Who loved and who hated Angela's Ashes?

[atpeace]

And why?

I've finished my latest book (I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb, which was fabulous), and Angela's Ashes is sitting on my shelf staring at me. I will start it today. Please share what you loved or hated about it. Thanks!

[Alyantavid]

I loved it. I love the way he writes. Its not a happy-go-lucky book by any means and some parts were heartbreaking.

I did enjoy it alot.

[fek&fuzz]

Very depressing.

[plantmama]

I thought it was good. It was definitely not the book I expected. I thought Angela would be portrayed as a martyr but he expresses a lot of disgust with her as well as love.
It's soooo hard to read because they are completely starving. They basically drink tea and eat small amounts of bread. It's a miracle Frank Mc Court grew up to have half a brain he was so malnourished.
It's a good story though.

[grapejuicemama]

I read it years ago, but loved it. It's definitely not a happy read, but there is some humor in it. I also read 'Tis which comes after Angela's Ashes.

Enjoy!

[Oriole]

loved it

[superstella]

I really enjoyed it too, but it definitely was not a light-hearted read.

[Valkyrie9]

Hated it. When the best thing that happens to a family is that they find a rotting sheep's head to eat, I just have to say, "That's too grim." I read mainly to escape and while I'll stick it out for a lot of rough themes, that one just had no redemption or joy in it at all. And then I was dumb and read "Tis" thinking, "It's got to get better. This is going to be the one where something good happens to him." I was wrong.

[choli]

I think a lot of it passes over the heads of people who are not used to the Irish sense of black humor. I thought it was a pretty funny book.

[Leisha]

Loved it.
It's been a couple of years since i read it but i remember it being very sad but with some humour in it. also, the way it's written is good. while being sad (exremely sad at times), it's never "oh look how tragic we were" (which would annoy me).

My boyfriend is irish and a lot of things were very recognisable to me (like the drinking... sigh).

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by Leisha

also, the way it's written is good. while being sad (exremely sad at times), it's never "oh look how tragic we were" (which would annoy me).

Yes! I also read Tis and Teacher Man. I think if you don't like Angela's Ashes, you probably wouldn't like the other ones either.

[Mrs.Oz]

Originally Posted by choli

I think a lot of it passes over the heads of people who are not used to the Irish sense of black humor. I thought it was a pretty funny book.

Exactly. I loved it because reading it was like listening to my great aunt talk or hearing stories from my mom about her family (all from Ireland). I initially read it after it became popular, than re-read it about a month ago. I couldn't put it down this second time around. It's full of heartache, but it's not dismal and doom IMO. I like that I alternately cried and laughed even in the same paragraph.

[syd'smom]

I read it ages ago and really didn't like it. Can't remember all the details now, but I remember finishing it just to be able to say that yes I had read the whole thing and still didn't like it. It was well written, of course, just not my cup of tea.

[MoonWillow]

I loved it but yes its very dark, especially because its true.

What I loved was the dry humor infused throughout but that tends to float my boat with any book.
Frank McCourt is a brilliant writer IMO.

I wasn't a mother when I first read it though. Not sure if I could have handled it at this stage of my life.

I'd say of you are very empathetic, it may be a tough read. You could always try a few pages and see how it feels.

[zinemama]

I thought he was an amazing writer, terrific with voice. It was a very compelling book.

That said, it pretty much confirmed my feeling that if I had to go back in time, one of the top ten places I would steer the time machine's dial away from would be toward being a Catholic woman in Ireland in the 1950's .

[Ms Apricot]

Hated it. Thought it was tiresome, repetive, dull. Did not find the people or the events in the least bit interesting - wanted to shake some sense into every single one of the adults.

I kept on reading it in the belief that at some point it would improve and reveal something wortwhile of all of the critical acclaim. I was completely disappointed.

Yes, I'm sure there is something fundamentally wrong with me, since eveyone else seems to love it!

[BugMacGee]

Soooooo depressing. Guess I need more rainbows and butterflies having had my own alcoholic husband.

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by Leisha

My boyfriend is irish and a lot of things were very recognisable to me (like the drinking... sigh).

Well dh and I are Irish, and the drinking was not recognisable to us.

[Valkyrie9]

Originally Posted by Ms Apricot

Yes, I'm sure there is something fundamentally wrong with me, since eveyone else seems to love it!

I am right there with ya, girl.

[PhotoJournMama]

I read this book and really enjoyed it.

I read mostly non-fiction, so this style of writing really appeals to me. I found it engaging, interesting, heartbreaking, hilarious, dark - I couldn't put it down. I love to read peoples real accounts of their lives, and Frank McCourt certainly didn't paint it up to be rosier or sappier than it truly was. It is brutally honest, and if you are okay with that then it is a good read.

I have also read Tis, but haven't gotten around to Teacher Man yet.