Rating: 
Summary: "Interesting read yet leaves a sour taste"
Review: After reading Angela's Ashses I was left with a feeling of sorrow and admaration for Frank Mc Court. The book ends with his arrival in America and it left me wondering how he would turn his life around.
"Tis" being the sequel, was a captivating story yet it resonated with whinyness. Tis does not create the same feelings of sympathy and admaration for the author that Angela's ashes did so well. The first few chapters deal with Franks settling in period in New York. As the story progresses Frank seems to still complain and feel sorry for himself even though he has come to a level in his life where he has a lot to be grateful for.
Its quite tragic and "off putting" for the reader to hear how Frank complains about his wife not going along with his late night boozing, lack of maturity and self pity. I mean the guy was dead drunk at his wedding. He divorses her after five years and then critisizes her for being a responsible parent.
As the story progresses the more you begin to dislike who Frank has become. But thats life I guess, and he tells it how it is. However the way in which Frank writes, it seems he expects evryone to understand why he is so self absorbed and condone his faults because he had the poor Irish catholic childhood.To me, I just didn't buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: 'Tis is a masterpiece!
Review: This book is painful to read. The brutal honesty that Frank McCort uses to chronical his childhood will make you sad, it will make you uncomfortable, but it is so beautifully written that it is well worth the pain.
Rating: 
Summary: A very good follow up
Review: This is the second installment from Frank McCourt on his life story. Starting from when he comes back to America(1949) to when he starts to write. Once again he has written a magical piece that is both wonderful and yet terrible. He writes about his struggles to become a teacher and what he has to endure for an education. He writes about his students and his failed first marriage. He writes about his struggles with alcohol and his problems dealing with his two brothers and their bar ownership and the better life they seem to have. I laughed until their were tears in my eyes when he wrote about his wedding day. At the same time when he wrote about his students reading essays by former students a generation earlier, some of which were written by relatives, you cannot help but be touched by the humanity of which he writes. This book does not seem as brutally honest as the first, but it still is wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: 'Tis a wonderful read!
Review: TIS is like discovering the work of an old master in your own basement... you continue to be startled. What courage it took this man to not just survive, but to become a beloved teacher, given the harsh circumstances of his birth. He is proof of the strength of the spirit, throughout his struggles he perseveres and keeps his exuberant sense of humor. While deeply moved, I laughed out loud repeatedly, and was impressed with his mastery of language and character. It's hard to believe he remembers word for word conversations from so long ago, especially after so many "pints." This is not a memoir, it is communion. McCourt is a national treasure and his humility is rare and exquisite. I cannot imagine a better book about coming to America, within 'Tis he has given thousands a precious gift -- a kind of voice. Perhaps he has even returned the dignity of many forgotten individuals. Additionally, I am sure, placed before this great fame he so richly deserves. Thank you, Mr. McCourt, for sharing with such undeniable wisdom and wry wit your beautiful story.
Rating:
Summary: Life is a long song
Review: Probably not as good as the Angela's Ashes, but it is still excellent by any standard. McCourt continues to amuse and entertain with his honest, free-flowing and non-sugar-coated style. This book deserves a place on every book shelf. Enough said.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as A.A. but worth the read.
Review: Unlike Angela's Ashes, it took be a bit longer to read this book. I was happy to read this book because his first one swept me away and I really wanted to know what happened to him once he went to the US.
You still feel sympathy for Frank but not nearly as much as in his first book. It was interesting to read about how an immagrant sees the US and what we normally take for granted.
Rating:
Summary: 'Tis Angela's Ashes Part Two
Review: In the first book I felt he was apologizing to his mother for being such an a-hole but in this book well....it really is his memoirs. I don't think he ever will understand Americans. The joke is that he is an American himself now, so I guess he doesn't understand himself either. One thing about this book that touched me was the way he feels displaced and yet he also knows there is no place where he would not feel that way. I as an American feel that way quite often myself and I didn't come here on any boat. I was born here. I think this is a good book but don't read it for light reading, because it isn't. It has some great insights into death of a parent, being American, and seeing America through the eyes of someone who knows how rich we truly are. My favorite part was when he first came to America. The best thing about this book was that it was very truthful. He wrote what he saw -- even though, I as a reader could clearly see the authors blind spots. It was sad, but so are many people's lives in America. Especially families who are abandoned by a parent.
Rating: 
Summary: MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT
Review: Mr. McCourt's life should have ended earlier, or at least he should have stopped writing about it. I remember how anxious I was to purchase the book when it first came out, and what a waste of my time it was, even though, at that time, I refused to not finish a book that I started. I have since learned better, thanks to Mr. McCourt's second book. 'Tis not worth it. Actually, I now dread reading an author's second book- I guess I can also thank Mr. McCourt for forcing me to expand my reading horizon.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful writing but a bit of a yawn...
Review: Although Angela's Ashes is my favourite book of all time, Tis was a bit of a disappointment. While it took two days to read A. A., it took me a month to read this followup memoir. McCourt is a wonderful story-teller but this part of his story was just not as interesting to this reader. I would rather have read how his mother and brothers survived when he left them there at 20 to go to America. I understand his decision...look how beautiful his life turned out to be. Frank McCourt's life will be delivered in three parts. Unfortunately, I'm only interested in parts I and III.
Rating:
Summary: A sequel that's just as good as the original.
Review: This was a very enjoyable book. I'm a slow reader because I get distracted easily with other things, but this was one of those books that I just couldn't put down. I read it cover to cover in a week, which is fast reading with my time availability for reading books for personal leisure. I enjoyed reading McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" and I've been meaning to get around to "Tis" ever since but I never had the time to do so. After reading it I enjoyed every minute of it and I wish I could have gotten to it sooner. Thank you Mr. McCourt for sharing your life with the world. There are some things about you I had a deep connection and personal understanding that amazed me. Just like the ladies you taught at the night school course you have lived a difficult life, but it is an interesting life that's full of adventure and stories.
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