Rating: Summary: Angela's Ashes Review: Excellent reading! A perfect combination of emotions. I loved it
Rating: Summary: PHEW! Review: What a ride! You'll laugh, cry, exhilarate, and despair-all on the same page. Trapped in a childhood of extreme poverty in Limerick, Ireland, Frank McCourt not only survives but thoroughly conquers. In the depths of even this much misery, however, there are small mercies and kindnesses and they are not lost on him. This is what gives the book it's humanity-the ability to withstand horrific circumstances through humor, determination, and forgiveness-and triumph with soul intact. And the people! They seem more alive in ink than most of us seem in flesh.
Rating: Summary: Not a masterpiece, but certainly appealing Review: So much has been said and written about "Angela's Ashes," and much more is to come after the movie is released. Easy and smooth reading, no intellectual effort is required, although some readers are annoyed by the excess emphasis on poverty (rats, lice, diseases, hunger, dirt, etc.) The story reflects the cruel reality of poverty, be it in Ireland or in any other part of the world. It is all viewed from the perspective of a small child and his struggle for survival, his awareness of the distortions between a fanatic Christian environment in which the teachings of love, sharing, respect, are far from his daily reality. The story appeals to our feelings of sorrow for the existence of so much misery in this world, which explains why the book has been so successful. A more demanding and critical reader might find the book lacking in terms of structure, style, and historical depth; all of these compensated by abundant human feeling.
Rating: Summary: Excellent and interesting writing and reading Review: This book is very hard to comprehend but the way it is written is so enjoyable. I can't imagine living under those conditions and still have your sanity and humanity. Thank god he surrived. I'm looking forward to reading 'Tis.
Rating: Summary: Excellent! Review: This is an absolutely wonderful read. It gave me insights into the life my mother lead growing up in Ireland although she did not have it as bad as McCourt. I am sad that there are others who find this book full of "blarney." Growing up in the Catholic schools, accourding to my mother, was hard. Although Ireland is doing well for itself today, growing up 10, 20, 30 years ago was difficult. I applaud Frank for sharing his life with people around the world. He's a fine writer! 'Tis!
Rating: Summary: Hard life Review: It's incredible how can the author write as if he was the age in the book!. I think also it's great how he writes the different pronunciations of the characters. The main character, Frank Mc Court, passes through a very difficult life and makes you thing how he made to still alive!
Rating: Summary: Perfect! Review: I absolutely loved this book! I found it to be insightful on how he dwelved into his soul and came up with such a wonderful way to get his feelings into words. I recall seeing someone's review where he mentioned McCourt being an English teacher and about how he could remember all that from the age of three. I'd just like to mention that all English teachers encourage you to either make it up or infer on some topics or points if you don't actually remember or know.
Rating: Summary: Brilliant Review: Angela's Ashes is one of the best books I have ever read. I alternated between crying and laughing out loud. Frank McCourt's use of language is instrumental to the story. Rarely does a book "read" like it is meant to "sound," but McCourt practically had me speaking with a Limerick accent by the time I was finished reading.McCourt's ability to speak the truth from a young boy's perspective is also uncanny. We are as bewildered as he by the hypocrisy shown by childhood authority figures, the education system, and the Church. The beauty though, is in his ability to get past it all. Angela's Ashes is ultimately a story of survival. Parents of young children beware. The first 100 pages are heart wrenching. I caught myself checking on my children during the middle of the night and thanking God for antibiotics.
Rating: Summary: Angela's Ashes Review: From the ashes of his mother's dream, Frank McCourt's spirit rises in fiery glory that even the River Shannon cannot dampen. Readers will be privileged to take this journey of the soul with McCourt for he will affirm the true meaning of humanity and offer a richer understanding of simple acts of love and greater acts of forgiveness. You will be profoundly touched by the narrative voice and be inspired as well as humbled by his faith. Angela's family is her monument to world.
Rating: Summary: A recapitulation of a life of misery Review: This book has been so heavily hyped, I thought that it would sweep me off my feet. What I got was hundreds of pages of mucus, vomit, stale food, and tuberculosis. While these are a part of life, I don't photograph them and hang them on my living room wall.
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