Rating: 
Summary: Even better than Angela's Ashes
Review: Mr. McCourt has exceeded his efforts in Angela's Ashes. He has resisted the trap of many writers of memoirs, to write a bid for canonization, and courageously portrayed himself as irresponsible and weak at times, too given to alcohol, impatient with his mother, self pitying, womanizing, and sometimes lacking in direction. His wonderful wit and sense of humor shines though. I laughed out loud at the lemon pie and ginger ale chapter and at many chapters. The yoots chapter was another gem.As a former student, I will always remember Mr. McCourt with grateful affection.
Rating: 
Summary: "Tis" not
Review: Having read and enjoyed Angela's Ashes, I was very disappointed with Tis. Frank painted himself as a pathetic Irish drunk, who learned little about meaningful relationships in over 40 years. If this is really true, at least he could have made the book more interesting with less self-deprecation and at least a pretense of some purpose in life. I probably would not have finished it had I not been stuck in an airplane with little else to read!
Rating: 
Summary: Rather lack lustre
Review: While it is never fair to prejudge an author's work by his/her previous work, it is inevitable that this usually is the case. ' Angela's Ashes ', and McCourt's experiences, bubbled up with an extraordinary lack of rangour and enviable acceptance of what Life had up to that time dealt to his mother, self and siblings. ' 'Tis ' on the other hand never seemed to have much conviction about it, the author seemed to just stumble along, with his usual sense of humour, yes, but with no real sense of purpose and almost willy nilly acceptance of life in North America. Perhaps that is the real difference in the two books, his love of and for his Ireland was his greatest inspiration; this shows in his portrayal of his life in ' Tis ', which he never approaches with the same depth of emotion. His roots have never been transplanted successfully. It shows in this book. I was disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I really enjoyed both of Frank McCourt's books, but this one reads much quicker than Angela'a Ashes and not as depressing as the first (I still am suprised that ANY of her children lived). Mr. McCourt's descriptions of his early life should make most of us really appreciate our own childhoods.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to par
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Angela's Ashes. TIS, I did not enjoy at all. I could not wait to finish. Very repetitive with the descriptions of himself and others ad nauseum. I found it extremely boring and uninteresting. One best seller does not make another.
Rating:
Summary: On the Publisher's Clock
Review: I felt that "Angela's Ashes" was a tale which Frank McCourt had long needed to tell, and he wrote it with care, on his own time. The book showed this -- well crafted and beautifully written, it was a masterpiece. However, "'Tis" seems to have been written under the publisher's timeline, and it shows it. McCourt can still tell a great yarn, and some of his stories were still funny and poignant at the same time, but I found the book overall to be dull and repetitive, lacking in theme and overall structure. Too many unanswered questions, and an abrupt end made for an unsatisfying read. I was curious about how he made it here in America, but this book really didn't have the emotional punch or the structure to earn my respect for it. I will never forget "Angela's Ashes" and it's really unfair to compare the two books, but Frank McCourt should be allowed to tell his own stories, in his own time. He obviously has talent and a knack for the telling of a tale!
Rating:
Summary: You run smack into your humanity when you read McCourt.
Review: The immigrant experience is revealed with the tenacity of a child picking at a scab. Yet, McCourt's journey into the American middle class made me laugh more than it made me cry, which 'tis the real miracle of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Tis tedious
Review: I was disappointed when Angela's Ashes ended where it did. Now having read Tis, I am disappointed that McCourt didn't indeed end there. It is difficult not to make comparisons between the two books, especially when the first evoked emotions in me I have never felt before when reading a book. Tis however, is tedious and I continually found myself questioning how the same author could have written these two books. The same style is used, but in the second book it is forced, like a poor plagiarism. McCourt tries to reproduce the delightful and emotional use of language in Angela's Ashes, but fails dismally. What worked to discuss his Irish childhood and child-view of his parents, particularly his mother, just does not have the same effect when writing about his adult experiences in New York and Germany. Perhaps McCourt was trying to be completely honest with us by adopting the same learn-as-you-live style he used in Angela's Ashes, but what emerges is a self-absorbed, unsympathetic, boring, and often trite account of a man who thinks the whole world owes him something for his childhood suffering. If you have read Angela's Ashes do not read Tis. If you have not read Angela's Ashes then read it and do not read Tis. We at least owe Angela that.
Rating:
Summary: Tis is a plesure!
Review: Read Angela'Ashes first, then read 'Tis. Both books are written with such emotion that you can not help but involved with the life of Frank McCourt. And he will always be in your life if you like or not, for a reason his books will pop up in your head...and you just want more. So enjoy both books.
Rating:
Summary: 'Tis is wonderful!
Review: I read Angela's Ashes and was waiting for 'Tis for many months and I loved it. With sequels you never know...But it was a great read, it took your mind off your life and you entered Frank McCourts life for a minute, a day, whatever, you were in his life and if a book can pull me into there life Its a good book. If only we could write as well as Mr. McCourt we would have many books out there about our life. Read both books and your life will be enriched......trust me...
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