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Summary: 'Tis
Review: I read Angela's Ashes and I loved and hated it Loved the writing but what a sad sad world he lived in. Still it kept me reading, hard to put down. Could not wait for 'Tis. Always afraid of the sequel of book......but I loved 'Tis! Great writing, sad at points BUT in all a great book I only wish pictures would of been put in this book. We could only hope he writes another book.
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Summary: Frank McCourt 'Tis NOT a Happy Man
Review: McCourt leaves a miserable life in Ireland and has every opportunity and advantage in America. He spends most of his time complaining. He can't pay his electric bill, but he can patronize every bar in New York. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Of his students, he says, "Still whining, still complaining, when there are millions around the world who'd offer fingers and toes to be in your seats - neatly clothed, well fed, with the world by the balls." Practice what you preach, Frank. When I read Angela's Ashes, I wanted to shake Angela until her teeth rattled. I feel exactly the same about you, McCourt. Grow up and take responsibility for the pain your own alcoholism caused your wife and family.
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Summary: I question why this book was written
Review: It seems that most of what Frank has to say in Tis could have been summed up with two more chapters on the tail end of "Angela's Ashes". I was quite disspointed and felt as if this book was written for the sole purpose of making a few bucks...
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Summary: 'Tis delightful
Review: Frank McCourt is a joy to listen to. I believe he could read the Farmers Almanac and I would find my self listening raptly. But, he reads his own delicious prose in his own delicious Irish accent. If you've decided to read either Angela's Ashes or Tis on paper, think twice. Frank McCourt is an Irish storyteller par excellence. I wondered if he could possibly find in Tis the hard-biting but humerous tone that characterized Angela's Ashes. He could and he did. What a wonderful tale of New York through the eyes of an Irish lad fresh off the boat. Ah, Frankie, Frankie, when can we expect another one, eh, lad?
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Summary: I'm one of the disapointed
Review: I felt Angela's Ashes really captured the voice of a young boy struggling to comprehend the confusing/difficult world around him. It was charming and insightful.In this book the author still struggles through most of his adult life trying to comprehend things and seems to fail at every turn. It comes off as simply pathetic and clueless. If I hadn't been interested in the characters to begin with, I'd rate this a 1-star book.
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Summary: I Raise My Glass to You!
Review: In "'Tis," Frank McCourt relates a story about an English literature class he took. He was asked to write a short reply to the question, "Which author would you most like to meet, and why?" McCourt wrote that he most wanted to meet Jonathan Swift, since any man with an imagination like that would be worth sharing a pint with. His professor thought that answer trite. At the risk of suffering the same fate, I'm happy to admit that I'll admit that I'd love to spend some time with Frank McCourt and a couple of pints of stout. If you're in my neighborhood, Frank, drop by -- I'm buying!
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Summary: Tis Not Angela, Nor Should It, Or Could It Be
Review: Angela's Ashes was a unique accomplishment on many levels. Tis was doomed before it ever came out because it would suffer by comparison. However, this is still a great read by an interesting man who has great sensitivity to dialogue, and makes some stinging social observations with great subtlety. The books cannot be compared unless you have strong feelings about the skill the writer had, or did not have in either volume. Is the language rougher, yes, this is a man describing his life, not a child. Does he have opinions that are black and white, with little room for gray at times, yes. Part of the problem with moving from one book to the next, is that the memories of a child, and terrible memories at that, are a powerful force to draw you in, and cause one to feel great sympathy and pain for the child. Then the child becomes a man, and it's much more difficult to carry the same empathy from the first book to the second. In fact I don't think it is possible. If you have read neither book, read this first, and then Angela's Ashes. The books change dramatically when you do. The harsh criticism of the man becomes infinitely more complex and difficult if you learn of the childhood that was his formative years. Most autobiographies, or biographies cover a life, not pieces of a life that in this case are still unfolding. The abrupt change from book one to book two is caused, I believe, because they are bound separately. If he had covered the same period in his life with a single book it would have been more comfortable for the reader. I am glad that he did break his life up, as Angela's Ashes will forever remain a book that will gain the title of a "Classic". Book one was brilliant, it was the author's first, it won The Pulitzer, it one other awards, it is about to be shown as a major motion picture. There is no one that can follow that act #1. Frank McCourt is a great writer who I wish had come to us sooner. I hope he lives to be a hundred so I may selfishly read as much as possible of what he writes.
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Summary: A good Follow-up to Angela's Ashes
Review: With Tis, Frank McCourt has written a great follow-up to Angela's Ashes. Gladly, Tis isn't as sad as the first installment. Still, the foul language could've been left out. Other than that it's a great memoir and an interesting portrait of our society. This book goes well with 'Tuesdays with Morrie' even though I like 'Tuesdays with Morrie' better, and it also is a great combination with Diemtar Scherf's 'I Love Me: Avoiding and Overcoming Depression' which you may need after you read Tis, and is also available at Amazon.
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Summary: This sequel ain't equal...
Review: ...to Angela's Ashes. Like others, I loved Angela's Ashes but was very disappointed with this sequel. He needed a Maxwell Perkins of an editor on this one. It could and should have been half as long. In AA McCourt's language was lively and colorful and his story engrossing. In 'Tis the language was dull and repetitive and the poor me theme was tiresome. I expected better.
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Summary: Not Quite Angela's Ashes, but Still an Enjoyable Book
Review: If you enjoyed Angela's Ashes, then you will like this book. Although this was not as compelling and at times was boring (early teaching days sequences), I think readers who liked Ashes will like 'Tis. It is very touching in the end, but he left out several items that I was curious about (relationships with brother Malachy in New York and with his father).
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