Angelas Ashes Cd

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Summary: An amazing book!
Review: This book is truly a work of art. Frank McCourt's style adds to this poignant memoir of a poor boy growing up in Ireland. Everyone should read it!

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Summary: The truth
Review: For those of you who malign the listening of unabridged books on tape as "not really reading", I have two words for you: Frank McCourt.Frank McCourt's memoir may be a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Not having read his sequel "'Tis", I can't say for sure but I find it hard to imagine that the story of an adult--regardless of station in life--could be as endearing and poignant as this rememberance of childhood in abject poverty in Ireland. McCourt tells his story as if he were living it for the first time; he makes no attempt to foist an adult's interpretation on his childhood events and the wonder of life, the refusal to be brought down by its cruelties is convincing because his child's mind knows nothing else. In short, he tells of truths undeniable. The stories are hysterically funny and devastatingly horrific, sometimes in the same sentance and the realizations that come out of them are universal and uplifting. McCourt, in his efforts to give voice to those forlorn and forgotten in his (and our) past, has given, by telling their very necessary stories, a gift that perhaps is the greatest gift of all: immortality. He should be given sainthood. (He'd probably reject it as he has seemingly rejected all that is Catholic and Irish in his life.)McCourt's reading is superb: his lovely Irish brogue, his singsong vocal patters and his ability to be more than a mere author--he's a storyteller--know few peers.

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Summary: COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!
Review: COMING FROM AN IRISH CATHOLIC BACKGROUND, I LOVE THE HUMOR REGARDING THE CATHOLIC'S RULES. I WAS AMAZED AT THE MISFORTUNE THIS POOR KID ENDURED & YET STILL HE FOUND HUMOR IN HIS LIFE. I CAN'T IMAGINE SUCH STARVATION, PLIGHT, & STRUGGLES. YET, HE STILL HAS HIS HUMOR. IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE OF HIS HUMOUROUS OUTLOOK THAT HE WAS ABLE TO ENDURE THE PAIN. I'VE ALSO READ "TIS" AND WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED. WHAT A WONDERFUL WRITER. I HOPE HE CAN CONTINUE WITH HIS INSIGHT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE MOVIE AS OUR WHOLE FAMILY, COUSINS & ALL ARE GOING TO THE THEATER TO SEE THE MOVIE & THEN GOING OUT FOR A "TEA" IN CELEBRATION OF THE IRISH.

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Summary: Read Me
Review: In my high school english class, I was taught that literature serves the purpose of broadening or deepening the reader's experiences of the world. Angela's Ashes achieved this purpose to a greater extent than any other book I have ever read. I have never known what it is to be starving, or cold in my bed, but Frank's descriptions of his childhood opened my eyes to a whole new world. Through his experiences of poverty and hardship, the reader experiences poverty and hardship. At the same time, Frank maintains an innocent humor- the world as seen through a child's eyes. Never does Frank resort to hopeless bitterness. When I finished Angela's Ashes I realised that life is never hopeless, and even the most horrible of events are balanced by the good. If there is any theme to Angela's Ashes, it is that hardship is not permanent, and everyone has the ability to turn his or her life around.

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Summary: A Classic Piece of Writing
Review: BRAVO MR.McCOURT. ITS A FINE PIECE OF WRITNG. FRANK EXPRESSES HIS LIFE IN IRELAND IN AN INTERESTING FASHION, USING IRISH-ENGLISH TERMS IN LANGUAGE TO MAKE YOU FEEL IRELAND THROUGH THE EYES OF FRANK. DEFENATLY A MUST READ!

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: If anyone would ask me a recomendation for a book - this is it! Great story, that took me only 3 days to read. It was hard to put the book down. Even though many times family had little or no food to eat, I understand that most people in Ireland did not live this way. It was a good read and gave me another look what powerty can really be.

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Summary: Wonderful Book
Review: I loved this book. Not because Frank McCourt and I share an Irish history, but inspite of it. It was a truely riveting book, that makes one not only think of how good you have had, but realize how bad he truely did have it. His accomplishment is all the more diserved because of what he has experienced. It is only a shame that his mother did not live to see it. Great work Mr. McCourt

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Summary: "Tis" the best book I have ever
Review: Angela's Ashes is a very deserved Pulitzer Prize winning book. Frank McCourt's writing is very easy to read. It has a good flow. The book is sad & depressing, yet insomeplaces it is loving & funny. Autobiographies have now been paved with the greatness of this book.

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Summary: A true story about children in extreme poverty
Review: Angela's Ashes is a true story about a family who live's in extreme poverty. It made me laugh,cry, and think. But most important, I leaarned a lot about experiences in the real life, such as extreme poverty, the effect of alcohol and how people can manage all these sad experiences.

Rating:
Summary: not for the shallow
Review: I entered a review earlier stating that I would read this book because so many people said it was great. Well, I'm about half-way through the book now and the writing style took a little getting used to but it has really grown on me.

I believe that the people who didn't rate this book highly are looking more for a story - well, when you read about someone's life you can't always expect it to be interesting. But McCourt uses his literary prowess to take you into his life and you can see what he saw and feel what he felt.