Tis (A Memoir) - Frank McCourt > Reviews

Advantages: Great read
Disadvantages: Sex life suffers

After reading Angela’s Ashes, which I enjoyed immensely, I suggested to my wife that she might like to read it too. She doesn’t read much at all, she claims she is too busy “cleaning up after you lot!” and holding down a demanding job leaves her with little enough time without wasting it with her nose in a book! (She’s a philistine is my wife) However, one of her jobs required her to sit through the night with an ... Read review

Advantages: Quite simply, a fascinating insight into an ordinary Irishmans life
Disadvantages: You may well shed a few tears,but these will quickly be replaced with laughter

This book is the sequel to "Angela's Ashes", in which the author tells us about his poverty stricken childhood in Ireland. After working as a messenger boy, McCourt finally has enough money to realise his American dream when the woman for whom he wrote threatening letters dies. This book picks up McCourt's story, starting with near molestation by a priest,the resultin Catholic guilt, through to skivvying in a top hotel and finally going to school ... Read review

Advantages: Is the sequel to Angela's Ashes
Disadvantages: Can become slightly tedius

If you have read Angela’s Ashes it is a must to read this the sequel if only to gain the conclusion of his eventful life. This second autobiographical book ranges from his youth till his adult hood. The book continues from where the first book finished with Frank on his voyage of hope from Ireland to the ‘Golden Land’ of America. Due to Frank being older in this book his life is more interestingly eventful, from joining the army to eventually fulfilling ... Read review

Advantages: Realism, humour
Disadvantages: No speech marks, can be slow

'Tis is the sequel to Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt. 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 ... Read review

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I bought the book as I had read Angela's Ashes and enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoyed 'Tis very much particularly because of the insight into a growing man's emotions as I have two sons! I know that Frank McCourt's experiences are not easily duplicated in time or space but there are emotional lessons to learn. It brought an understanding for me about the difficulties of my relationship with my mother who lives in our home country whilst we have ... Read review

Advantages: An enjoyable conclusion from Angela's Ashes
Disadvantages: None

Those of us who grew to cherish the irresistible McCourt children of "Angela's Ashes" waded through Malachy's memoirs until we could take up the Limerick jigs in brother Frank's sequel. Well here 'tis and though many readers have been disappointed in these two books, I found Frank's growing pains endearing and insightful. The view of himself and his voyage from Ireland to America, from being "uneducated" to becoming a warm and caring teacher brought ... Read review

Advantages: It gives an interesting insight into deprived New York high schools from a teacher's point of view
Disadvantages: One feels McCourt hasn't really tried because he knows everyone will buy it anyway

A rather disappointing sequel as it is depressing to find out that the sweet little estranged Irish boy we all knew and loved grows up into a jealous and selfish moron whose life goes wrong in all the ways we had hoped it would not. The style of the author is as original as ever although despite reaching maturity the author has not yet grasped adult issues. It must be read by those who enjoyed the first, if only to find out what happens, but brace ... Read review

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 Frank McCourt 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 ... Read review

Advantages: Descriptive, emotional and honest with humoour
Disadvantages: sometimes a bit too much non relative information

Frank's own experiences when he moves from Poor Ireland to the prosperous NY. Honest picture of his experiences and progression and how hard is was to be Irish at that time in America. Follows the fortunes of his family and how they all move on and up in the world, always falling back to his mother who gave her all for her family. Gives a great picture to the reader of the poverty in Ireland and with his descriptions you can just imagine being in ... Read review

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...didn't like the plot of Tis as much as I liked the one in Angela's Ashes." It's an AUTOBIOGRAPHY, there is no plot, and who are you to judge someone's life? I read Angela's Ashes at the suggestion of a very good friend, Louise it was her favorite book and I have to say I could see why. When a friend at work saw me reading it he told me about the sequel "Tis a Memoir", I just had to get it and I have to say that when I did, I could not put it down! ... Read review