Rating: 
Summary: You can't change real life to suit your fancy.
Review: To be brief, I was amazed by some of the negative reviews I read on amazon.com. The most frequent complaints appeared to be these: 1. uncomfortable with the sexuality, and 2. dissatisfied with the repetition in the story. I felt compelled to respond. One, discovery of one's sexuality is human and normal and part of life. One should not be ashamed of this discovery process, shame on those of you who think Mr. McCourt should be. Second, real life happens the way it happens. To those of you bored with the same events repeating themselves, I am mystified by your request for change. The real human behavior recorded in this memoir cannot be scripted to relieve you of your boredom in repetition. Perhaps you should avoid memoirs and stick to fiction.
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Summary: Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt
Review: Memoirs about lives of suffering have become quite fashionable, and many published are not worth the trees. Angela's Ashes is a glowing exception! The opening page about the baleful effect of the river on the city of Limerick is magnificent. The story calls to mind A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, not only because of similar family dynamics but because the theme in that earlier bestseller of the tree pushing its way up through asphalt and wasteland is such a metaphor for the minds and spirits of the children. Angela's Ashes also brings to mind Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel, for the full-bodied depiction of a dysfunctional family that shows warmth as well as meanness and pain; for example, Frank's father, despicably no-good bum that he is, has his moments of being not only a charming storyteller but a gentle mentor to his son.
My mother's family were Irish, and plagued by alcoholism. I find it surprising, and somewhat heartening, that McCourt's tale of poverty became a bestseller in America during a time when the political climate seems to support a return to those Bad Old Days that McCourt depicts so well: the days when the dispensing of charity or The Dole had to be accompanied by gross humiliation, and teachers routinely heaped children with verbal and physical abuse.
Sadly, as terrible as McCourt's childhood was, there are many in the world that are worse: he was severely neglected but not physically abused by his parents; they loved him (within their limitations); he was able to go to school (unpleasant though it was); his family could fall back on that dole (which our politicians are working now to eliminate); and apparently he did not grow up with the major mental and physical handicaps that malnutrition can cause in children.
It's a moving book; I look forward to McCourt's next. CHRIS
Rating:
Summary: McCourt creates a masterpiece
Review: Using pen and paper as an outlet for his suffering, Frank McCourt managed to turn a dreary life during the Depression into a timeless classic. Angela's Ashes shared McCourt's suffering with the world. With the stroke of a pen, McCourt brought tears to my eyes, laughter to my body, anger to my mind, and compassion to my soul. I have never read a novel so insightful to human nature. I cannot think of a more worthy author for the Pulitzer Prize or a more deserving book. The diction McCourt uses through the book helps readers of all ages relate to the story. McCourt bluntly states what feels. He does not embellish the truth, he tells things as they happen. Frank admits to the priest, "I stole the fish and chips. I'm doomed" (185). He does not try to excuse the sin; he merely confesses it. And McCourt uses this candid honesty to incorporate humor into a depressing story. After Eugene's death, a drunken Uncle Pat sings songs that make absolutely no sense. Yet Frank justifies this saying, "the song made no sense because his father dropped him on his head long ago" (84). Frank is just reporting what people have told him. He does not comprehend the sarcasm, he just accepts a "drop on the head" as a way to explain Uncle Pat's eccentric nature. Furthermore, McCourt explicitly depicts the Irish culture throughout his memoir. He shows the Irish prejudice against the English, American, and those from North of Ireland. Pa Keating tells Dad that "St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland an' the English brought in the fleas" (60). Pa Keating exhibits a common Irish prejudice against the English. Then, when Malachy and Frank go to school, their classmates call them "Yanks" (79), delineating the Irish prejudice against Americans. Lastly, everything wrong with Malachy Sr. is attributed to the fact that he is from the North. He has the "oul' northern jaw" (86), which explains his tendency to drink. Angela's Ashes teaches the reader about Irish culture while also providing a deeper insight into human nature. McCourt recognizes human strength and weakness. The way his father tells Frank the story of Cuchulain shows Malachy Sr.'s potential to be a good father. However, the "craving for the drink" (44), shows his weakness. Frank's father makes the entire family suffer because he cannot control his "cravings", but Frank does not look back with only negative memories. He still remembers when Dad took him to see Cuchulain's statue, how he danced with Margaret, and how he taught Malachy and Frank to pray for Eugene. Although his life was difficult, Angela's Ashes is not a story of self-pity. It is a memoir. And through this memoir, the reader can learn something. Because of this and the sheer emotions involved in the story, Angela's Ashes deserves a rating of ten. Angela's Ashes is a window into the soul. McCourt basically says, "this is my life story, and this is how I decide to tell it...like it or not." And I choose to love it.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent, Emotional, and Influential Classic
