Rating: 
Summary: Frustrating and exhausting, yet spellbinding.
Review: With James Joyce being my all time favorite author, this was a must read for me (the tale of growing up in Ireland). As I began reading, I certainly gave a pshaw or two. I said to myself "Yes this young fellow had a tough life, but has anyone read a child called it?" While Mr. McCourt certainly didn't endure the abuse David Pelzer did, there seemed to be no end to Mr. McCourt's tragedies. Imagine the frustration of waiting week after week for your fathers pay, only to know it was to be drunk at the pub. Imagine the conflict as you didn't know how to view the father. He was an alcoholic that left his family in poverty, but you could still clearly see that he loved his family...but could not get past his sickness. The use of words was wonderful, I especially loved how he used to call the upstairs of his house "Italy" because it was warm, while the downstairs was "Ireland" because it was flooded. Now I see the film is coming out, and as we know...normally films cannot hold a candle to the books written on them. However, after viewing the trailer to this one...I saw exactly what I pictured in my head. I may ramble, but it's difficult to read this book and not ramble about it. I do not give 5 star reviews myself easily...this one was very worthy.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific!
Review: I finally bought this book after much deliberation. I really didn't think it would be that good but it was far better than I imagined it would be. I thoroughly enjoyed it, I couldn't wait to get to the next page and the next page..... It made me laugh and cry! The characters and environment were described with such great detail without being boring or repetitive. I just really loved this memoir and can't wait for the sequel! Great job Mr. McCourt!
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and unforgettable
Review: This book had a profound effect on me. I certainly found parts of it difficult to read through and there were several times I had to put the book down because it was too overwhelmingly sad. I wouldn't recommend reading this book while eating either. I was so moved by the author's unapologetic straighforwardness. He told of a miserable childhood but there was very little self pity I thought. I can't wait to see the movie to see if it compares.
Rating: 
Summary: Starts great, but such redundant misery
Review: It grabbed me from the start, but now about half way through I wonder how much more starvation, drinking problems, poverty, and gloom I can stand. Got to be a glimmer of sunshine somewhere down the line. I will finish it, but it's getting hard to get back into the muck.
Rating:
Summary: I'm a Teenager and I loved it
Review: I heard from my grandparents and aunts that this was a great book - normally the literature they recommend is so incredibly boring, I can't get past the first chapter. But Angela's Ashes was different, it was a page-turner, I had to pry the book literally out of my hands. I always wanted to read more & more... I finished it in about a week. I can't wait to get started on `Tis!
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: After buying this book I thought,"This looks pretty boring", but after much persuasion I began to read it. I found it so wonderful in fact, it took me three hours to finish!Frank Mc Court writes truthfully about life and his experiences in those days. The young boy's life is very sad. The boy himself is full of wit and charm and has an innocent yet electrical sense of humour. It took me a while to get into the story because a lot of the start of it is descriptive. If I am honest, after the first chapter, I would have to say I was completely and totally engrossed. This is a very sad and depressing story about a family's struggle to cope. My first thought's were "Oh no, I am going to be so depressed after reading this", but Frank Mc Court really brought about a magical feel to the book. In my opinion, he has done jutice to this story and nobody could have done it better! I will defenately be reading the sequel!
Rating:
Summary: A roller coaster ride of emotion.
Review: This book was unbelievably sad. And,...amazingly funny. Frank McCourt's ability to combine the cruel, ignorant, and uneducated hardships of people with diversely humorous attitudes and situations is reminiscent of the genius of Joseph Heller's "Catch 22". The irony and comedic quality in the way he would reuse phrases or quotes in different and relative situations to repeat the humor reminded me of Kurt Vonnegut's works, such as "Breakfast of Champions". Although depicting the Irish, everyone of all ethnic backgrounds should find this book interesting. This is the story of love, life, growing and the coming of age. McCourt talks of ignorant belief mixed with the truth. It's the story of a boy (himself) growing up in poverty and deciding for himself that he wants more out of life than what his own land, family, people and the ways in which they live have to offer. The ways in which he spelled certain words and phrases to describe and enhance the Irish brogue was hilarious. This was a great book. It'll stick with me forever as one of my favorites.
Rating: 
Summary: So... Depressing!
Review: I must be the only person in America who does not like this book. I was only able to read about and half and 4 children died! Frank McCourt is a beautiful and honest writer, however, the tale is so grim I wasn't able to finish it. There were too many victims and too much sickness in this book for me to enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspiring Rendition
Review: This is a remarkable book. Funny in many ways and yet one has a constant gut wrenching feeling. McCourt's tale of a childhood in misery is often revolting. There is never a feeling of normalcy as you sense there is yet some other forthcoming tragedy. The cast of characters is special in itself. Mother, father, brothers, friends, bullies, school teachers, religious and irreverents. They are all there and not one bores you. Through McCourt's eyes we see a careful portrait of an Irish town and its institutions. The church, the taverns, the poor and the less poor, the protestants, the benefactors, the food. Yes, the food. This is a tale of survival, of perseverance told with grand humor. A rare read.
Rating:
Summary: Unflinching revelation of history
Review: Frank McCourt's childhood account still has an im- pact on my life. I was raised in an affluent town near Los Angeles in the 50's and 60's; we never knew people whose children drank tea and bread for breakfast and dinner and all slept on one bed with coats for warmth. Today, as I enjoy the fruits of an education in an upscale neighborhood, in my memory I still recall the humiliation and hunger Frank and his brother had to survive.
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