Angela's Ashes
109. Frank McCourt, Angela’s Ashes
In this Pulitzer-winning memoir, Frank McCourt tells the story of his childhood in Limerick, Ireland. He writes about the grinding poverty, the constant hunger, the illnesses, the death of two brothers and a sister, his father’s alcoholism, his mother’s begging to make ends meet. He tells stories about his days in school, the odd jobs he takes to make ends meet, and his dream of going to America to have a better life someday. His picture of Ireland is a grim one, yet it’s clear that he loves the country and the people. And, despite all the suffering in his childhood, McCourt’s sense of humor and joy still comes through.
I guess it’s obvious that I enjoyed this book very much. :) I liked how McCourt narrates in his childhood voice, and especially how he includes all the uniquely Irish phrases. I was also especially interested in his first encounters with literature: reading to an old blind man down the street, hearing the words of Shakespeare for the first time, writing a composition for school entitled “Jesus and the Weather,” etc. Anyone with Irish blood in his or her veins should enjoy this book, as well as anyone looking for an enjoyable, interesting memoir.