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 i... (show 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.
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This and "'Tis" are probably my favorite books - they are one continuous story. In fact, my personal belief is that it was one manuscript that the ... (show more)
This and "'Tis" are probably my favorite books - they are one continuous story. In fact, my personal belief is that it was one manuscript that the publisher cut in two for whatever reason, in fact the title "Angela's Ashes" doesn't make much sense until you read 'Tis. So from here on in this review is for both books even if I refer to them as one. I was feeling depressed and had nothing to read so asked my wife for a book. Without having read it, she handed me "Angela's Ashes". Perhaps not the best frame of mind to be in for this book - I kept looking at the authors picture on the back of the book to assure myself that he does if fact, survive. His life story is one that begins in abject poverty. Poverty of the level of no shoes, often no food, and no hope. This is in part a story of survival, not just physically surviving, but surviving without hating the world, without feeling the world owes me, with the capability to still work towards self improvement. It's not hope so much as it is spirit - McCourt's ability to maintain his spirit throughout all he endured. And this comes through in his writing with a wit and humor rarely matched. I often caught myself laughing out loud, then feeling guilty for laughing as the situation in the book was horrible, but then I would realize that that was exactly what the author wanted, to take this insanely difficult life and still be able to laugh at life's moments. I almost included this book in my "funny" list, it's that humorous, but it is also so heart wrenching I chose not to include it in that list.
After reading this story you may very well not look at life in quite the same way - and you will definitely never view your own problems the same way again! (show less)
This book was so dry compared to Angela's Ashes ... I loved Angela's Ashes, and even though this book got bad reviews I was still willing to give i... (show more)
This book was so dry compared to Angela's Ashes ... I loved Angela's Ashes, and even though this book got bad reviews I was still willing to give it a try. But I had a hard time getting through it. He was just never happy, and while we all know the Irish didn't have a great time when they first got to America, he just kept on about how oppressed he was, and how terrible it was, and whine whine whine. After Angela's Ashes you expect to read about him pushing through things and keeping his head up and doing great, but in this book he just kept messing up, and then complaining about how horrible it was ... oh well (show less)
"Mam makes the tea and it's good to see she has decent cups and saucers now not like the old days when we drank from jam jars." pg 105
So....this book drew me in, captured me with the reality and truthfulness, even soothed me on occasion...but coming from my owm life I couldn't find myself quite able to be in the time/places captured always. The above sentence struck me. Funny thing, I read and reread it, that simple sentence. I marked the page. I brought it up to my husband. We,... (show more)
"Mam makes the tea and it's good to see she has decent cups and saucers now not like the old days when we drank from jam jars." pg 105
So....this book drew me in, captured me with the reality and truthfulness, even soothed me on occasion...but coming from my owm life I couldn't find myself quite able to be in the time/places captured always. The above sentence struck me. Funny thing, I read and reread it, that simple sentence. I marked the page. I brought it up to my husband. We, coming from middle-class-ish families of the 1970's here in America, now think that the cups and saucers passed down from generations are better for children's tea parties or stashed in the attic....and we collect jam jars to drink from finding in that novelty and fun. I should find gratitude in that, shouldn't I? Instead it makes me a bit sad... (show less)
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I bought the book Angela's Ashes at a used book store in Oromocto a few years ago. It was in the cheap bin and the hard cover jacket looked interesting. I picked it up not knowing anything about the author so I read the blurb on the back and the first couple of pages which is a vivid description of Irsh proverty around the turn of the century. It had my attention and I bought it for I think four dollars. I thought it was an amazing story that is hard to believe is true. It is also as funny... (show more)
I bought the book Angela's Ashes at a used book store in Oromocto a few years ago. It was in the cheap bin and the hard cover jacket looked interesting. I picked it up not knowing anything about the author so I read the blurb on the back and the first couple of pages which is a vivid description of Irsh proverty around the turn of the century. It had my attention and I bought it for I think four dollars. I thought it was an amazing story that is hard to believe is true. It is also as funny at times as it is tragic. It's one of those fun stories that you wished didn't end and doesn't because he wrote 2 other books telling the story of his life and hardships. I can relate to the story somewhat having grown up in Newfoundland and heard the stories of some familys from my parents and grandparents generations of how hard life was in Newfoundland at a time when most of Canada and the States lived in relativly modern comfort and can't fathom that people lived that way. My grandfather (pop) used to tell stories of hardship in a funny way that only someone who has gone through it and survived can. I was reading teacher man and was just about finished when I heard that the author had died. Teacher man should I guess be read last and Tis second but it doesn't matter if you eventally read all three. It's one story. After that I had to read Tis to know the whole story and all three tell an amazing story of hardship and finally getting ahead over the course of his life. A great story that makes you appreciate what you have in life! (show less)
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After reading this book, I give a big thumbs up that I was so lucky to have been born and raised in Canada.
Sylvia Alliston about 1 month agoThis book has been added to these lists:
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