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Angela's Ashes
Angela's Ashes
Author: Frank McCourt
"Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood," writes 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 McC...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780684874357
ISBN-10: 0684874350
Publication Date: 1996
Pages: 368
Rating:
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 557

4.1 stars, based on 557 ratings
Publisher: Scribner
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 37 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
This book won the Pullitzer prize and is excellent. It is hard to understand the kind of poverty that drove so many immigrants to this country. This book recalls the Northern Ireland childhood of the author and is the story of his family and their survival. An amazing story that is, in a way, the story of many of our grandparents who came here to find a better life not only for themselves but their decendants- us. If you are not grateful, you will be after reading this book.
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 200 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 10
This is a very moving and heart wrenching story of a young boy's life. It details life in Ireland, in the poorest sections of town, most of the time in gruesome and honest detail. I'm glad I read it, but it's not for everyone. It deals with severe alcoholism, emotional and physical neglect of infants and children; and basically , "man's inhumanity towards man".
TXGrobanite avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 270 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
I had never heard of this book before coming on PBS...I saw it when I did the search option, and thought it sounded good, and it is now one of my top favorite books of all time. What a great book, and now that I have it, I don't know if I will part with my copy or not. :-) I highly recommend it, very very good reading.
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 16 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
One of those books that horrifies and facinates at the same time. To think that "modern" times can still have such challenges as the characters in this book were faced with is hard to think about. However, McCort's written voice (heck, you can almost hear the broge while reading it) and the written tone is light in many places, and the missunderstandings and misshaps caused by such utter "ignorance" of the time and place are often hysterical.
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 166 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
This was a wonderful book in many ways - whose story I need not describe here since it has become so well known - but personally I became more and more disturbed by Frank's father and his utter failure in his role as protector and provider for his family. What he allowed to happen to his family, because of his own weaknesses, was unforgiveable, and Frank's hopeful attempts to see the best when his father would come 'round again were heartbreaking.
Read All 263 Book Reviews of "Angelas Ashes"

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reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 6 more book reviews
This is a tale of Frank McCourt's childhood.
I got it for a college course I took and later found out Frank McCourt was my friend's high school English teacher in Brooklyn!
schwip avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 49 more book reviews
Excellent story told by a preteen boy in a poor town in Ireland. He talks about his poor family, how they live and get food, he talks about the church and the presence they have in Ireland, he talks about his odd jobs. It is an honest memoir of a young boy who is lost and trying to figure out life and what to do with his. I liked learning about the reality of the culture of a small Ireland town. This book is definately worth reading.
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 17 more book reviews
What an amazing look into this man's life, growing up in Ireland poor. Simply an excellent read. Now I need to look for his other books!!!
stephaniehouser avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on
One of the best books I have ever read!!!
dillepickle avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 12 more book reviews
McCourt's memoir is sad, but with hysterical views told from the eyes of a child. I loved this book.
ladybuggysocks avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on
The story is tragic and emotionally draining but it just may make you appreciate your own childhood. The author's writing style is much like reading over journal entries and the thoughts can be a bit "choppy" but as the book progresses, it is easier to appreciate.
reviewed Angela's Ashes on
This is a very difficult book to read. Few of us have experienced such poverty and to read and know this is not fiction but the true life accounting of the author caused me to feel extreme discomfort. But, like watching a car wreck, you cannot help but continue on through accounts of hunger, pain, and hurtful family relationships. In fact, I ordered the follow-on book of Frank McCourt's life so that I might understand where he landed and how he saved himself from the utter despair of his childhood. Great book.
wiltinglilly avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 33 more book reviews
A wonderfully written memoir. I read this book when I was 12 and enjoyed it, then reread it again when I was older and understood so much more of it. A good read about the life of an Irish boy, definitely recommended
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 2 more book reviews
I loved this book
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 5 more book reviews
a wonderful book i loved reading it because i couldnt put it down very moving
serafina avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 6 more book reviews
Angela's Ashes was humorous and heart-wrenching at the same time. The intricate details Mr. McCourt writes about really puts the reader in war torn Ireland (Secretly wishing for a Guiness- but that's just me...)
It was one of those endearing books that made me want to read every other book he has written.....In fact, I immediately started 'Tis as soon as I put this one down.
joegrownup avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 4 more book reviews
Simply, one of the best reads ever. Funny and heartbreaking and you don't have to be Catholic to enjoy it.
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 3 more book reviews
One of the most enchanting life stories I have read.
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 3 more book reviews
I could not put this book down. This autobiography absolutely moved me from tears, to out loud laughter, to disbelief. It will give you such a perspective of life. A must read!!!
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 18 more book reviews
This is another case of a well-written book that has a compelling story that I so wish I could share with my teenagers. But the vulgar parts are just too much, which is really a shame because this is a tale that the kids of today should learn.
ebaycoach avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 17 more book reviews
I found this story very depressing, and in fact, did not finish the book. I figured if it was on the best seller list, it had to be good, right? Wrong.

It was a little to raw for me to enjoy reading - disturbing actually. The writing itself is great, the subject matter was just rather dismal.
Dnddynasty avatar reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 20 more book reviews
Abosully loved this book. Even began speaking in Irish dialect "not really" but, I felt like I was in Ireland or atleast surrounded by Irish. Excellant book
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 2 more book reviews
I read this book and really enjoyed listening to it on tape. It is a special treat to have the author reading it. I couldn't wait to resume driving in my car so that I could continue to hear the story. Very, very good read and even better "listen".
reviewed Angela's Ashes on + 49 more book reviews
Growing up in Ireland in the first half of the 20th century

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