Rating: 
Summary: Good read
Review: McCourt writes so well, I wish it weren't a memoir. I would read anything he put out there. Really good stuff. And the history of Ireland, it really put a picture in an impoverished region I had no idea of. This book was so vivid with emotions and places I still see the lane in Limerick where they lived near the loo in the tiny apartment called, "Paris". Pulls at your heart, riveting.
Rating:
Summary: America Ireland America
Review: Authentic. Original. Honest. Courageous.
Novel better than movie.The happy end: America.
What happens now to the free hero in the brave new world...the best world of all possible...?
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable Story, Unforgettable Writing
Review: If you haven't read "Angela's Ashes" and simply read a plot summary of it, you'll probably groan. In this book, Frank McCourt tells of his terrible Irish childhood in the 1930s and 40s, his alcoholic father, depressed mother, and the poverty he lived in. Before I read this book, I heard it described and privately thought, "That's really sad, but do I really want to read another one of 'these' memoirs?" But "Angela's Ashes" is not remarkable for the story it tells, but for the way it is told. So many people have stories like McCourt's, only a few can tell them so well. As I read this book, I realized that while the events in it were usually horrible, McCourt didn't attempt to overdramatize them. He simply described them. And described them, I will say, with beauty. His words are filled intelligence, keen observation, and some incredible kind of humor that manages to unforgettably color the experiences and show the fighting spirit that lead McCourt out of his miserable existence. On the other hand, this understated and almost poetic writing style lends itself so well to describing the horrors of the author's life. Because of his wit, determination, and charm, displayed through his writing, we come to care deeply for the author's character, and his misfortunes impact us all the more deeply. Many "prize-winning" books are too strange and artsy to really be appreciated; "Angela's Ashes" is just the opposite. A Pulitizer Prize winner, it will capture you with its rare beauty and astonishing power.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Books I've Ever Read
Review: I always recommend this book to my friends by saying "It's the most hilarious book about starving to death". Which is not too far off. What makes this story so great is not what happens in it - it is the "tone" and how it is told. Everything being seen through the eyes of a little boy makes even the worst things seem humorous. His sense of character is great. The people almost jump off the page. I laughed and was very moved by this book. I highly recommend it. PS: The movie has some good performances but never meets the magic of this book. The "tone" is missing.
Rating: 
Summary: A Slow, Disgusting Trainwreck
Review: This is the only book in many years that I decided I did not want to finish reading. I'd heard how wonderful the book was and I actually enjoy slower, touching novels, but this one just didn't even seem worth the time I spent reading it. I didn't think the writing was very good. It was more like an endless, detailed list of all the tragedies that happened to these helpless kids and how no humane person ever tried to help them, especially their own parents and family. It was excrutiating reading it, with no redeeming value anywhere in sight.
Rating: 
Summary: Could have been even better.
Review: I would've given this book more stars but for two things. The foundation and message/moral of this fine book was ruined by #1 the excessive and unneccessary swearing and by #2, the masterbation scene at the end. Just because a writer (or anybody else) delivers a masterpiece, that doesn't mean he/she is excused from writing in good taste. AND, ANY writer can ruin a masterpiece by disclosing too much information. This book was both a masterpiece and a disgusting piece of work to me. America, where have our standards gone?
Rating:
Summary: Best Book I've Ever Read? Maybe...
Review: To not give this book 5 stars shows that you've not done much writing yourself (and perhaps not much living). Because great writing is like a great golf swing: It's real easy, just sitting on your duff watching, till you actually try it yourself.
Angela's Ashes is arguably the greatest read I've ever had; it is arguably the finest memoir ever written. And yes, that means in the history of books. It's that good.
I laughed at one paragraph, I cried the next, and it went like that throughout. Amazing writing. No wonder it took the man so long to accomplish. You people who gave this book less than 5 stars need to go actually write something yourself. Try it out sometime. See how easy. So many critics, so few writers...
Rating: 
Summary: A simply human book
Review: This is the type of book which no film can capture the atmposphere of - a truly sad yet funny story at the same time. I tried to read it twice - the first time i just read the lines "... worse still is the miserable Irish childhood" and didn't really give the book much of a chance. Then my friend encouraged me to read it as she said it was funny and so I decided to give it another chance.I started laughing on the second page in - it was fantastic. I feel the film gives it little justice - as though the book is sad - it deals with survival and humour rather than just sadness. It captures the attention through telling it's story through the eyes of a child - a truly entertaining, human yet funny book.
Rating:
Summary: Not an easy read, but a worthwhile one.
Review: If you can make it through the first 100 pages of "Angela's Ashes," then the rest is much easier. This isn't because it's poorly-written. Far from it; "Angela's Ashes" quickly captures the reader with a unique and compelling voice. The difficulty is that the first part of the book is tragic beyond words... and yet Frank McCourt has found words which capture the tragedy of his early years with ruthless honesty. In bone-clean prose, McCourt details the events of his early childhood, first in America and then in Ireland. His story is an interesting one, to be sure, but the most notable thing about it is the way he tells it. McCourt's straightforward style perfectly portrays how a child sees the world and his family. Especially early on, there is no moralizing or judgment; events simply happen, often for no discernible reason (although reasons are clear to the reader). As McCourt grows, so the prose becomes more complex, and his understanding of what is happening to his family crystallizes. McCourt also does a great job capturing the rhythm and cadence of dialogue and regional accents, especially the Irish way of speaking English. While reading the book's dialogue sequences, a reader can hear the people speaking in their inner ear, can hear the thick Irish accents of some, the clear English of others. Simply put, Frank McCourt has one of the finest ears for dialogue of any writer I've ever read. The imagery of "Angela's Ashes" is simple but vibrant, the story moving and very, very real. It is, in many ways, a difficult book to read, but that is simply because it is so well-written, and portrays a difficult subject with honesty and clarity. One finishes the book wishing that more writers could write this clearly, but even more important, the reader understands what Frank McCourt went through as he grew to a young man. If that reader is anything like me, it will make them very thankful for what they have.
Rating:
Summary: Too much cussing
Review: My daughters and I started listening to the book on tape. It's a good story, and I especially enjoyed hearing the author himself telling the story. But the cussing became so constant that I didn't let the girls listen to the second half. An otherwise great story was ruined by the excessive use of words that detracted rather than added. I don't need to hear GD on every page to get the idea that people actually talk that way. A few examples would have been sufficient.
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