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'Tis (Frank McCourt #2)

3.57 of 5 stars 3.57 · rating details · 28,131 ratings · 1,362 reviews

The sequel to Frank McCourt's memoir of his Irish Catholic boyhood, Angela's Ashes, picks up the story in October 1949, upon his arrival in America. Though he was born in New York, the family had returned to Ireland due to poor prospects in the United States. Now back on American soil, this awkward 19-year-old, with his "pimply face, sore eyes, and bad teeth," has little i...more

Paperback, 367 pages

Published 1999 by Flamingo

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Best Memoir / Biography / Autobiography

59th out of 1,804 books — 1,743 voters

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Best Irish Literature

15th out of 289 books — 364 voters

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Community Reviews

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Jul 14, 2011 K.D. Oliveros rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to K.D. by: Charles Van

Shelves: irish, memoirs, series

My brother was the one who told me to read Frank McCourt’s 1996 Pulitzer-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes. It was one of the books that made me who am I today: a voracious reader.

It took me 12 years before reading its 1999 sequel, ’Tis (short for “It is”). Reason: I wanted to let the cute and innocent boy Frank and his brothers Malachy, Michael and Alphie to stay as long as possible in my mind. I did not want them to grow up. I wanted to hold on to the image of those boys running and walking aroun...more

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Mar 31, 2009 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

Sadder in some ways than Angela's Ashes. Whereas Angela's Ashes was a story of Frank McCourt fighting the odds and dangers of growing up in a Limerick slum and trying to escape, this book is about Frank McCourt fighting with himself and occasionally American society. This book reveals his darker side, including his own battles with the drink (though these are never as bad as his father's alcohol problems), his insecurities and the chip on his shoulder about growing up in a slum. Frank had a toug...more

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May 07, 2011 Elisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: letteratura-americana

Ci sono giornate eccezionali in cui la discussione di una poesia apre la porta a una luce bianca abbagliante e tutti capiscono i versi e capiscono di aver capito e quando la luce si smorza ci sorridiamo come viaggiatori al ritorno da un'avventura.

Con Frank McCourt accade esattamente lo stesso. Seguirlo per le strade di New York è come sbirciare in una stanza rimasta chiusa per decenni, lasciandovi entrare un fascio di luce.
Il suo passo incerto e goffo si fa più solido con il rincorrersi dei de...more Ci sono giornate eccezionali in cui la discussione di una poesia apre la porta a una luce bianca abbagliante e tutti capiscono i versi e capiscono di aver capito e quando la luce si smorza ci sorridiamo come viaggiatori al ritorno da un'avventura.

Con Frank McCourt accade esattamente lo stesso. Seguirlo per le strade di New York è come sbirciare in una stanza rimasta chiusa per decenni, lasciandovi entrare un fascio di luce.
Il suo passo incerto e goffo si fa più solido con il rincorrersi dei decenni, così come la sua parlata. Eppure Frank è sempre Frankie. C'è sempre la sua arguzia: scorre come una linfa nascosta agli occhi dell'interlocutore ma sulla pagina sfocia in riflessioni esilaranti. C'è sempre il suo racconto continuo che grazie all'essenzialità della punteggiatura dà l'impressione di scorrere, amalgamarsi, vivere. Forse questa è una delle caratteristiche che più amo della sua prosa: il saper raccontare gli altri come se raccontasse se stesso. L'uso del discorso indiretto, la totale assenza di virgolette con cui imprigionare i personaggi nei loro dialoghi, il fraseggio libero ma conciso: tutto si traduce in un gomitolo di vite che confluiscono nella stessa materia, la memoria e il cuore di Frankie. Sebbene l'autore si sia cimentato nell'autobiografia, il risultato è un'opera corale di straordinaria vivacità.

Sarebbe inutile ripercorrere la trama, non posso levarvi la delizia della lettura. Ciò che importa è sottolineare quanto questo libro possa essere fondamentale per un adolescente moderno. Io ho scoperto Frankie come si scopre un caro amico. Sarà perché aveva più o meno la mia età quando è arrivato a New York o che si è ritrovato a muovere i primi passi con la goffaggine che ritrovo in me nelle grandi occasioni della vita. Il momento in cui trovi il primo lavoro, la paura di fare una brutta impressione, l'ansia di non sentirti accettato per ciò che sei dalle persone delle quali desideri la stima. Anche il lettore grazie a Frank diventa un membro del coro. Ci sembra quasi di avvertire bruciore agli occhi e di sentire la morbidezza dei riccioli neri sulla testa.

