Genealogy Books - Angela's Ashes

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Summary: Best book. Ever.
Comment: Angela's Ashes is an autobiographical memoir of Frank McCourt's childhood. Born with
the "odd
manner" of his North of Ireland father, Frank spent his early years in New York
City. His
father, Malachy, seldom kept a job for more then three weeks. On that third
Friday, he would stay
out late drinking the wages away, and then get his children up when
he came home to make them
promise to die for Ireland. Frank's mother, Angela,
remained at home and prayed her husband
would bring home the money so they could
have a good dinner for once. The family was constantly
growing, and by the time Frank
was four years old he had a brother who was a year younger than
him, baby twin brothers,
and a new baby sister. With the loss of their little girl and hope of a
better life, the
McCourts left America for Ireland. The family settled in crowded Limerick where
they
had to live off the dole and charity. As Frank grew older, he not only has to deal with
lack
of food, but strict Irish Catholic school teachers, more family loss, crude
relatives,
sickness, ignorance, and extreme poverty.
Reading Angela's Ashes was a truly
moving experience. Frank McCourt's writing
style is unique and witty. His earthy words add a
humorous edge to an otherwise dire
situation. I recommend this book to everybody.

Customer Rating:

Summary: wow
Comment: i can honestly say that this is the best book i have ever read. it has the perfect mixture of comedy
and and tragedy.i highly recommend this book.

Customer Rating:

Summary: American Dream
Comment: Angelas Ashes written by Frank McCourt is probably the best book I have ever read. This book is the
perfect example of how authors should tell stories. McCourt is so vivid in describing the scenery
and this really makes the book what it is. He discribes the different conditions that their family
lives in which really makes the reader feel as if they are there. McCourt was explaining the foul
smell of most of the places they had once lived in and was constatly compairing it to the place they
had lived in in America by saying how America never smelled as foul as Limerick. McCourt believes
that people in America who are as poor as he is live like the wealthy people in Limerick. McCourt
tells everyone in the novel that he will never again live like they do in Irland.This proves to the
audience that his dream is to return to America and not live like those in his town.
Another
thing that really makes Angelas Ashes is the tragedy that Frank McCourt and his family over came, by
lossing 3 kids to illness and their father to the drink. I have never encountered another author
other that Elie Wisel (who wrote the novel Night) who had seemed so strong and as if there was
nothing that would stop him from reaching hi dream, even after encountering so many obstacles. This
gave me so much hope even though he McCourt had suffered so greatly it was so apairent that if he
had not he would not have become what he became, and that is such an influencial leader and author.
McCourt really gives those who fell that their life could not get any worse some hope in coming out
on top. He proves the true drive that a person has when they a truly passionate about something.

Finally Frank McCourts book really came alive with the roundness of every charcter. As opposed to
not telling much about all his charcters except for himself McCourt gave indepth discriptions about
each one of their personalities. Including his two dead brothers and one dead sister. He would spend
pages explaining the looks in their eyes that led the reader to know much more about them.
This
is truly a great book that though has much sorrow also has a great message, and gives people hope in
the common man. McCourt is truly very strong and has helped so many people understand the effects of
a lack of father and overcoming extream tragedy. Those who have not read this book should read it
and then rethink how they might be taking advantage of how they have been living.

Customer Rating:

Summary: A Teen�s View on Angela�s Ashes
Comment: Being a teenager, Angela's Ashes didn't automatically appeal to me. It sounded more like a book my
mother would enjoy, especially because it's a "memoir"- kind of a scary word for a young person,
because it seems to predict a drab, boring life story. The beginning of the book was difficult to
get into, mostly because about a million characters are introduced in the first fifty pages.

However, after I got into the story, it was really easy reading. It's a very well written book.
The main characters have many dimensions and lots of personality, which is probably because the
story is a true account of Frank McCourt's life. The story is about an extremely poor family, and
their move to Ireland, where the father and mother were born and raised. The McCourts face many
hardships, such as the death of children, and the fact that the dad, also named Frank McCourt,
drinks away the little money they have in Irish pubs almost every night.
I found I was most
drawn to the father as a character. He is depicted as a wonderful dad who would do anything for his
family. All of his sons look up to him a great deal, and they see only the good qualities in him. He
turns right around and betrays their trust, though, by acting as though he doesn't have a family to
support. Through a flurry of job loses, caused when he drinks too much on his pay days, and not
being able to get up the next morning, he ruins any chances the family has to live normal lives. He
is continuously forgiven for his mistakes.
Although Angela's Ashes is at times very sad, it is
also tremendously entertaining, and in many cases, funny. I would highly recommend it.

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