Book Review

Angela’s Ashes
by Frank McCourt
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: o-684-87435-o                                             First Review by Debbie

I read the book Angela's Ashes and I was truly amazed that it was true. I love reading
about the old days and this is a book about Frank McCourts (the author) misfortunes
during his childhood in Limerik, Irland. It is sad at times and you cant think "this is only
a book" but still the best read in a long time.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.
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SECOND REVIEW   by Helen Montgomery
    This astounding novel spent weeks on bestsellers lists and won many awards for
its excellent message. It is a memoir of Frank McCourt's life in the slums of
Ireland.
    Angela's Ashes is written from the perspective of Angela's first-born son,
Francis McCourt, the author of the novel. Angela and her husband, Malachy, are
both born and raised in Ireland and immigrate to America where they meet and
marry. Angela gives birth to four sons, Francis, Malachy Jr. and twins, Eugene
and Oliver. Angela also has a daughter, Margaret. The McCourts return to Ireland
with their children after the grief they are struck by when young Margaret dies
from malnutrition and tuberculosis.
    When in Limerick, the McCourts are welcomed by neither family nor the neighbors.
Angela's insensitive mother tosses them out on the streets declaring she has no
room for them in her house. They were forced to find a poor shack where fleas
feasted on their skin while sleeping at night.
    Being from the despised Northern Ireland, Malachy finds it hard to find a job
and when he does he drinks away his wages leaving the family destitute. After
finally settling into the neighborhood in Ireland, Angela loses Oliver and
Eugene to tuberculosis and the fever. Unable to cope, Angela forces Malachy Jr.
and Francis to spend much of their time outdoors while she rests.
    Angela has two more boys, Michael and Alphie. Malachy is unable to support his
family and Angela is often left to beg from charities in order to keep her
family alive. Francis is neglected by his parents and many of the Irish people.
As he grows older he deepens his understanding of sex and involves himself in
sexual acts, which he later regrets. His religion makes him feel extremely
guilty for these "dirty" acts. He begins to take on many more responsibilities
such as living with his uncle away from his family and finding work in order to
support himself.
    This novel grabs a hold of you and pulls you into the story, forcing you to feel
what it's like to live in the slums. Although McCourt lived a very rough life he
managed to pull out a few humorous scenes in his story. McCourt's novel won the
National Book Critics Circle Award as well as the 1997 Pulitzer Award. This
novel is so good that it's hard to put down once you start into it. It touches
you emotionally in ways that you never thought would. This book is an easy read
and is a highly recommended novel. It's very poetic and forces you to think
about your situation and be grateful for what you have. For anyone who does not
like to read or who finds reading boring I promise that this one will keep you
yearning for more.

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