Le ricchezze che si possono ricavare dalla lettura sono davvero infinite: dalle riflessioni sull'insensatezza del razzismo e su quanto possa essere pesante un'identità che si indossa con scomodità; dalle perplessità sull'amore a quelle sul sesso; dalle stoccate inflitte agli scioperi degli anni '60 alle sfuriate contro i continui lamenti delle classi agiate, incapaci di apprezzare la propria fortuna. Neri, bianchi, portoricani, irlandesi, italiani, giovani, donne di mezza età, padri e madri allo sbando e giunti al termine del loro percorso, ragazze innamorate della schematicità di una vita monotona, classi medio-alte imprigionate nei rituali della buona società: questi i personaggi che vorticano attorno a Frankie, che lo erodono come un vento a volte gentile, altre tumultuoso.

"Non avete voglia di scrivere della vostra vita per la generazione ventura?" Frankie, meno male che questa voglia ti è venuta.
E quando la luce si smorza ci sorridiamo come viaggiatori al ritorno da un'avventura. (less)

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Jun 05, 2012 Melissa Proffitt rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, non-fiction, memoir, biography, history

Meh. Angela's Ashes was wonderful, lots of history mixed in with the memoir, and so emotionally engaging. This one was a lot more memoir and not so much history, and far too much detail about his sex life and frequent masturbation (though he does, amusingly, refer to the latter as "interfering with himself"). The beautiful Irish voice still comes through, so it's pleasant to read even when the subject matter becomes pedestrian, and there are a few brilliant moments: my favorite is when, as a fir...more

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Mar 10, 2008 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Couple of points here:

McCourt's story is mesmerizing. From what he came from to what he become is beyond inspiring and thought provoking; however, I have some qualms with McCourt.

Knowing what he knows about the dangers and pitfalls of alcohol, why the hell does he touch the stuff? It goes on to ruin several of his relationships and opportunities and yet he never comments on this. He never touches on the point of alcoholism in families and how his father's drinking did or did not directly affect...more

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Feb 16, 2007 Brandi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: nonfiction, biography-memoir

First, let me say that I absolutely adored this book. While not as dear to my heart as the first, I think this story is moving and the voice is, as always, unique. That said, this story is a much more familiar one than the last: Irish immigrant trying to make a life for himself in a new world, and a war-enraged America. This story, though, is much more tangible than "other" immigration stories and unique in that, throughout all the troubles, heartache, injustice, and anger, this is a story not b...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Abbe added it · review of another edition

Shelves: in-library

Frank McCourt's glorious childhood memoir, Angela's Ashes, has been loved and celebrated by readers everywhere for its spirit, its wit and its profound humanity. A tale of redemption, in which storytelling itself is the source of salvation, it won the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Rarely has a book so swiftly found its place on the literary landscape.And now we have 'Tis, the story of Frank's American journey from impoverished immigr...more Frank McCourt's glorious childhood memoir, Angela's Ashes, has been loved and celebrated by readers everywhere for its spirit, its wit and its profound humanity. A tale of redemption, in which storytelling itself is the source of salvation, it won the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Rarely has a book so swiftly found its place on the literary landscape.And now we have 'Tis, the story of Frank's American journey from impoverished immigrant to brilliant teacher and raconteur. Frank lands in New York at age nineteen, in the company of a priest he meets on the boat. He gets a job at the Biltmore Hotel, where he immediately encounters the vivid hierarchies of this "classless country," and then is drafted into the army and is sent to Germany to train dogs and type reports. It is Frank's incomparable voice -- his uncanny humor and his astonishing ear for dialogue -- that renders these experiences spellbinding.When Frank returns to America in 1953, he works on the docks, always resisting what everyone tells him, that men and women who have dreamed and toiled for years to get to America should "stick to their own kind" once they arrive. Somehow, Frank knows that he should be getting an education, and though he left school at fourteen, he talks his way into New York University. There, he falls in love with the quintessential Yankee, long-legged and blonde, and tries to live his dream. But it is not until he starts to teach -- and to write -- that Frank finds his place in the world. The same vulnerable but invincible spirit that captured the hearts of readers in Angela's Ashes comes of age.As Malcolm Jones said in his Newsweek review of Angela's Ashes, "It is only the best storyteller who can so beguile his readers that he leaves them wanting more when he is done...and McCourt proves himself one of the very best." Frank McCourt's 'Tis is one of the most eagerly awaited books of our time, and it is a masterpiece.(less)

