Tis: A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Follow Up to ¿Angela¿s Ashes"
Review: I have heard a lot of grumbling about this sequel to"Angela's Ashes." There are complaints that it doesn't containthe same Irish lilt and prose as its predecessor. Don't listen to any of the detractors-this is a great book and a funny, touching, and emotional tribute to author Frank McCourt and the immigrant spirit. In case you don't know, this picks up where "Angela's Ashes" left off-McCourt has sailed from Ireland to New York and sets out to realize the American dream. "'Tis" finds McCourt in his early 20s living in run-down boarding houses, trying to find love, and having a personal experience with the holocaust while stationed by the Army in Germany. The innocent distance which McCourt maintained in "Ashe's" is replaced by a more personal and heart-felt style of writing here. I found "'Tis" to be funnier and more emotional than "Angela's Ashes." Your heart goes out to McCourt as he tries to win back his girlfriend (who has left him for a man in the insurance business) by attempting to join an insurance firm himself. Achingly, he realizes that he cannot do it-his heart is just not in it. You feel for the author as he sees college students on the subway and envies their "NYU" book covers and "white teeth." You applaud him as he gets into college even though he doesn't have a high school diploma. I often read at night as a form of relaxation before going to sleep. However, with this book I found myself staying up until all hours of the night, turning to the next page-don't miss this great book! For your information: There are several episodes in the book where McCourt talks candidly about some of his sexual experiences. However, these passages are not gratuitous or titillating. You should also know that the language (mostly quoting other characters) is a little stronger than in "Angela's Ashes." This is a book for adults.

Rating:
Summary: The literary glue stayed in Ireland
Review: Naturally, I bought the hard copy book of "Tis" because I loved "Angela's Ashes". I had seen Mr. McCourt on tv interviews and wanted to follow the progression of his adventure. The second book seemed to be "jumpy" in content, as if he were working too hard to find material worthy of telling. Parts were compelling and yet the majority of the book forced me to continue reading in hopes of better passages ahead. Perhaps by the end of "Tis" I realized his new life had become as mundane as mine!

Rating:
Summary: Just as good as the first...
Review: 'Tis, perfectly continues on with the story Angela's Ashes. If you loved the first book, you must read this one to complete the story. Anyone who says it was a dissapointment is wrong. Take my word on it...Angela's Ashe's and 'Tis were the best books I've ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Tis a Disappointment
Review: After thoroughly enjoying "Angela's Ashes" as well as the recent movie version, I was looking forward to "Tis". I'm now skimming the last 50 pages just to finish it already! No doubt Mr.McCourt's fans of "Angela's Ashes" (along with his publisher) were demanding a sequel to that bestselling memoir. Unfortunately, the author's life and experiences after he left Limerick just aren't interesting enough to warrant another book.

Rating:
Summary: Entranced
Review: Frank McCourt's way of writing is entrancing. Since I had begun his life story series (Angela's Ashes) on audiocassete, I was compelled to again purchase the additional audiocassette version as well. While this version did abridge the story found in the hardback book, listening to his own oral version was the best. (this is not always the case) Even if you have already read the book, don't overlook listening to the cassette as well!

Rating:
Summary: 'Tis So
Review: My mother lent me her copy to read, declaring it "not nearly as good as Angela's Ashes." Respectfully, I disagree. Angela's Ashes worked because McCourt managed to keep the naive perspective of a child throughout the novel--young Frankie tells without anger of a life inconcievable to most. However, as McCourt is faced with writing about his adult life, he must transition to an adult perspective, and it is this transition, from boy to man, from naive to aware, that makes this a fascinating"~ and wonderful book. experts--this is a glorious book, possibly better than the first.

Rating:
Summary: a disapointment compared to Angela's Ashes
Review: The prose is nowhere near as beautiful as Angela's Ashes, the story nowhere near as compelling. The characters are less interesting and the wry irish humor is evident less and it seems the very irishosity (as i like to call it) is gone. Being Irish, from Staten Island and spending large amounts of my time in Manhattan let me say that this book is also filled with inaccuracies (though one of these inaccuracies lead to one of the few humorous episode with the shoeshine man who does not have a brother who reapirs shoes) as well as being very repetitive. It's also far less anecdotal than Angela's Ashes and quite frankly far less interesting. The 2 stars are there because I know McCourt is capable of 5 star work (as evidenced by Angela's Ashes. Every time I see McCourt on a TV appearance or his comments they seem remarkably insightful and brilliant. The question I'm left to wonder after reading this book is "What Happened?"

Rating:
Summary: Better than Angelas Ashe's
Review: While Angelas Ashe's was considered by most to be a better book, I found 'Tis to be much more interesting. It is much less romanticized and feels more real. I thought Angela's Ashes was a brilliant work, but Frank in America during 'Tis leaves nothing to be desired.

Rating:
Summary: hard to put down
Review: I really enjoyed this follow-up to Angela's Ashes. While McCourt's story is still one of incredible struggle, I think I found this easier to read because he was an adult and not a child. Does that make sense?

Rating:
Summary: As captivating as "Angela's Ashes"
Review: I have been so pleased with this book. It was everything that I had hoped for after being drawn into Frank McCourt's life in "Ashes." A strong recommendation for anyone who was as touched as I was by McCourt's first penning.