Genealogy Books - Angela's Ashes

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Summary: How the to survive being Irish and Catholic and poor!
Comment: This is a magnificent first-hand account of being Irish, Catholic and poor! With his wit and charm,
McCourt brings life to a very gloom atmosphere of Limerick, where boys are forced to "interfere"
with themselves when there's no oppotunity for a real "excitement", but --thanks to confessions and
St Francis of Asissi!-- they can be absolved in order not to go straight to hell; where fish and
chips can also be "licked" up off newspapers; where a goat's head can make Christmas --indeed!-- a
merry occasion.
Growing up in a Catholic environment myself, I can empathize with McCourt:
making up "sins" for Saturday confessions, burdened by guilt after "interfering" with myself,
tormented by fear of dropping the Lord's "body" to the floor while receiving Communion. But unlike
McCourt, I was lucky to be accepted as an altar boy -- a oportunity to taste the Lord's "blood" in
sachristy!
"Angela's Ashes" gives an insight of how (not?) to be a Catholic, and a poor one at
that!

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Summary: Irish myths writ small and personal
Comment: First, I liked this book a lot. Now that I've got that over with, let me tell you that the laughter
to tear ratio for this book is about 1 to 4. Remember Grapes Of Wrath from High School? This is
much sadder in parts. I always have at least one book with me when I travel and this one was the
right size as well as being about the Irish. (I am of Irish descent, so that alone is enough to
interest me.) I usually avoid the most popular books - I guess I'm not a joiner. But when I saw
this in paperback, I figured it was time. This book goes a long way to enforce the misconception
that every Irish mail is a potentially unemployed alcoholic. And that they have such large families
to make up for the fact that so many children die. Sometimes it seemed they had children dropping
like flies. I was in a plane at 30,000 feet at abbout 11 PM reading about another child having
died, with tears rolling down my face. If you are looking for a good emotional catharsis, this
might work for you. It is certainly cheaper than an hour with a psychiatrist.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Wonderful
Comment: This is defianlty one of my favorite books of all time. Its an eye-opener.

Customer Rating:

Summary: What Really Lies Behind the Ashes of Angela
Comment: What stains and is a lifeless form? An ash. In Angela's Ashes, there were many ashes scattered in
the form of tragedies. Life as it was in the Irish Catholic community of Limerick was extremly harsh
in the 1930's. It was particularly cruel to the impoverished as it was for the McCourts.

This unforgettable story was written though the eyes of Frank McCourt, the oldest son of the family
who depicted the squalid conditions he and his family had to endure. He describes his family that
journeys through misfortune and overcomes incredible odds. The ashes that are left behind include
losing two twin brothers and a baby sister to typhoid fever. The permanency of the dark ash comes
out very clearly as the young Frankie attempts in becoming a man at the tender age of ten when he
comes to the realization that his dad is a hopeless drunkard incapable of supporting the family.
More ashes cover Frank McCourt's essence as he watches his mother Angela, beg on the streets, turn
to antagonizing relatives and surrender her body to an abusive man in order to ensure the survival
of her children.
No better example of resiliency of the human heart is conveyed than in this
true story of Angela's Ashes. A story that takes you through the anguish pains of motherhood, the
humiliation of being without basic needs, the mysteries behind the religious rituals, but most
important of all is attaining the dream of a young writer.

Customer Rating:

Summary: THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment: I was really skeptical about reading this book. I'm 15 and I am proud to admit that i have fallen
into the whole Harry Potter craze. i have never really liked "biography" type books (like "I know
Why the Caged Bird Sings") and so naturally i didn't think i would like this. but my mom read it
and told me i should (after raving about how GREAT it was). so i decided to try it. one of the best
parts about the book is that it catches you right at the begining. i couldn't put it down. i was
really happy about it and think everyone should read it

Other Recomendations: Harry Potter, J.K.
Rowling; His Dark Materials, Phillip Pullman; The Dark is Rising, Susan Cooper; and all other books
that help you learn something!

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