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Jan 20, 2009 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-2009

This is an amazing and a motivational book that has inspired me these past few months being a junior. What makes this book inspirtational is how at every event in McCourt's life he finds the positive sides or tries to find something humorous within the event. This has taught me that no matter what life throws me at I can achieve, nothing is a major deal. I was really able to connect to McCourt in this book more than the first, Angela's Ashes because this story took place in New York, and in my n...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Nshslibrary rated it 4 of 5 stars

A fantastic addition to the already fabulous book Angela’s Ashes. The Pulitzer Prize winning author, Frank McCourt comes back to give us a phenomenal piece of literature that will have you screaming and crying at the same time. The memoir starts off where he left off last, crossing the ocean on a boat to come back to America. The rest of the story depicts and examines the life he leads there. All along the way he is met with stereotypes and people judging him because of his accent and his race....more

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Nov 17, 2012 writer... rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: irish-connxns

McCourt's memoir [pt 2] of his life in returning to america at nineteen; journeying to life, both in a new country and in manhood.

The book kept a good pace with all the material covered. I did find some confusion in the ordering of the story when references would be made to work scenarios or activities I thought McCourt had already terminated. Tightly spaced pages of small print didn't add to the ease or enjoyment of this read which did seem lengthy after some solid uninterrupted reading time....more

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May 24, 2012 Bart Breen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Do I Detect an Irish Brogue? ;)

I listened to this book as read by the Author. I recommend that, as I read Angela's Ashes and enjoyed it a lot as well, but there is something special about the reading by the author that adds a diminsion to the work that you can't quite catch reading it.

Up front, many are uncomfortable with this work and Angela's Ashes because of the language, which is quite blue in places. I don't find it the most endearing quality myself, but as a memoir it captures the language...more Do I Detect an Irish Brogue? ;)

I listened to this book as read by the Author. I recommend that, as I read Angela's Ashes and enjoyed it a lot as well, but there is something special about the reading by the author that adds a diminsion to the work that you can't quite catch reading it.

Up front, many are uncomfortable with this work and Angela's Ashes because of the language, which is quite blue in places. I don't find it the most endearing quality myself, but as a memoir it captures the language of the army, the loading dock, the teachers lounge and the bar. Be warned up front, if you are not comfortable hearing swearing, then this is NOT the book for you.

That having been said, listening to McCourt read, I caught the poetic, lyrical, stream of consciousness attributes that I knew were present in Angela's Ashes, but hearing the cadence, the lilting roll and flow of the language; there are parts of this book that come close to poetry. It is an amazing and endearing quality that is rarely achieved in most modern literature.

McCourt has a rare transparency with his insecurity, his dysfunctional relationships, his family dynamics, his romance with his first wife and his transition to teaching and moving toward writing is very revealing and almost has a therapeutic value as you listen and can recognize the human condition in general.

My one criticism, is that, perhaps, this book stretches a little long for the material he includes. The actual narrative events can be condensed to a very short story line. It is the embellishment, the thinking out loud and the dancing around in what becomes a farily discernible pattern by the end of the book to where, it "almost" becomes a little tedious, although this is faint criticism when weighed against the overall impact of the book.

A very entertaining listen and read! It is hard to follow-up on a Pulitzer Prize. The goal is lofty and the expectations overwhelming. My opinion is this book does not surpass its progenitor, but it certainly comes close and provides more of the same type of reading and entertainment.

I look forward to reading, and hopefully hearing the next installment.(less)

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May 07, 2012 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Literati, Lit students, fiction readers

Recommended to Michael by: Frank McCourt

Shelves: literature, memoirs

This book would get five stars, except that it isn't -quite- as great as Angela's Ashes, which makes it seem a bit disappointing. In comparison to that book, it is also somewhat less inspiring, in the sense that AA tells a story of perseverance over hardship as Frank survives all by carrying his dream of going to America through times of crushing poverty. In _'Tis_ he finally makes it to America, and things still are not perfect. In fact he still spends a lot of time feeling afraid and too insec...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Tara added it

Shelves: what-i-heard

This is not a book I read, but one I listened to from Crescent City CA to Olympia WA.

