Rating: 
Summary: An Absoluley captivating life in the real Ireland
Review: Angela's ashes was a good book because it's a story of a family of an Irish family who went from Ireland to New York and back to Ireland.It's narrarated by the little boy of the family who tells all about his drunkard father and his mother's struggles and the boys confusion about Priests,dancing and other normal trials of a child.
Rating:
Summary: A heartbreaking memoir
Review: A critical analysis of this book as a work of fiction would find it too bogged down in melancholy descriptions of an unrealistically miserable existence. The sufferings of the McCourt family seem better suited to daytime television than the bestseller list. However, this is a memoir. When three children die within a few chapters, it is easy to see it as over-the-top melodrama. It's real. It actually happened, and at many points during the book that realization is chilling.
Rating: 
Summary: well written, but depresssssssing.
Review: I kept hoping SOMETHING good would happen for little Frank, but to no avail. Just one sad, depressing moment after another. I do however, have endless admiration for the author's rise from this mess to being a successful author. It proves a horrible childhood can be overcome.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece!
Review: You feel the misery, the joy, the pain, and the innocence as you read the magical words on the pages of McCourt's memoir. I emphatically recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Just amazing.
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievably moving reading experience!
Review: I knew nothing about this book before reading it except that while walking on the Yorkshire Moors, someone recommended it to me. Good old word of mouth. It works every time.From the first sentence you're a part of the McCourt household, sordid though it is. Is sordid the right word? Well, it's certainly not your polished, wholesome family home is it? We've all heard stories about the tortured life of Irish poverty. There were no surprises at all in that respect. All the standard cliches were there but rendered with such insight, sympathy and truthfulness that I simply couldn't put this book down. I thought at one point though that if another baby or child died I would not be able to read another page. For a while there this book was like one long period of grief for dead children! I can find no fault whatsoever with this book. Don't let anyone tell you it was too depressing to read. Frank McCourt could write and write and write and I would never stop reading. Utter beauty and truth with startling clarity of memory. So rich and powerful and so damned enviable as a book. Please write a sequel! Helen Gladman
Rating:
Summary: Insightful Book of a man's life growing up in Ireland
Review: People who are more interested to know what life was like in the Ireland Frank McCourt grew up in shall gain insight. Here we have a very human book, it is not Ireland full of leprechauns and shamrocks, it is the story of a very hard childhood. It is not pretty and glossy, it is real, full of honesty. What I liked so much about this book was I felt it exposed so honestly what it is to be human, not perfect,striving in this world to have a better life. Frank McCourt weaves you right into the memories he shares so vividly. I would have to imagine that in writing this book, it must have been theraputic & clarifying for him.This is not a light, jaunty little book, it is painful,touching,many times injected with humor and fascinating peak into an early life full of struggle.It is extremely well-written! Thanks Frank for the
Rating:
Summary: An amazing story of a miserable childhood
Review: I couldn't put this book down. This is one of my all time favorites. Frank McCourts stories bring back many memories. I laughed and cried. I look forward to learning more about Frank and his family.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reading!
Review: Frank McCourt is a true story teller. While reading this I kept thinking about how this child grew up to become a teacher, then a writer. I found that to be truly amazing.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated and goes nowhere, slowly.
Review: My husband listened to the book-on-tape, read by the author, and raved about it. He insisted I listen as well. I'd heard all the ecstatic reviews and was planning to be in the car for several hours, so I agreed. What a mistake. Not only do I find it incredible that someone can "remember" so much minutae from early childhood, but I kept waiting for the story to develop along the lines of actual literature. I suppose that in a memoir you can't expect to follow every guideline to plot and character development. But if you can't follow any of them, is it really worth publishing? Essentially, it read like this: "We were poor and dad drank. Then something bad happened to me. Then we were still poor and dad drank more. Another bad thing happened to me. We were still poor, and dad was still drinking. And more bad things happened. Then I did bad things too. The end."
Rating:
Summary: First section and you're hooked!
Review: From the first section of the first chapter the author had me. What an amazing story McCourt has told. At times, as a reader, it was easy to forget this was all true. The book has brought a higher understanding to me of what the human soul is capable of and the inocence of children.
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