Review: Reading Angela's Ashes produced emotions in me that no other book has ever done. Imagine a childhood having three younger brothers, living in a damp, one bedroom apartment without a restroom, eating one or no meal a day (a pig's head for Christmas Dinner), and a father that squanders the family's minuscule income on "pints". Like an adult, at three years old Frank took care of his brothers; he cleaned their "arses" and and dreamed of the day that he could make a little money and support his family. McCourt's life story provoked so much sympathy inside of me that I wished I had the power to travel back in time to give him my only sandwich for lunch so he wouldn't starve. One must read to believe that a person could survive such a hard childhood. Easing this sadness, Frank McCourt uniquely adds humor with the thoughts he had as a child like excusing his father's mistakes for being "dropped on his head" as a kid. Yes, I enjoyed the book because Frank's life story made me cry and laugh, but I loved it because it made me more caring of other people in life and realize that if Frank McCourt could overcome his hardships, anyone can. That is the potential power of Angels's Ashes. It deserves a perfect 10, and I think "Joseph, Mary, and Jesus" would agree. Brian 2
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Summary: Childhood Misery
Review: The subject of Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt was what I think drew me into this book. Not that I had as hard as childhood as he did but that he had such a hard life and is able to tell about. Many people live through experiences like that and block them from their minds. I think that McCourt wrote this story to inform readers of what a horrible childhood people in this country experience and how we pass those in need, don't help them and think nothing of it. To see three siblings die and watch an alcoholic father and a severly depressed mother crumble before your life is very hard on a child. I think that McCourt chose to write this book as a young child to give a better effect to his readers. I rated this book a nine because I believe that in all my AP English readings this has by far been one of the best, not only because of the subject matter but because the author isn't trying to confuse the readers with a difficult plot or confusing vocabulary. It makes me appreciate the fact that everything has been handed to me in life and I've hardly had to work for anything except extras. It also makes me appreciate the parents that God has given me and everything they have given me. I think this book should be placed on the required AP reading list. EMILY SMITH
Rating:
Summary: Exciting, Exhilarting, everyone should read this book!
Review: Angela's Ashes was a book I will never forget. The reader gets a one on one overview what life is like when you are faced with the unending problem of poverty. I felt very sorry for this family because Frank's dad was a sorry excuse for a man. He wastes all his hard earned money in saloons rather than supporting his family. The are so poor that thay have to wipe themselves with newspaper. How digusting! I have never been in the postion before where I was faced with the problem of wondering what I was going to eat the following night. In my opinion, the reader is forced to sympathize with this grief stricken family. I found myself at times crying and wishing I could be there to help this family. Throughout the book, I believe that Frank McCourt was a very strong willed, intellignet child. Although, in some parts of the book I felt that Angela did not play her part as a mother. When Magaret was born she would dress the twins and send Malachy and Frank to the playground with them. She did not provide any supervision to these kids when they needed someone there. It seemed to me like she was revolving her life around Magaret. Also, when Magaret dies, Frank's parents act as if life is over, when it is not. Angela lies in bed all day while Frank's dad steadily drinks and wastes his earnings. Throughout the whole book, I kept wondering what kind of father is he? I look up to Angela is some aspect because through all the tough times, she was there and stuck to the fight. As they say when a couple gets married, "Through good times and bad times, through sickness and in health, though rich or for poor". Angela proved that she had what it took, even though her life was not royal gold. After reading this book, I understood what it was like growing up in hard times,also it made me appreciate what I have and thank God for the blessings he have bestowed on me. I would most definitely recommend this book to anyone, without a second thought! N.Powell
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Summary: This book is the one!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. This memoir displays a chronicle of events throughout a family's life which makes the novel worth reading. It tells a story of mercy and love on both ends of the family, the children and the adults. The language the author uses provides the source of the personal feelings evoked in the reader when reading this novel. When I read the novel, I cried, and I felt devastated at some events that took place in the book. I also felt the urge to laugh at some points in the novel. This novel goes deep into the poverty that the children growing up in Limerick have to face, which, by the way, makes this bok so interesting. Eventhough some people may say, when they were growing up, they had to live in poverty; they never had food on the table, none of this can compare with the horrible conditions these poor people in the slumps of Limerick had to face. Although the McCourt family was an impoverished family, they still possessed wit and they stood strong for their morals. Also, it is intriguing when Franks gets typhoid fever and is hospitalized in a typhoid ward, like Mary Karr says, it "seems a blessed relief from daily home life on and off the dole." This book undoubtedly deserves the Pulitzer Prize. It has proven itself to be full of liveliness and beauty, inside and out. This book proves worthy to receive the rating of 10 and nothing less. Charisma W.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful
Review: When I read Angela's Ashes I felt I was Frank McCourt in Ireland. I felt his pain, hunger, confusion. I felt indignant for his plight. I was suddenly in Ireland tasting and smelling and absorbing the whole feel of Ireland when I have never even stepped a foot into Europe.
