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Summary: The triumph of truth over fiction?
Review: Bah humbug! Sorry to spoil the party, but I can't agree with the majority view that Angela's Ashes is a great book. Why greater praise is heaped on this book over others because it is "true" I can't quite understand. Surely the truth limits the writer's talents - he is merely reporting his perception of experiences. What great novelists do is use character, plot and style to give greater resonance to truth. This is difficult for all but the very greatest of memoir writers, and is why the memoirs of people who aren't already famous are usually unpopular. So in that respect Angela's Ashes is a bit of a phenomenon. An interesting aside is that apparently those living in Limerick at the time Angela's Ashes is based in, and who remember the McCourt family, have disputed the version of events as told in Angela's Ashes. Anyway, ignoring the authenticity issue, my main gripe with Angela's Ashes is that, as a piece of literature, it is adequate but no more. I suppose the aspect that most people find so rewarding is the "triumph over adversity" theme. I'm not disputing that McCourt endured a pretty horrible childhood, but what I did find unappealing was the passivity of his response - and the implicit assumption that this martyr-like attitude was somehow praiseworthy. Stylistically Angela's Ashes is OK - minimal, downbeat, conversational, but I thought the characterisation a little weak - I didn't learn an awful lot about Angela, while Frank himself comes across as a bit of a non-entity. Angela's Ashes, the Pulitzer Prize winning phenomenon, is OK in my opinion, but if you like genuinely funny, charming, sad and heartwarming tales of working-class Irish upbringings, Roddy Doyle's Barrytown Trilogy is a considerably better read.
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Summary: Bloody hell . . .
Review: The most depressing book I've ever read and I abused my friend for giving it to me. Yet I have to admit it's very well written and that's what got me through to the more cheerful ending.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Story Through The Eyes Of A Young Boy
Review: Frank McCourt takes you through his childhood looking through his young eyes and you'll never forget the adventure. The story is filled with many human emotions: sadness, happiness, anger, to name a few. Frank McCourt's childhood stories and pranks have you laughing one minute and crying the next. This book was very humbling and it helped me realize and appreciate all that I took advantage of growing up in a Middle Class family in America.
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Summary: Compelling and Alive!
Review: Frank captures, as he has lived. His human spirit triumphantly surpasses insurmountable odds and lives for the dream. God bless his soul and the souls of his family.
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Summary: Probably no one will read this, but.....
Review: It's not difficult for me to understand the disparity in the readers reviews. I'm not Irish, but I was brought up a very strict Catholic in a lower-middle class neighborhood, though at the time I wasn't aware that we weren't as priveledged as others. I can identify with many of Frank McCourt's memories. The fear (and false hopes) instilled in us by the Catholic church. The shame of not having as much as other children, even within our own neighborhood. My experience couldn't compare to those described in Angela's Ashes, but are just a real to me. I've gotten over it, as I'm sure Mr. McCourt has, but I'll certainly never forget it. The book is a memoir and some people just can't identify with it in any way at all. Some people just don't get it, and really don't want to because it drastically differs with their life views. They never will. I can't say whether you'll love it or hate it. If your curious about the book, just read it. Make up your own mind. I read no reviews at all before buying the book and I'm glad I didn't...I may have decided against reading it.
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Summary: Beutifully Written
Review: Could not put this book down. It tells about the life of a poor and confused (in some ways) child in Ireland. A must read!
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Summary: GREAT BOOK!
Review: This book was incredibly well-written in my opinion! McCourt shares his childhood meories on growing up poor in Ireland. A great book!
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Summary: WHY you should read this book
Review: All of these reviews talk about either "It touched me" or "It was a waste of time." I just finished this book and i would recommend it to anyone. This book is more than a story, it is an experience. Even if you are not interested in this book or even if you read this and you do not enjoy it, you are guarenteed to gain something from reading this. It opens up a door of reality that would otherwise be closed to us. Sure it has some weak areas, as all books do, but the compassion you feel for this family overwhelming. I dont understand how you can rate a person's life, it is only a best seller if you dont just read it, but you try to understand it and put yourself it the characters positions. Even if you dislike this book and you read it, if nothing less, you become a more well-rounded person.
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Summary: MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE BOOK
Review: Everytime I think of this book, I actually get the chillsbecause I loved it so much. McCourt's descriptions of not onlyLimerick but also of Brooklyn were wonderful. While I don't usually like humor in my books, I loved McCourt's humorous writing style. No one tells a story like Frank McCourt. It's so from the heart. Now the fact that I'm part Irish, lived in Brooklyn and am Catholic probably added to my enjoyment of this book. I do know that everyone I've recommended it to has loved it as much as I did. END
Rating:
Summary: Angelas Ashes
Review: This is an amazing piece of work.Frank McCourt is such a wonderful writter.I felt such an emotional attachment to all the charecters and so badly wanted to help them. This book is a reminder of the graditude we should all have in our lives.Bottom line, this book makes you feel and it works its way under your skin. A masterpiece.
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