As an audio book, it was really great to listen to. Frank did not put me to sleep and I laughed a lot at his stories. It made the haul up the 5 as fun as it can be.

If I had read it I would have been a lot less impressed. The book covers the time he comes to the US in 1949 to when his mother dies in 1985. It is shamelessly taking advantage of the first book, Angela's Ashes, which covers a more manageable time fr...more

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Aug 25, 2011 manuti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Los dos primeros Libros 2005-2006. 12 libros al año.
Después de leer Las cenizas de Ángela he leído Lo es, y me alegro un montón. Los dos libros son un auténtico drama, pero con un punto de humor, sobre todo basado en la inocencia del protagonista, Frank McCourt. Esta inocencia, no es solo la del niño y adolescente durante sus años en Limerick, sino también la del profesor de instituto en Nueva York. Me ha sorprendido mucho, toda la parte donde cuenta sus problemas con los alumnos, que hoy son aq...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Book Concierge rated it 3 of 5 stars

Frank McCourt burst on the literary scene with his memoir Angela’s Ashes , which outlined his childhood lived in abject poverty in Limerick Ireland. This book picks up where that one left off. He begins by recounting some of the overseas voyage, befriended by a priest who encourages him to talk to the “wealthy Protestants from Kentucky,” and who is dismayed when McCourt’s embarrassment over his teeth, his eyes, his clothing, keeps him from asserting himself. But although nothing is as he expecte...more

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Mar 19, 2011 Kimberly Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this sequel to "Angela's Ashes", because of Frank McCourt's ability to recollect dialogue, and his way of writing the words so well that you can just HEAR the Irish accent while you read.

It is so amazing and inspiring to see where Frank comes from, the slums of Ireland, with his essentially single mother to college, eventually graduate school, & later a teacher in New York City. It's a long road out of the slums & out of his own head of fears, limitations, & low self estee...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Barbara Mitchell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Quite some time ago I reviewed McCourt's first autobiography, Angela's Ashes. 'Tis is the second book which picks up as Frank is sailing from Ireland to America, where he expects to see everyone has a tan and beautiful white teeth, i.e. the Hollywood version. First lesson, New York City and its people don't much resemble his expectations.

He's still poor as a churchmouse of course but he finds a job sweeping the floor and emptying ashtrays in the lobby of the Biltmore, then moves on to a warehous...more

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Mar 23, 2010 Jana rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was my first introduction to Frank McCourt's writing. I was a little reluctant to start with his famous Angela's Ashes, because it seemed really heavy and sad. 'Tis is the story of McCourt's arrival at age 19 to America, his struggle to acclimatize to life in a new country, find jobs, educate himself, and eventually become an English teacher. I had mixed feelings about the book, so here is both the good and the bad:

The Good-
*McCourt is a master story-teller. I loved the way that I could vi...more

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Oct 27, 2009 Piedmont_Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

(Previously published in BookLove blog) - After Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, one of the bleakest books I’ve ever read, I wasn’t sure what to expect from ’Tis. Frank McCourt was born in New York City , but moved back to Ireland with his family as a small child. The fact that young Frank, at the age of 19, was able to escape extreme poverty in Ireland and move to New York City is an accomplishment by itself. Within several days of arriving, he receives the first of many warnings about the evils...more (Previously published in BookLove blog) - After Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, one of the bleakest books I’ve ever read, I wasn’t sure what to expect from ’Tis. Frank McCourt was born in New York City , but moved back to Ireland with his family as a small child. The fact that young Frank, at the age of 19, was able to escape extreme poverty in Ireland and move to New York City is an accomplishment by itself. Within several days of arriving, he receives the first of many warnings about the evils of drink and is urged to become acquainted with the New York Public Library – by a bartender. After a period of time working as a janitor at the Biltmore Hotel, the Korean War begins, and within weeks McCourt receives his Army draft notice. After basic training in New Jersey , McCourt is sent to a dog training unit in Germany and avoids combat. Within several weeks, he is selected for Company Clerk training. After his military obligation ends, McCourt returns to New York City and labor in the warehouses on the New York City waterfront.

