Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt, #1) in Around the World in 80 Books

Jan 17, 2017 Nadine in NY Jones rated it liked it

Shelves: memoir-and-autobiographical-essays, lotsa-buzz, audio, ireland, pulitzer-winner, coming-of-age

I've avoided this book all these years, because (a) I usually hate "inspiring" books, and (b) my mother, who is a little bit younger than McCourt, and the grandchild of Irish immigrants to the US, did NOT like this book. But I've always been curious.

Everyone knows this opening line, right?

Worse than the ordinary, miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood.

This book is a real mixed bag. Parts of it are so dull I became angry w I've avoided this book all these years, because (a) I usually hate "inspiring" books, and (b) my mother, who is a little bit younger than McCourt, and the grandchild of Irish immigrants to the US, did NOT like this book. But I've always been curious.

Everyone knows this opening line, right?

Worse than the ordinary, miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood.

This book is a real mixed bag. Parts of it are so dull I became angry with the boredom, parts of it are so funny I laughed out loud (and I rarely laugh out loud while reading or listening to an audiobook), parts of it are interesting, parts sad, and parts reminded me of my grandparents (and then made me laugh because of it). I didn't realize how many of my grandparents' quirks and mannerisms were cultural!

At one point, Frank's grandmother is combing his hair and, irritated that he won't sit still, she tells him: "If you have anything to say, then shut up!" LOL My Nana never said exactly that, but she came close! What I did grow up hearing was: "shut up, it won't kill you!" (Which makes a few appearances here!)

At first I was really bored with this book. Gradually, it got more interesting, as the family moved back to Ireland and McCourt was recounting things he actually remembered. By the 75% point, I found myself actively looking forward to listening again. So, if you find yourself not liking this much, stick with it, and maybe skip ahead to the part where they are in Ireland.

Yes this is a sad story, but he really finds the humor in even the worst of situations. At first this didn't work for me, but it wasn't long before I was literally laughing out loud. The scene where they are about to be evicted and the roof caved in and the landlord is asking where the wall went really cracked me up.

The Irish are known for their tall tales, and for stretching the truth, and I have no doubt that some of that happened here. But I'm okay with that. You have only to look at the tales of Cúchulainn to know the Irish love a tall tale. McCourt is telling us that, every time he brings up Cúchulainn.

I listened to the audiobook, and while McCourt isn't the BEST reader I've ever heard, he does have charm (and of course he knows how to properly pronounce everything), and he is an excellent singer. The audiobook is worth it just for the songs. ...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Jana rated it really liked it

This was a remarkably good read. I was very saddened to think of the conditions this child grew up in.

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Aug 02, 2009 Madeleine rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, bio-memoir, series

man, this is SO good. and something i should have read years ago, but dismissed as being "some dumb irish thing," along the lines of irish boiled dinner (which is a legitimate Dumb Irish Thing imho). idiot in irish is "omaudhaun," or something along those lines and i want to research my irish roots now (cliche much) and apparently the british really really screwed ireland and somehow - despite all the years of irish boiled dinner and lectures re the potato famine - i failed to absorb this. ...more

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