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Summary: This book will leave you crying--FROM LAUGHING SO HARD
Review: From beginning to end, this book held me to the bottom of my seat. It's almost like a book of gossip stories, because it tells all of the family secrets. I couldn't believe that the father,Malachy, used to spend all his week's pay at the Pubs. He always talked about his dignity like it was the most important thing in the world. How could a man (excuse me, someone that thinks they are a man) let his family starve while he's out drinking. A man should not have any dignity after doing something like that repeatedly. Anyway, the setting of the book takes place in New York and then goes back to Ireland. Instead of going from rags to riches as most fairy tales do, it goes from bad to worst.That's how a person knows it's a true story, because never happens as you plan it to. Angela, the unfortunate wife of Malachy, loses three children in the beginning part of the book but then, things start to get a little better. She has a little boy called Michael,and then Frank gets to celebrate his first communion. Let me tell you about Frank. This kid sort of reminds me of myself, because he's always helping his mom whenever she needs it. He actually takes the place of his father, while he's off drinking all night in the Pubs. On some occassions he even has to accompany his father to make sure he doesn't try to stay out all night drinking his problems away. One time after the second of Frank's twin brothers died, he went inside of a Pub and became very upset. He was mad because his father had put his pint(alcohol beverage)on Eugene's white coffin. Frank said,"That's Eugene's coffin. I'll tell Mam you put your glass on Eugene's coffin" (86). It takes a lot of courage for a son to stand up to his father like this, and I tell you what, Frank may be poor, but he is rich in character and priciples. I believe that whoever reads this book will be able to relate to all the various situations that take place. These situations range from the most embarrassing, to the most encouraging. When a person reads this book, they will hopefully examine their character and priciples, and maybe become a better person in the end. I know I will. Jeremy G.-Sweets
Rating: 
Summary: Angela's Ashes: Really Good but Not that Good!(PAV)
Review: Frank McCourt has managed to write an honest, open rendition of his life and still capture the attention of audiences everywhere. I must mention though that I was not completely entralled by the story. I am surprised that McCourt was able to surivive his childhood considering the conditions he was raised under: an alcoholic Northern father, the many deaths of his siblings, the unbearable poverty of his family, his unforgiving grandmother and aunt, not being allowed to express his emotions, and not having someone to truly guide him through life's trials. But through all of his trials I feel as though he could have tried harder to get a proper education but instead he chose to be a messenger boy and steal from people to accumulate enough money to go to America. This probably has something to do with my conservative upbringing but it really bothered me that he talked so freely about sex and sexual activities. But I guess the most interesting stories are the ones that have to do with sex, misery, and reality. One thing that I did like about the story was the free style that McCourt used because it gave the story a more relaxed aura and made it easier for his audience to relate. Although as a girl I did have a hard time relating to certain portions of the story. I felt sorry for him because he was forced to grow up so fast and never really experienced a true childhood, but I think maybe he forced it on himself at times by always wanting a job. Overall, I thought the book was fairly decent (but not amazingly good). I think that it did deserve to win the Pulitzer prize but personally I would give it a 7 on a scale of 1-10.
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