McCourt’s descriptions of Army life are hilarious, but throughout the first half of the book there are several somber themes that surface again and again. McCourt is extremely naïve about women, wants to break free of the stifling variety of Catholicism that he grew up with in Ireland , and early on after arriving in New York realizes that education is his only way out of a life of manual labor. McCourt also learns very quickly that in the United States , extreme racial divisions have replaced the class divisions of Ireland .

This reviewer thought it remarkable that from the time of his arrival in New York City onward, McCourt repeatedly encounters individuals (sometimes rank strangers) who recommend works of literature and encourage his initial ambivalence about pursuing education. I guess you could call them literary angels.

McCourt eventually overcomes his ambivalence about education and starts a college degree at New York University – without a high school diploma. After graduation, McCourt lands his first teaching position at a Vocational High School on Staten Island . Over the next decade or so there’s an interesting contrast in the book between Frank, pursuing a career in education, and Malachy McCourt, the younger brother who purchased a bar, is still deeply immersed in Irish culture, and has a drinking problem. McCourt earns a Masters degree from Brooklyn College and better jobs follow, but throughout the book he effectively describes the pull of Irish immigrant culture – where he doesn’t really fit anymore – versus his ambition to live a “normal” middle-class American life.

McCourt has a great idea for detail, society, and the randomness of life, and describes a journey out of poverty that is hard for most readers to imagine.(less)

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Sep 18, 2009 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tis is the continuation of the story begun in Angela's Ashes, taking off right where Angela's Ashes ended - with McCourt landing in America to begin his new adventure in the Land of Opportunity.

While Angela's Ashes focused a great deal on the overwhelming poverty of the McCourt family, 'Tis instead focuses on the differences McCourt notices between Ireland and America. In addition, there are a great many stories about the mistakes he makes in his early days and his constant yearning for Somethin...more Tis is the continuation of the story begun in Angela's Ashes, taking off right where Angela's Ashes ended - with McCourt landing in America to begin his new adventure in the Land of Opportunity.

While Angela's Ashes focused a great deal on the overwhelming poverty of the McCourt family, 'Tis instead focuses on the differences McCourt notices between Ireland and America. In addition, there are a great many stories about the mistakes he makes in his early days and his constant yearning for Something Better. We see him struggle through many menial jobs, many with humorous stories to accompany them, and eventually he makes it to college and his Something Better - even though he isn't sure it was worth it once he's got it.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book for two reasons. First, McCourt has a great sense of humor about the way things went for him and how things have turned out. His stories will make you cry with laughter at some points because these are all stories that would have made someone say at the time: "You'll laugh about this later. You may not think so now, but you'll laugh."

Secondly, I really bonded with McCourt's character. Here I am, reading this book in my first days in Istanbul, noticing all the differences between my new home and the United States, while reading about how McCourt went through the same thing even though he was moving to a country that supposedly speaks the same language. There are a number of times he comments on the different uses of words between American English and Irish English. But it wasn't only the moving abroad point that got to me. I find myself questioning the purpose of my education and what I'm really going to do with my future, much in the same way that the young McCourt did in this memoir.

McCourt is a true story teller and he'll make you laugh. Also, he fills in some of the background information that you'll need if you haven't read Angela's Ashes, so it's not absolutely necessary to read it before picking up 'Tis (but I highly recommend it!). Definitely a book to be picked up.

Side Note: I saw at the end of the book that Frank McCourt's brother Malachy has his own book, A Monk Swimming, which was co-authored by Frank and deals with Malachy's struggles with alcoholism and his years as a playboy and actor in New York City. I think I'll be picking it up as soon as I can find an English Bookstore here. (less)

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Jun 25, 2009 Richard Nicholson rated it 2 of 5 stars

I’d mentioned to a friend of my mum’s that I had read Angela’s Ashes and enjoyed it, to a point (see my review). Unknown to me, Frank McCourt had at the time recently released ‘Tis, so quicker than you can do an Irish jig I was merrily ensconced in the continuation of his memoirs. Oh how quickly that went from merriment to drudgery. Maybe I got too absorbed in Frank’s bitter retelling of life in America – man is this guy got self-esteem issues and a large Irish chip on his shoulder or what!

