ANGELA'S ASHES

Rating:
Summary: Moving & Humorous
Review: One of the more compelling books I have read in many years. Heartbreakingly grim in its description of McCourt's childhood, yet without self-pity or regret. His sense of humor and umistakably Irish prose made it a true joy to read. I hated finishing it because I felt as though I had lost a good friend. A great read throughout, as is 'Tis.

Rating:
Summary: It's good
Review: This book gives an incredible depiction of what it was like to live during the Depression in both the US and in Ireland. It engages the reader from the beginning and pulls at their heartstrings as the story is told from the point of view of a young child who knows nothing else but poverty. I picked it up and never put it down. Definitely recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Angelas' Ashes
Review: This is one of the best book I have ever read. Frank McCourt writes of his childhood and his experiences. This book will remain in your mind forever, because of the imagery and memories it brings to the reader. READ THIS!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Literature? I don't think so....
Review: The breadth of margin between lucre and nobility is the true test of integrity.

I abhor the trivialization of poverty and ignorance. There is no shame in being ignorant or poor, but it is no great honor either!

Mr. McCourt trivializes his dysfunctional childhood, buffering it with satire in what one might say is nothing less than adolescent giddiness. I don't doubt Mr. McCourt's recall prowess. What I question is his motivation for writing this book. For the time it was published, its genre was quite fashionable.

With regard to his writing technique, I found his turn of phrase trickery - repetitive and gnawing.

I trust Mr. McCourt wrote this book as he saw it, however, his subjective, defensive - albeit descriptive - representation is simply nothing more or less than pathetic catharsis.

If one wants literature, read "The Hours, by Michael Cunningham" and see what award-winning writing should be about!

The only thing I possibly have gained from purchasing this book is that my first edition may be of value someday. In this way, Mr. McCourt and I have had a successful venture... but it's not all about money. Now, is it...?

Rating:
Summary: Horrible
Review: What this book says about the Irish people and in particular Irish Catholics is truly sad and awful. Many people grow up in poverty and hunger, but there is simply no excuse for the blatant misery these people imposed on each other. The Irish are portrayed as mean, ignorant, vindictive, and highly hypocritical. They hold to the forms of religion (Catholicism) without experiencing the truths. There are few true heroes in the book, except perhaps Frank himself, who eventually rises above the conditions. The father is a hopeless alcoholic. He loves his family but is powerless to overcome the ravaging effects of alcohol in his life. The people walk around like victims and losers - no wonder the English dominated them for 800 years. The mother is no hero for staying with her hopelessly useless husband. This book reinforces what I have always suspected about the poor of any race or nationality - much of their condition is their own fault. Even so, I must admit that the book has high literary quality. I finished the entire text quickly and re-read parts afterwards. Do not read this this if you like heart warming stories - this is depressing and awful.

Rating:
Summary: pathetic
Review: I read the book because my friends told me that it was a fantastic book. I was very disappointed. This is the reason why I am spending a few minutes typing this review. Warning: you have to be mentally and emotionally prepared to read this book. While I do agree with the view that some parts are well-written, it is just too dragging. It took me weeks to finish it.

There are also inconsistencies in the way the writer talks about his surroundings from a child's point of view. In some parts of the book, Frank talks about Catholic practices that I thought were too esoteric for a kid. Manage your expectations well so you won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: This book is definitely worth reading. The tone is similar to 'Life is Beautiful' - poignant. It's a great talent to be able to recount a sad, perhaps bittersweet, childhood with a sense of humour and yet that's what Frank McCourt is able to do. He is able to take you into the past with him. You can hear the accents (especially when it's set in his early childhood in Brooklyn, NY), almost smell the scents, both pleasant and unpleasant, and see the surroundings. He paints an interesting picture of his family. Though he honestly recounts his father's alcoholism he does so without judgement - he merely states the facts. When his father basically abandons the family he just simply disappears from the storyline without Frank McCourt expounding any further. Yet at times through the memoir I laughed so hard that tears came to my eyes. Closer to the end of the book you can sense a change of pace. There's a certain loss of innocence with the discovery of the opposite sex and what it can lead to. But all in all a very good read. It was so engrossing I finished it in one day. I look forward to seeing the video though I can sense it won't be as good as the book. And now I anticipate reading 'Tis to follow the travails of Mr McCourt while he starts anew in America.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: Absolutely amazing account of a young boy's life living in the "lanes" (ghettos) of Ireland. Beautifully written, well-organized, this story draws you in from the very beginning and doesn't let you go, even after you've finished the book!

The author's unique writing style is captivating and makes it seem like the author is right there confiding in you. A MUST read.

Rating:
Summary: A Well-Deserved Pulitzer
Review: McCourt speaks to the reader through his childhood voice in this splendid, moving, and thought-provoking autobiography. McCourt begins the story as a four-year-old living in New York City with his parents and three younger brothers. The poverty stricken Irish family is unable to make ends meet in America and so they head back to Ireland in hopes of survival.

They settle in Limerick where McCourt's mother Angela grew up. Malachy McCourt, the father in the story, claims that he will find work and support the family. However, Malachy's love of alcohol prevents him from finding or keeping any gainful employment. When he does work, he takes his wages and goes to the bars and drinks until all the money is gone. Meanwhile, the family is hungry, the children are wearing shoes with holes, and Angela sinks into a deep depression but remains obedient to her husband because of her Catholic faith. The family moves around Limerick frequently, renting dirty rooms with flea infested bedding, living on the floors in small houses owned by relatives, and even renting a house in which the bottom floor is constantly being flooded with neighborhood sewage. The family comes face to face with illness, death, starvation, and ridicule. The low point strikes when Angela must resort to begging on the streets to help her family survive.

All the while, McCourt has the reader grow with him through the ages of four to nineteen. He shares the Irish tales he grew up with, the feelings he had toward his dyfunctional parents, his opinion of the Catholic Church, and the good and bad lessons he learned from his harsh schoolmasters. Never does McCourt wallow in self-pity, rather he presents the facts of his life in an honest, poignant manner. Despite the despair, it seems that McCourt has no regrets about his upbringing, for he was a child and had no control of the situation. As he grew, however, he came to the realization that he could begin to change things for the better. Unlike his father, he became eager to work. He struggled to support his mother and younger siblings in his teen years with after school jobs. He educated himself through reading and observation. He set goals and priorities and didn't give up until he reached them.

McCourt takes what is tragic and presents it in a beautiful, descriptive language that leaves the reader spellbound. His story is obviously written unselfishly and is told to show that triumph can be the end result of tragedy. Each individual has the power to rise above and make his or her life meaningful. This is the essence of McCourt's message. A message you will not forget after reading Angela's Ashes.

Rating:
Summary: Makes You Hungry For More
Review: As part of our summer vacation, my girlfriend and I decided to pick out a book the other had to read. Cathy's selction for me was Angela's Ashes. A truly inspiring read that takes you back to old school Ireland and lets you experience the world through the eyes of a poor young boy, Frank McCourt. His 'youthful' yet witty language made it a joy to read. Throughout the story, Frankie reveals the daily strugles of living with a drunken farther, in deplorable living conditions, with little money for clothes or fun. And through it all he still manages to make you laugh with stories of his youth.

It the kind of book that you hate to finish and it's sure to make you hungry for more.