I have recently finished reading one of the most compelling stories that I have ever read and was truly moved to read of such heart ache and pain and to think that it is all actually true.
The sad thing is the author of this masterpiece remains strong to his roots to this day and writes ... Read review
"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood," writes ... more
Frank McCourt in Angela's Ashes. "Worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." Welcome, then, to the pinnacle of the miserable Irish Catholic childhood. Born in Brooklyn in 1930 to recent Irish immigrants Malachy and Angela McCourt, Frank grew up in Limerick after his parents returned to Ireland because of poor prospects in America. It turns out that prospects weren't so great back in the old country either--not with Malachy for a father. A chronically unemployed and nearly unemployable alcoholic, he appears to be the model on which many of our more insulting clichés about drunken Irish manhood are based. Mix in abject poverty, and frequent death and illness, and you have all the makings of a truly difficult early life. Fortunately, in McCourt's able hands it also has all the makings of a compelling memoir.
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"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood," writes ... more
Frank McCourt in Angela's Ashes. "Worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." Welcome, then, to the pinnacle of the miserable Irish Catholic childhood. Born in Brooklyn in 1930 to recent Irish immigrants Malachy and Angela McCourt, Frank grew up in Limerick after his parents returned to Ireland because of poor prospects in America. It turns out that prospects weren't so great back in the old country either--not with Malachy for a father. A chronically unemployed and nearly unemployable alcoholic, he appears to be the model on which many of our more insulting clichés about drunken Irish manhood are based. Mix in abject poverty, and frequent death and illness, and you have all the makings of a truly difficult early life. Fortunately, in McCourt's able hands it also has all the makings of a compelling memoir.
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Check Site.
"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood," writes ... more
Frank McCourt in Angela's Ashes. "Worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." Welcome, then, to the pinnacle of the miserable Irish Catholic childhood. Born in Brooklyn in 1930 to recent Irish immigrants Malachy and Angela McCourt, Frank grew up in Limerick after his parents returned to Ireland because of poor prospects in America. It turns out that prospects weren't so great back in the old country either--not with Malachy for a father. A chronically unemployed and nearly unemployable alcoholic, he appears to be the model on which many of our more insulting clichés about drunken Irish manhood are based. Mix in abject poverty, and frequent death and illness, and you have all the makings of a truly difficult early life. Fortunately, in McCourt's able hands it also has all the makings of a compelling memoir.
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:Check Site.
Advantages: I don't really think there are any formt his story! Disadvantages: Why did people have live like this and how can we complain today
I have recently finished reading one of the most compelling stories that I have ever read and was truly moved to read of such heart ache and pain and to think that it is all actually true.
The sad thing is the author of this masterpiece remains strong to his roots to this day and writes about his childhood in a way that would put many people to shame for complaining about the childhood that they have had!
The author ... ...to Irish parents and soon landed back on the Emerald Isle to Limerick for what seemed to be less than an easy childhood. McCourt writes about that childhood with what seems to be great passion, he quotes on the cover of the book as follows:
‘When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable ... more
I have recently finished reading one of the most compelling stories that I have ever read and was truly moved to read of such heart ache and pain and to think that it is all actually true.
The sad thing is the author of this masterpiece remains strong to his roots to this day and writes about his childhood in a way that would put many people to shame for complaining about the childhood that they have had!
The author in question is Frank McCourt a child born in America to Irish parents and soon landed back on the Emerald Isle to Limerick for what seemed to be less than an easy childhood. McCourt writes about that childhood with what seems to be great passion, he quotes on the cover of the book as follows:
‘When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood.’
When you get into the book you will see exactly what he means. The childhood he endures circles circle round a few main categories and I will outline them below and enlighten you to the hardships this wonderful man endured.
Religion ~
This is probably the strongest influence of any Irish persons life during the great depression, looked upon by many as the only hope of survival. Deep down the church was evil in many ways and tried to brainwash the people of Ireland in believing that God was the answer.
From an early age Frankie McCourt was taught religion and this was almost beaten into him by schools and priests, boys had to make sure that they did not have impure thoughts about girls and they were not to read English newspapers as they were only full of sex and pictures of women in bikinis.
Boys were to make their First Holy Communion and had to always be in a state of grace, if a young lad in Limerick had any reason to think he had done something wrong he was told he was doomed, that he was evil and god would punish him one day for all the wrong that he had done. Priests almost made children feel guilty by putting guilt trips on the young children telling them God sent his Son to die on the cross for them. They had to make their Confirmation whilst still in a state of grace growing up in a Catholic town must have been tough. No one was willing to teach any of the boys about the facts of life, it could not happen in Limerick.
Poverty ~
The Great War ravished Ireland and many were poor and had to beg society to get their children some food to eat.