But t...more

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Feb 01, 2009 Jan C rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ireland

This is the follow up to his book Angela's Ashes. I think the previous book leaves the reader with him getting on a boat to America. And he's still on that boat when the second book starts. It is more about how he made his way in America. What are some of the things that turned him around - like a bartender telling him he ought to find his way to the library instead of spending so much time in his bar. And he took him up on it. I think he worked on the docks. Went into the Army (not by choice)....more

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Aug 14, 2007 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you have read Angela's Ashes and Teacher Man, this is more of the same. Having just read Teacher Man, there was ALOT of overlap in this book. But I listened to this one, rather than reading it, and McCourt's accent does make the whole venture more amusing. Like a true irishman, he can charm birds out of trees BUT he also tries to get away with murder, which makes you love him and hate him at the same time. I'm still trying to get his inflections and verbal mannerisms out of my head...

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Oct 18, 2009 Kristy Trauzzi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: most people.

Recommended to Kristy by: a book club

While I found this book to be better then Angela's Ashes - still really not that good. I have huge problems feeling sorry for people who choose to drink, and then end up hurt in some way by it. I don't buy his excuses about his drinking. I know it can run in the family - but I also know some people who have never touched the drink because of their alcoholic parents. Again, I just don't really see it as an excuse.

I thought his teaching style was unique. And of course I have conflicting emotions....more

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Sep 04, 2007 Racquel rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone

I really enjoyed this book. At first it was very hard to get in to. It was probably because I did not read Angela's Ashes first. Frank McCourt wrote that first, then Tis and lastly Teacher Man. The whole time you are reading Tis you are rooting for Frank. If you have any family who immigrated to America then you will definitely like this book. Who knows it might even reveal some interesting stories about your family's past that you never knew ( I know it worked for me).

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Mar 04, 2013 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

'Tis, by Frank McCourt, is the sequel to his first success, Angela's Ashes. Once again, he takes us on a journey of bleak experience from Ireland to America, his dreamed of Promised Land, where he encounters yet more bleakness and gut wrenching difficulty. It is only his wry Irish wit that saves the reader along the way.

I had tried to read McCourt in paper and ink, before making it through 'Tis. I was never successful, being overwhelmed by the unhappiness of it. The only reason I made it through...more 'Tis, by Frank McCourt, is the sequel to his first success, Angela's Ashes. Once again, he takes us on a journey of bleak experience from Ireland to America, his dreamed of Promised Land, where he encounters yet more bleakness and gut wrenching difficulty. It is only his wry Irish wit that saves the reader along the way.

I had tried to read McCourt in paper and ink, before making it through 'Tis. I was never successful, being overwhelmed by the unhappiness of it. The only reason I made it through 'Tis was because I listened to it as read by the author on audio tape in my car, during a long-distance trip.

There is something so engaging about the Irish brogue, as expressed by McCourt, that the listener can be carried through the darkest scenes reasonably pleasantly. And 'Tis is so full of humor, even in the midst of struggle, that the reader can laugh through most of it. I think, of course, that this is what has carried the Irish through their long dark nights as a race and nation.

I think the brogue and the wit are also largely responsible for the success of Frank McCourt. He might not have made such a splash in his native country, as he has in America, where his lilting presentations have engaged the hearts of leaden-tongued Yanks.

When the brogue is stripped away, and the words are committed to type, however, a great deal is lost (in my estimation). The work itself comes off as ultimately self-centered. McCourt makes too much of all the little tragedies of his personal life, and seems to expect that we will all find them as fascinating and tragic as he does. The humor of his work comes mainly through his descriptions of attendant characters. Here is where his true genius is displayed. From army buddies to crazy tenants in his coldwater flat, and back and forth between Americans and Irish transplants, he paints vivid, unforgettable portraits.

I do feel that McCourt could tell an equally engaging tale without all the filthy language and epithets which he seems beholden to relay throughout his dialogue. Sometimes it takes more talent to "do without" when characterizing a lewd person, than to drag the reader through the muck.

I recommend 'Tis, on paper if you like, but, better yet, on tape!
(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Nikole rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you have read Angela’s Ashes, this book is a continuation of Frank McCourt‘s life after he leaves Ireland and moves to New York City and follows him through his various jobs (including the US military) he held as well as his years as a college student working towards a teaching degree.

