Textuality » 5BSU Interacting

AMilan - Analysis of a review
by AMilan - (2016-10-16)
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The review of Brooklyn is taken from a famous newspaper: Telegraph

Considering the title the reader should understand the review is written to promote to read 'Brooklyn'.Indeed Rober Hanks underlines his positive opinions in the subheading where he uses different adjective to tell about Brooklyn.

He defines it 'an elegant story of Irish immigration'. The noun 'immigration' is set as a key word at the end of the line because the main character of the novel is a mover.

The article is organised into seven sequences that have different function to be clear and simple.

The first one tells about the sence of immigration. The reviewer wants to explain the idea of immigration, so he takes the film 'Far and away' as an example to understand 'how american reactions can easily tip over into hyperbole'.

After that he tells about 'Brooklyn' using positive adjectives as: 'understated novel, devoid of outright passion or contrivance, but alive with authentic detail, a novel that offers the reader serious pleasure'.

The second paragraph takes the reader inside the story but the the reviewer is unclear to describe. In this way he forces the reader to continue to read the article. He mentions only Enniscorthy, a small Irish town where 'there are few opportunities for the young' explains the reviewer.

The third sequence tells about the first lines of the novel:Eilis' presentation. The writer uses some adjectives to introduce her ('diligent, withdrawn, even slightly dull'). He compares Eilis to her sister Rose who is more beautiful and smarter that her. Although she has the strenght to move to America to shape a better future.

In the fourth sequence the reviewer mentions the Eilis' second life in America. He aniticipates nothing but involves the reader to buy the novel. He tells about the 'cramped and drawn-out voyage by boat' 'her job in a department store', her 'stiflingly respectable Irish boarding house' and the 'evening classes' that Eilis attents after work.

In the consecuence sequence Mr Hanks explains Eilis' new life in the New World. Indeed the reader understands that she tentatively begins a romance and finds again the happiness to live better. Although he finishes to tell about Eilis' rebirth and takes the reader in the doubt again when he says: 'sudden disaster' that forces the protagonist to come back to Ireland.

The review ends in the last two sequences where Mr Hanks promotes the reader to buy the novel and acclaims C. Toibin 'I don’t know of any contemporary writer of English prose who can outdo Tóibín for clarity, simplicity and elegance'.

To make impress his positive judgment, the reviewer introduces the cover to lead the reader to a positive opinion.