The stories through out the book of poverty are very grim and moving. Children died from hunger and the lack of nutrition, as it was simply not available. There were no jobs for the men in the town therefore whatever dole money they did receive they spent in the pub whilst mothers sat at home waiting by the fire for a penny that may have been brought home.
Fathers went to work in England where work was available and send telegrams home to the families who soon lived with electricity and go to the cinema and do things ordinary people do. Not the McCourt family their father went to England to get the work and sent one telegram the rest over the years were spent on the drink and a fine man Malachy McCourt was when it came to the drink.
Frankie’s mother had to beg at the St Vincent De Paul Society to get her children a meal on Christmas day that consisted of a potato and a pig’s head! Frankie writes about these Christmas’ and how the next one will be better and year after year they are just the same.
They spend much of their childhood in shorts and worn out boots be it rain, hail or shine, they are lucky some children have no shoes at all.
Death ~
Poverty took the lives of many young and old and the McCourt family had their fair share of that
In America Angela McCourt (mother) gave birth to a baby girl who was soon taken in the night without any cause, this struck the mother and father badly and this is what up rooted them to Ireland for a new and better life.
On reaching Ireland mother was having another baby that was delivered by the angel on the seventh step a story Frank McCourt tells with great warmth and character, this was the story he was told as a child rather than the facts of life. For many years Frank sat on the step telling all his thoughts, sins and ideas to the angel, he even thought at times the step was warm and the angel was listening.
This time it was twins and before long tragedy strikes again and one of the twins dies with pneumonia, the story that was to follow was tragic and harrowing, the twin that was left pined for his lost brother and he to was taken away, as a child Frank could not understand why children were brought by the angel on the seventh step only to be taken away first.
These tragic circumstances must have surely been the end of his mother no Angela remained true to her family and always wanted to do better for her remaining boys.
Family ~
Family life was tough for Frank as his father was away working in England he was seen as the man of the house and at a young age this was a demanding role for any lad to play, he was to go to school he was to work he had Typhoid that affected his health and he also had a serious bout of conjunctivitis that affected his eyes for years to come and made people think he was evil.
After the deaths in the family Frank was left with his younger brother Malachy, Michael and Alfie. They all survive life on bread and tea. Sometimes it is so tough that they go for days without food.
Franks mum Angela has a tough time of it with her husband Malachy who is an alcoholic and from the North of Ireland and this is in Limerick is frowned upon and Angela is soon seen as a disgrace by her family for marrying a drunk from the North.
Frank idolised his father and he could do no wrong but as he got older he realised just what an awful father he had, during the war his father went to work in England and failed to send the money home to his struggling family in Limerick and they had to beg for charity. Frank soon seen this was no way for a father to act.
When Frank eventually got his own job whilst growing up he saved and saved and took himself back to America for a better life.
So the book has a good ending or at least we are left to think so, there is a sequel call ‘Tis A Memoir’ that I am going to be looking for next time at the book shop just to see how Frank’s life eventually turned out in the end.
There is also a big screen adaptation of the book, which I have yet to see but if it is anything to go by the book it is surely going to be a great view especially as Robert Carlyle stars in it.
McCourt has written this book with true feeling and raw passion and you can pick this up very well from the first page. It is sometimes a bit tricky reading the bits that are printed in old Irish lingo and I found myself reading these parts several times, overall though the writing is flawless and will have you almost in tears and rolling about laughing.
Advantages: True account of l930s Ireland and poverty Disadvantages: Depressing. No pace. No direction
...heaps?
I digress, but Angela's Ashes produced yet again negative reactions. Oh it started off well, a poor Irish immigrant family living in Brooklyn during the depression, moving to even more poverty in Limerick, Ireland with intolerant and uncharitable relations who do not take kindly to the alcoholic husband from the North of the Country who has moved there with his wife and children in the hope of a better future. Written in the present tense, ... .....towards him.
In summary, Angela's Ashes is an account of one boy's impoverished childhood which begins in New York, moves to Ireland and ends with him returning to seek his fortune back in America at the age of l6 following his first pint in the local pub. If you like rather depressing tales of hardship and woe then this is the book for you. If however you're like me and enjoy a tale with some pace, meaning, and characters that you can breathe, ...
ANNJSEC 25.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
Advantages: great book, good chapter length Disadvantages: not everyone likes it
Angela's Ashes
Frank McCourt
Angela's Ashes is a book, and now film, of the childhood memoirs of Frank McCourt. The book won the Pulitzer Prize and has been given praise by critics all over the world.
It is the first of two books by Frank McCourt, both are memoirs. This book covers his life from 3 to 19 years old. The sequel, 'Tis continues the story onwards.
Characters
Frank McCourt (author)
Frank is (obviously) the main character. When the ... ...in Limerick where many of Angela's relations live.
Within a few years, the two twins die; firstly Oliver. Eugene then becomes depressed and dies soon after.
