Comments on: Och Aye! Author of Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt Dies

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:17:20 +0000

The Glass Castle is one of my all-time favorite books. Her family makes mine look like the Cleavers. I’ll have to check this one out.

By: Jenni in KS

Jenni in KS — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:08:10 +0000

I’ve never read Angela’s Ashes because my mom said it was mostly just depressing. However, I read The Glass Castle (which I heard about here and over on Nancy’s blog), and it is now in my list of favorites. I gave my mom my copy to read, and she didn’t care for it. Now that I think about it, though we do sometimes like the same books, I think my mom and I have very different perspectives on life which make it hard for her to like a book like The Glass Castle. I found it very inspiring while she found it depressing. I think I may give Angela’s Ashes a try. So far I’ve liked the books you’ve recommended, and perhaps I’m missing out on a really great one here.

By: Saundra

Saundra — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:46:10 +0000

I loved “Angela’s Ashes”. I read it when it came out and it definitely stayed with me. I love a book that stays with you. I was always telling my extremely picky son how precious an egg is, I’m sure he’s sick of hearing it. It was a precious commodity in Frank McCourt’s house in Ireland and I can’t forget that.

By: bdaiss

bdaiss — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:11:05 +0000

Such a loss for those of us left here. I loved Angela’s Ashes when I read it, but I never did read the other two. Maybe I’ll have to read all three.

By: jamoody

jamoody — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:04:37 +0000

Loved Angela’s Ashes and ‘Tis….He was an incredible author…made you feel every emotion.

By: km

km — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:56:59 +0000

You might like Teacher Man as well. Tis didn’t do it for me, Angela’s Ashes was awesome. Caused a lot of controversy at home in Ireland though. They were uncomfortable with facing the past.
Teacher Man I related to as an immigrant coming to NY. He describes the incongruities so well. I got a kick out of him in the classroom.
On the NYTimes website there are some awesome tributes by his former students at Stuyvesant High.

By: Lady Fi

Lady Fi — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 07:27:42 +0000

Angela’s Ashes – what an astounding book!

And you are right – laughing at ourselves is the path to … mental health and raised eyebrows.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:41:39 +0000

My cousin introduced me to Frank McCourt just a couple of years ago. I just loved his way of storytelling, and yes, his stories just really give us a new perspective, don’t they?

By: Southern Gal

Southern Gal — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:48:12 +0000

You know, I’m racking my brain trying to remember if I finished Angela’s Ashes. I know I started it sometime, but never remember finishing it. I don’t know the reason I would have put it down without finishing it. I’ll have to check it out and try again.

You’re right about laughter. My daddy made sure his girls laughed every single day…even when he didn’t feel like laughing himself. I certainly don’t do the job as well as he did/does. My kids love being around their granddaddy for that very reason.

By: Clayvessel

Clayvessel — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:09:42 +0000

I just finished listening to him a few minutes ago in an interview with Terry Gross on NPR. I read the book years ago and remember how wrenching a read it was. It was the first time I’d read a book about a life that was so desperate and dismal. Books like that give perspective. He wrote without bitterness or self-pity. His second book “‘Tis” was not quite as affecting to me.

I’m trying to make sure my kids have some hardship to laugh at. Builds character.

(kidding. kind of.)