Angela's Ashes: A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: How awful
Review: I was so sick and tired of the "can't do," "oh woe is me" attitude of Angela and her drunken husband that I wanted to shake them both. How could anyone call him/herself a parent and neglect those poor children so badly. I found it depressing in the extreme and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: A champion among books
Review: Wow! What a book! Angela's Ashes is by far the apogee of all autobiographies. Frank McCourt poetically recalls the hell he endured while growing up from the view of a child. The reader becomes McCourt's diary, listening to his confessions, his fears, his hopes, and his thoughts. Frank never encountered luck in his life, he always had to look out for himself. One plaque after another fronted Frank to test his strength and his will to survive: moving back to Ireland, watching his younger siblings taken away by the Angel of Death, facing poverty caused by an alcoholic father's carelessness, relatives who did not "give a fiddler's fart" about Frank and his family, the church slamming doors in his face, one disease after another, and his father abandoning his family to rot in the lanes of Limerick. The Irish suffered during World War II, but by shear determination, Frank McCourt escaped his nightmare to the "land of opportunity." By telling his life story as it happens, the reader becomes much more involved and interested in the life of Frank McCourt. The pizzazz would have disappeared if McCourt would have written his story as a memoir. By making his novel into a diary, the reader gains more interest and emotions from each and every gauntlet Frank had to face in his life. Frank's choice of narration makes the book more informal as if the reader were having a conversation with young Frankie. The only other title for this book would have been "My Struggles." Frank McCourt is the epitome of man. His strength and his will to live amaze me. At a time when most people would have thrown in the towel, Frank refused to succumb to his adversaries. After reading this book, anyone can see that goals and dreams can be reached even in the darkest and most miserable of situations. Angela's Ashes is a champion among books and Frank McCourt is a champion among men.

Rating:
Summary: Miserably Good Book
Review: McCourt's method of recalling events and his total avoidance of quotation marks to set off dialogue makes Ashes a refreshing and delightful book to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a well-crafted piece of literature that tells of a very real childhood. However, I must admit the only reason why I rate the novel an 8 instead of a 10 is the "depressing" facture;the subject matter of the novel tends to weigh heavy on the heart.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent....compelling reading.
Review: Angela's Ashes should be required reading for any teen growing up in less than desirable circumstances. This book appeals to all races and nationalities....it is a 'must read' for those who have ever faced adversity or poverty, and is a demonstration of how the will to survive and endure can triumph. I admit that much of the material was difficult for me to read, and that I was, on occasion, angry with "Angela" for her tendency to wallow in her victimization. Nevertheless; having grown up in an irish catholic family, I understood that she was a product of her upbringing...I often observed a similar over-reliance on faith, and less reliance on self in overcoming life's obstacles. Again; this is a compelling story, and one I would encourage anyone to read.

Rating:
Summary: Moving, magical and humorous
Review: What a wonderful way to bring to life the struggles of the people of Limerick during WWII. From the suffering of daily hunger to the magical romance between Frank and Theresa . I wish the fleeting relationship between those two could have lasted at least another chapter. I can't wait for the next piece of perfection from McCourt!

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book!
Review: Angela's Ashes is one of the best books that I have read. It's an upfront book. The story about Frankie and his sad life really touches the reader. Along with the sad things that happen along way in their journey in life. This is truly a story that everyone should read.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but not inspiring
Review: While I enjoyed reading this book and found it to be well written, I did not find it inspiring as so many other readers did. I thought that while Frank made it out of Ireland it offered no chance for anyone else. he made it out through luck and good timing, but not through means accessible to others. The entire time he worked for the lady he eventually robbed, he claimed to be ashamed of himself but felt nothing for robbing her? I do not think we should be inspired by a thief. Also, he left his family no money, if he didn't mind stealing money for himself, why couldn't he buy them food? I did enjoy the book though, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a description of Ireland and poverty.

Rating:
Summary: It put a tear to my eye and fire in my heart
Review: I am a first generation Irish-American who was profoundly touched by Mr. McCourt's novel. I have vivid memories of a Catholic Church in Brooklyn, NY in the 1960's who barraged my recently widowed Mother for a tuition payment that was only days late shortly after my Father died and left my mother with a seven year old brother and myself (I was five years old at the time). His story made me remember alot of growing up without(not to his degree) or with very little. Eventhough we had little we had a wonderful Irish Mother who could make her $15.00/day wages for cleaning houses stretch to the point that my brother and I thought we were rich. There were many cans of Scotch Broth soup that were turned into fine meals. We created our little "Italy" in Brooklyn. Thanks Frank for making me remember the good and the bad and for better yet for making me feel proud of succeeding. "Tis"

Rating:
Summary: A truly captivating look into an Irish-Catholic childhood
Review: Even as a very young reader, I found this book to be extrodinary. I was amazed at how Frank McCourt lived through the poverty and tragedy he faced throughout his childhood. I'll be honest and admit that some parts could have been better written, but in a way it adds to a certain flare that exists in his writing. Overall, I found this book to be truly outstanding, and I highly recommened it.

Rating:
Summary: McCourt takes part in Irish exploitation.
Review: In a time where Irish step, Celtic art, traditional irish music or almost anything associated with Ireland is popular, McCourt's book addresses less the various issues of his life than the cultural idiosyncracies that attract mainstream audiences. Like Michael Flatley or The Chietains McCourt has taken a base of Irish culture and Americanized it. His style is so appealing, it is unfortunate he used it in such an unappealing fashion. I sympathize with the McCourt family's plight, but there are so many stories that Mr McCourt could have used his talent to tell without having to take advantage of the current run on "Irish Culture."