43 pages • 1 hour read
Neil SimonBrighton Beach Memoirs
Fiction | Play | YA | Published in 1984A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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.
Reviews & Readership
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.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsLexile Level
NPBook Details
Play: Drama
Play: Comedy / Satire
Auto/Biographical Fiction
Life/Time: Coming of Age
Relationships: Family
Relationships: Fathers
Love / Sexuality
Poverty
Relationships
Great Depression
WWII / World War II