Overall, ‘Tis is a good book and fairly enjoyable whether or not you have read Angela’s Ashes or not. I did feel as though this book was lacking the subtle humor that Angela’s Ashes had which was a great lose. T...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Mrs. S rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

Ok, I couldn't hold out on the fifth star anymore, Mr. McCourt. Usually, I prefer the childhood piece of memoirs, but in this case, I think the young adulthood/adulthood portion was even stronger. Was this largely because of his pitch-perfect ear for what a class of students sounds like when they smell inexperience on a new teacher from out of town? YES. Yes it was. Am I deliriously excited that McCourt's third book focuses just on his teaching career? YES. Yes I am. There is no schmaltz and no...more

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Apr 04, 2010 CC rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm partial to immigrant stories so that gives the book an edge, and though it wasn't as cohesive as Angela's Ashes I'll still give it a four stars cuz three wouldn't do it justice. The great voice is still there and the familiarity of writing escorts you right back into McCourt's world.

Now a young man, McCourt has successfully made his way to America and works dead end jobs, joins the Army, and finally goes to college (how,I kept wondering, with no high school diploma; a question never fully a...more I'm partial to immigrant stories so that gives the book an edge, and though it wasn't as cohesive as Angela's Ashes I'll still give it a four stars cuz three wouldn't do it justice. The great voice is still there and the familiarity of writing escorts you right back into McCourt's world.

Now a young man, McCourt has successfully made his way to America and works dead end jobs, joins the Army, and finally goes to college (how,I kept wondering, with no high school diploma; a question never fully answered) and becomes a NY high school English teacher.

No longer at the mercy of his childhood, he's on his own now, and despite his minor and major successes (earning his teaching degree, achieving the American dream of home ownership) he begins a slow descent into alcoholism. At least I recognized it as such, I'm not quite sure he did. When you'd rather be with your drinking buddies than with your wife and child night after night after night, you are an alcoholic. And just because you're not spending your entire paycheck on it (like your Da back in Limerick did) doesn't make you any less culpable. So, yeah, through a lot of the book I felt he was either dense or unwilling to be honest with himself. When he let his marriage go I really felt he lost himself, and in a way, I also lost interest.

**One nitpick/rant -- does every man's life story involve falling in love with the quintessential All-American-Blonde, and conquering her to prove they are someone? It's such a cliche, yet time and time again books (fiction and nonfiction, including this book, greatly) act as if it's original or somehow unique. Are men so sheltered that they don't truly realize the difference between fantasy and reality? Do they never look around and notice that this girl has virtually nothing in common with them? You know, when a women (in literature) does it she's looked down on, like she's read one too many romance novels and needs to grow the hell up. But when men (in literature) do it it's portrayed as if it's noble. No matter how dorky the guy. No matter how ill-matched and unattainable the girl. And even after the fact, when it all goes to hell, there's no lightbulb moment that says, "Gee, I was wrong; I pursued that girl for the wrong reasons. No wonder this didn't work. This is all my fault."

I don't get this double standard, and I doubt I ever will. (less)

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Apr 07, 2013 Arielle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, epics-n-sequels, true

Frank McCourt has a definite sense of humor. His writing style exemplifies his curiosity on the newnesses in his life. Better than Angela's Ashes and not anywhere near as gross, 'Tis picks up right where Angela's Ashes left off. It took no time to get into--although it does slow down a little in the middle. The reader can jump right in to 'Tis without having to read Angela's Ashes. He is diligent about giving context, without retelling his last memoir. 'Tis stands on it's own.

In Angela's Ashes,...more

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About Frank McCourt

Francis "Frank" McCourt was an Irish-American teacher and author. McCourt was born in Brooklyn; however, his family returned to their native Ireland in 1934.

He received the Pulitzer Prize (1997) and National Book Critics Circle Award (1996) for his memoir Angela's Ashes (1996), which details his childhood as a poor Irish Catholic in Limerick. He is also the author of 'Tis (1999), which continues t...more

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Quotes from 'Tis

“It's not enough to be American. You always have to be something else, Irish-American, German-American, and you'd wonder how they'd get along if someone hadn't invented the hyphen” — 49 people liked it

“I told her tea bags were just a convenience for people with busy lives and she said no one is so busy they can't take time to make a decent cup of tea and if you are that busy you don't deserve a decent cup of tea for what is it all about anyway? Are we put into this world to be busy or to chat over a nice cup of tea?” — 42 people liked it

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avg rating	preview: 'Tis Goodreads rating: 3.57 (28131 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4912._Tis?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1165515800l/4912.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4912._Tis?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]'Tis by Frank McCourt[/url]

'Tis (Frank McCourt #2)

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