,his family and his Brooklyn brownstone neighbors and friends. Julius has the uncanny ability to write with such intensity that you can`t help but feel that you were actually walking right next to Andy Pilgrim as be experienced,first hand, the love of his family,friends and neighbors and their drive to push him to be all that he can be. Unfortunately, life is not that ideal. Andy experiences some very trying life lessons..the extreme jealously of an old friend to the point of dire consequences; black and white prejudices again with dire consequences; and last, but certainly not least, the race riots of the late 60`s that affected many inner city communities. He witnesses rioting,shootings,death,looting,burning buildings and severe property damage.

As a White man, I knew very little about the late 60`s race riots and Julius has helped me to see, first hand, the extreme feelings and the emotions that people, both back and white, went through during that time. At that time, I was a self-absorbed teenager and I was not affected by those events, so I felt nothing for others that it affected. This book has changed my being. It has provided me with a closer look at Black issues of the times.

There are also some underlying issues that Andy is dealing with during this time in his life. I will not delve into them; I do not want to spoil it for future readers of Brownstone.

Julius Thompson has done a wonderful job with "Brownstone in Brooklyn". If you like it, and I hope you will, I know you will want to read the next two books in the Andy Pilgrim saga. Julius, please keep writing;you are doing a wonderful job...

Well written about the Vietnam era, black neighborhoods, the black family/village and race relations of the time.
The novel opens with Andy Pilgrim, a senior at City College drafted and scared to death of being accepted into the army.
The Brownstone in Brooklyn where the Pilgrims live was a village that supported Andy and each other.
In the sixties we all had Mother Loves' and Sister
Natures' living in our buildings or in the neighborhood.
The novel is a slice of a young man's life during
turbulent times. Mr. Thompson does a good job of
intertwining drama, romance, and relationships while
keeping true what was really happening at that time in history in urban areas of the United States.
I re-lived part of the sixties.
I am recommending the book to my bookclub, In the Company of My Sistahs (Northern California). Well done!

A GREAT literature teacher once told me that as long as you try hard, you can do anything. Well, that teacher was Mr.Julius Thompson "Coach T" my senior english teacher at Winder- Barrow High School, and the author of this GREAT book. One can only aspire to ever write as good a book as Coach T obviously has. He has always been a great leader, and someone his former students could look up to. He has been my inspiration to begin writing a book of my own, and though it may take me many YEARS to acomplish this feat, I know that in my heart of hearts one day I will accomplish that dream. Thank You Coach T for writing such a wonderful read, and for being my inspiration!!!
Susie Cain- Cain
Winder- Barrow High School
Class of 1995

This book gave me another insight to a very difficult time in our history. Readers should enjoy the successes as well as the challenges of a young man during that period of time. I had difficulty putting the book down.