Rating: 
Summary: Superb voice, excellent narrative . . . a pleasure
Review: Having listened to Angela's Ashes, I was eager to purchase Tis on audiotape. For two weeks now, Frank McCourt has read to me over the din and stress of I-285 in Atlanta, a horrific highway. The sound of his voice and the simple truth of his tale have taken me far from traffic and 1999 news and concerns. He should appeal to many, but especially those of us who labor in the teaching field, working hard at making English come alive for students as he obviously did. Listen to it rather than read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong classroom tales, fine anecdotes, but loose ending
Review: As an Irish American, an English instructor at an urban technical college, and a former inner-city night school teacher, there's much I found both familiar and well-evoked in 'Tis. Obviously, as with his former book, many of these tales have been polished in the telling long before they were set in print. At times, this narrative voice carries you along with an almost Joycean momentum. Lyrical, swooping, crafted prose. But, as others have noted, the last third of the book skips about disjointedly; one late chapter starts in 1971, the next 1969, for instance. You never get a feel for his wife and daughter--although this may be explained by the pain of his own divorce, and the difficulty in confronting anew the broken hopes of his past. The later chapters, after he's established himself as a teacher, feel rushed and cursory, as if he just wants to hurry up, get to his mother and father's deaths, and not have to write yet a third memoir with more detail given from his middle- aged years. The gradual disintegration of a cohesive narrative thread weakens the total impact of his story. Still, for the wonderfully described first two-thirds, with its variety of characters, locales, and stories, it's worthwhile. And he has the best depictions of teaching in an urban environment I've ever read. 3 1/2 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Abridged version a little thin ?
Review: While I throughly enjoyed the weaving of this tale by the author, Frank McCourt, I, like other readers, left with many questions unanswered. Overall, however, this audio version provided six hours of entertainment on an otherwise boring commute to and from work and often evoked both spontaneous laughter and heartfelt sadness.McCourt's story is surely shared by the countless numbers of immigrant sons and daughters of this country who came here in search of a better life. Through his work, we are reminded that we all share similar experiences, regardless of race, creed, color or national origin and that the grass is the same on both sides of the fence. While I have not, as of yet, read "Angela's Ashes," this book has compelled me to do so. For those wanting to listen to an entertaining read, I would recommend this version of 'Tis, but for those wanting to get the fullness of McCourt's experiences, buy the book or the unabridged set of audio tapes.
Rating:
Summary: Off to a great start, never reached it's possibilities
Review: I couldn't put this book down during the first half of it. In the end I was left with a great feeling of lessened respect for Mr. McCourt. I expected an author with this much insight into his earlier years to show some personal growth and wisdom as he grew older, but not so. The story revolved around his and his family's alcoholism. Women had no place in his heart, even his poor mother was poorly treated. Females were shown no respect, no honor. The author disappointed me greatly. I give it a "5" for a great beginning, a "1" for the last half, and an average grade of a "3".
Rating: 
Summary: Such a disappointment.....
Review: While I really loved Angela's Ashes, I could hardly wait for this rambling sequel to end. I, in fact, found myself skipping complete paragraphs to get the end of some of these chapters. I still think that Frank McCourt is a wonderful writer, I just think it's obvious that he was under the gun to get this book to the presses and I found myself wondering if these 'Tis tales may have been better left untold. I prefer to remember the Frank McCourt of Angela's Ashes.
Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable read, but lacking in important respects
Review: This book works in part because we want to know more about the Frank McCourt of the brilliant Angela's Ashes and in part because McCourt is a fine storyteller, but it falls flat in some important respects, particularly in analysis of his own character.1--How can a man who has watched his father drink himself to death at enormous cost to his family go on drinking himself--seriously enough to cause problems with jobs and family. McCourt makes little effort to analyze his own battle with this demon.2-His own wife is given short shrift. What do we learn about her? Mostly, that she turns heads in bars and classrooms and likes antiques. Is this all that attracted McCourt to her? I suppose she is a teacher, but I don't remember if he ever indicates what she does. If so, it is a brief mention indeed. His relationship with his wife would seem to be particularly important here given all we learn about the deeply disturbed relationships in his own family. Where is the analysis? 3-And where is the analysis of his relationship with his daughter Maggie? Clearly, he was deeply disturbed by his own father leaving. What are we to make of his leaving his family when his daughter is 8. These are important and major parts of the life McCourt made when he came to this country, but there are no epiphanies. I am not asking for McCourt to wrap up everything in a nice bow. After all, life is a messy thing. McCourt certainly doesn't spare himself in this narrative, but I would have liked to see him work a little harder at self-analysis.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: This book is a breathtaking, heartrending follow up to Angela's Ashes (which incidentally I now understand why it is called Angela's Ashes). The sorrow, the humor, everything about this book reaches to your soul. I laughed at some parts and thought my heart was going to break at others. Only Mr. McCourt could raise himself from the "Ashes" to write such a beautiful book.
Rating:
Summary: Let Down
Review: I loved Angela's Ashes. I felt their pain and suffering. I felt my Irish Heritage. I felt so much was left unsaid in "Tis". I felt as though much adieu was given to Mr. McCourt's talent, and I did not see it exhibited in the book. I was very let down. So much verbiage was repeated and was so unnecessary. I was unimpressed, but perservered. It wan't until the last paragraph in Ch. 48 that McCourt let the reader feel what he let them feel in Angela's Ashes. Finally, when he looses his Mother & Father, regardless of his feelings towards them, the reader is able to participate as they were able to in McCourt'e first book. I felt it was a very big waste of time and money ( in overdue fines. I couldn't turn it in w/o reading it's entirety.) Glad I read it, but wouldn't recommend it, if Angela's Ashes was liked. Thanks for the ear.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: In many ways it is a very good book but, like many of the other reviewers, I expected more. With the odds he overcame, I would have expected more strength of character. And too much was left unsaid, paricularly about his relationship with his wife. It seems to me that, above all, what she deserved was an apology!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome listening to McCourt read this book!
Review: Just wonderful---I was expecting to be let down because I liked Angela's Ashes so much. I had an audio CD of the book. I felt like I had been at a pub, listening to McCourt tell all the touching, funny, and interesting tales of this part of his life! This is the book for everyone who beiieves in the American dream, demonstrating how education can lead even an impoverished (but very bright) immigrant to his dream job. I can't do this book justice with my review. Listening to it was fun and touching.
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