Frank goes to school and at the tender age of 14 leaves to get a job, why, because his alcoholic father can't get a job because of his northern accent and when he does, he drinks it all.
The next 5 years see Frank trying to raise money to go to America where the streets are paved with gold ...
christopherj84 03.04.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
Advantages: Excellent story Disadvantages: Very depressing
The good old days ... seen through splendid rose tinted glasses, all jumpers for goalposts and long summer evenings, the joy of the simple pleasures. Those grand old days...
This book puts that litany of lies firmly to bed in the starkest, cruellest, grimmest way possible.
As books go, this is the most morbid, depressing, cheerless one of them all and if you're desperate for a good cry then check out this tale of a poor Irish family from the 1930s, ... ...the same time it is an absolute masterpiece, a wonderful, wonderful exposure of prejudice, the religious divide and the total poverty that lay behind Ireland's Republican movement. Books of this magnitude come along rarely and I'm sorry if you're expecting some of the normal dave27 cheery lines - humour is totally out of place when thinking about something like this, although while it is a desolate and desperate, desperate book, it is also one of ...
dave27 04.08.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
Advantages: well written and very graphic Disadvantages: it all happened
This is another film and book I have seen/read both. I have covered both really in this review as they are silmilar and both excellent and compelling, however the book goes into more detail so I tended to favour this. This is about poverty in Ireland and how a family cope through the eyes of a young boy, Frank McCourt. It tells of the pain and hardship suffered and the indignity of seeing his mother beg for food. Although this makes it sound somber, ... ...poverty stricken parents, who are trying to get you school shoes , as you wear none, and the inspectors calling to validate the claim, find they have ’’gone to Italy’’!! Confused ..well this is the name for the upstairs rooms, they have to reside in due to flooding in the lower rooms. Also a funny yet sad moment, is when they realise the mattress they are all sharing is flea ridden, they are seen stamping the mattress in the ...
wENDIEWOO 01.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
Advantages: fantastic storyline with characters that will worm their way into your heart. Disadvantages: none
Angela's Ashes is more of an experience than a book. It was one of the most heart-wrenching things that I've ever read. Had it been a work of fiction, I'd have thought 'My God, what a good read'. However, knowing that the author, Frank McCourt lived through this story makes those tiny hairs on the back of my neck rise.
Set in the slums of Limerick in the 1940's, Angela's Ashes is the story of how a young boy, namely Frank McCourt grew up and made ... ...pride in her children.
Angela's Ashes takes the reader on an emotional roller-coaster ride through the life of this young boy. I laughed at his achievements and cried at his defeats. The book is written from the heart, and with every word written, you feel closer to Frank. Hoping that he will find his dreams, praying that his life will get better.
I won't spoil a great story by telling how it all pans out. Suffice to say that it is well worth the ...
Anna-Marie 05.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
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Advantages: Follows on from Angela's Ashes Disadvantages: lost some of the magic
I picked up 'Tis with great expectations which, regretably weren't met. Angela's Ashes was a true masterpiece of writing, but somewhere between the two books FrankMcCourt lost something. The author's wit and magic use of the English language was still apparent, with the clever way he always repeats charming phrases and descriptions, but if I was to try and put my finger on the problem I would say that it is because Frank seemed to bring the bad things on himself in this episode of his life.
Strangely enough, I think a film would do better justice to 'Tis than the book did. ...
Advantages: Realism, humour Disadvantages: No speech marks, can be slow
'Tis is the sequel to Angela's Ashes, by FrankMcCourt.
It is autobiographical and tells us the large majority of his adult life. We pick up the story as he arrives in New York. Throughout the novel we see McCourt work in the lobby of a hotel, have frequent problems with antagonistic bosses and landords, and generally struggle to survive. Later in the book we watch McCourt progress thorught the army - he's fortunate not to be sent to war - and he finds that life as a clerk in the army is not quite what he expected. He constantly struggles with women - in the book he marries has children and subsequently breaks up with his dream wife. We learmn of the successes in the bar trade of his brother Malachy but are sadly confronted with the death of both his mother and father - near the end of the book. McCourt also describes his first steps in ...
Advantages: We learn of this illness Disadvantages: Sickening
the majority of her education must have been completed as an adult but the sheer fluidity and language contained tells of a well educated articulate person who has overcame her childhood problems in order to educate us into Munchausen by Proxy disorder.
My thoughts after reading this book are of pity for all those concerned within. It is hard to comprehend such a life as Julies and yet to be able to move on in the way she has and to do it so positively is testament to the perseverance of the human spirit. Inspiring but without lecturing I am glad I have read it. Having read other books concerning child abuse and deprivation, notably A Child Called It by Dave Peltzer and Angela?sAshes by FrankMcCourt, I though I was immune to being so affected by yet another. I was wrong.
Sickened by Julie Gregory
Century Publishing
ISBN 1 ...
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