Home is where the heart is

Poverty forced Ellis Lacey to leave Enniscorthy for New York. "Homesickness is like most sicknesses. It will pass," said Father Flood. Rose, Elllis's older sister, arranged a meeting with the priest and ensured her future with him. Ellis find it hard to believe it, as she was sobbing while reading Rose's letter. But she met a young man who wanted to date her. Brooklyn might be where her life was.

Colm Tóibín's "Brooklyn" was set during the time when Ireland was politically unstable and near bankruptcy. The 1950s saw a massive emigration of Irishmen, but Tóibín used it as a backdrop. The story of Ellis Lacey was about the places where she lived and worked, and the author described it in great detail. "Home is home," quipped Tony. He liked Irish girls, and it took Ellis some time before she reciprocated his affection. You wondered what a home should be. This was how Tóibín would see it:

You have to think like an American. The US is a land of emigrants. Opportunity await those who sail to America, but they must make adjustments. It won't be easy. Some readers would wonder why Ellis hardly changed at all. She was a sensible girl. And she could represent the thousands, if not millions, of emigrants who found better lives. It's different from the Syrian refugees. (Cultural differences can be looked at a thoughtful way, even it can be a contentious issue.) It's about change, which can be in small or large degree.

It's nice to meet people who don't know your auntie. Ellis and Tony were secretly married. This could be the end of the story, but Rose died unexpectedly. Ellis was forced to go back to Ireland. She was excited, and her mother made sure that her daughter would extend her holiday. Jim, her well-off neighbor, was available. And he liked her. Ellis must decide if she wanted to comfort her mother or go back to Brooklyn. It could be a tricky situation, as sentimental feelings would play a part. Some won't be tormented at all, as they already embraced the change.

I wish that I could stop feeling that I want to be an Irish girl in Ireland. Emigrants hope for a better future. It means adapting to customs that would change them. It's the only way to move forward, but there's no rush. In the case of Ellis, all she needed was assurance from some people. It didn't take long for her to figure out that the gentle countryside of Ireland is no different from the towering skyscrapers in New York.

Those who haven't read the novel would have seen the celluloid version. Nick Hornby did a good job (in adapting the book to the big screen), while Saoirse Ronan was perfect for the role of Ellis. It premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim. The Academy voters would be next. Will they be moved as well?