Angela's ashes, follows one boys quest through the harsh catholic
life of Limerick, fighting for survival in a land of poverty. Frank learns to deal with many
expected and unexpected happenings, and in the end fulfils his childhood aspirations. Drunken
fathers, sin and begging are features,which sum up the main storyline of the novel.
This novel
is a non - fictional memoir of a childhood is filled with adventure, poverty and sin. The style in
which it is written takes you on a journey back into the past, discovering a life, which can be seen
in a new light. The novel is a spyglass into the past, and shows the conditions of a different age,
and supposedly a different world altogether.
At the beginning of the novel, there are four
main characters. These characters consist of Malachy, Frank, Angela and Mr Mc Court (who is also
named Malachy). However as life takes its toll, family members come and go, and more and more strain
occurs. Each of the characters is very different (personality wise). They each have very different
views on how life should be lead, which sometimes leads to a head on collision.
I think this
novel is very unique and absolutely amazing. I believe that I connected with the characters and felt
what they felt. At times I found the storyline a bit depressing, however this shows how well the
novel has been written. I would recommend it to anyone aged 13 upwards, as it is an extrodinary tale
of love poverty and sin. I was captivated by the sadness, and enlightened by the happiness, and can
honestly say it was an amazing experience. I think that I would definitely read it again, and I am
currently reading the sequel `tis to Angela's ashes.

I liked the stories. Every childhood is this eventful, or
at least should be. You learn to like Frank McCourt and even identify with him as he questions the
things in life, like the angel on the 7th step and religion in general. You read as Frank McCourt
spends years saving up money so he can do what his teacher urged him to do: Go to America where he
can have more opportunity.

I loved this book and the movie did a very fair job of depicting the
events of this book. My only complaint is Mr. McCourt's lack of quotation marks. Sometimes it is
very hard to understand who is talking at a given time. You can figure it out from the context, but
you would expect more from an English teacher. The quotation marks would have made it flow
better.

However, I would not hesitate recommending this book to anybody.