Review of Angela’s Ashes
Editor’s Note: Upon reviewing each book, I will be rating them in my personal opinion from 1 to 5 stars. While I am not a professional critic who’s final word makes or break the book, I do value the quality of writing regardless of whether I enjoy the book or not.
Being of Irish descendant, I was looking forward to reading this book because of the nostalgia that can only be found in Ireland. During a discussion at dinner with my parents, I mentioned how I would enjoy reading a book about Irish families during the first half of the 1900’s when they suggested Angela’s Ashes. As soon as I got the book, I plowed into it.
It was quite a shuffle as Frank McCourt, also the author of the book, introduces us to his family weaving back and forth between Ireland where his parents came from and Brooklyn where the first of his brothers and sisters were born.
His father who is a colorful character in this book fought for Ireland with the IRA and developed a taste for alcohol which the majority of the Irish has difficulties with. He always comes home after a night at the bars in a drunken stupor, singing a favorite Irish song of his, stumbling into their home, waking up his kids and asking them to die for Ireland.
Because he loved the motherland,
Because he loved the green
He goes to meet a martyr’s fate
With proud and joyous mien;
True to the last, oh! true to the last
He treads the upward way;
Young Roddy McCorley goes to die
On the bridge at Toome today
Right away, I knew it would be quite an interesting read with all the different Irish songs written throughout the book. Eventually, his father’s taste for the drink drove him out of work and Frank’s family was forced to move “back” to Ireland. This is where the story really begins.
My Recommendation
Buy this book if you love anything about Ireland. It is a terrific read and I look forward to reading it again some years later down the road. At first, I was a little disappointed because I wanted to know more about the “real world” of the Irish but then I realized it was the real world for one Irish family from Frank’s eyes. Now, I can truly appreciate the story more.
This book was also made into a movie, Angela’s Ashes
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