43 pages • 1 hour read
Brighton Beach Memoirs
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Book Brief
144
Play • Fiction
Brooklyn, New York • 1930s
1984
YA
14-18 years
NP
Super Short Summary
Brighton Beach Memoirs, the first play in Neil Simon's Eugene Trilogy, follows 14-year-old Eugene Morris Jerome as he navigates his dreams, adolescence, and identity amid familial and financial struggles during the Great Depression, while also capturing the essence of Jewish culture.
Humorous
Nostalgic
Heartwarming
Melancholic
Playful
Reviews & Readership
5,534 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs is praised for its humorous and heartfelt coming-of-age story, masterfully blending comedy with serious undertones. The dialogue is sharp, and characters are well-developed, eliciting empathy. However, some critics find the narrative predictable and overly sentimental at times. Overall, it remains a beloved, character-driven play.
Who Should Read Brighton Beach Memoirs?
A reader who would enjoy Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon is likely fond of coming-of-age stories blended with humor and historical context. Comparable to fans of Jean Shepherd’s A Christmas Story and Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, they appreciate narratives rich in family dynamics and the backdrop of 1930s America.
5,534 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
144
Play • Fiction
Brooklyn, New York • 1930s
1984
YA
14-18 years
NP
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