I read Angela’s Ashes a long time ago. I’m always very drawn to immigrants’ stories (maybe because part of my family also immigrated here). Frank McCourt talks about his difficult life as an Irishman living in the early-twentieth-century US (they were treated awfully, with people refusing to hire or even board them). He had to work in really crappy jobs, earning very little and struggling constantly to make a living.

He also managed to put himself through school and college, and got a teaching job in a public school. All this at the same time he was sending money home and trying to bring his siblings and mother to the US.

Having everything I could ever need in life, I can’t avoid admiring people who are able to change their lives with hard work and constance.

Besides, it is always interesting to read about regular people living through decisive parts of history. When I was in school I used to complain about how we only got to learn about “important” or “public” people. I wanted to hear how everyone else lived. McCourt was drafted for WWII, and fought in Germany before going to university.

So, I enjoyed this book. I loved McCourts voice and how compelling he makes his own story. Of course, that’s a thing that may be taken for granted, but it’s important to mention when someone is a good narrator. Give credit where credit is due.

McCourt’s life was very hard and it shows in the book, though not in a “please, pity my crappy life”. While it’s not nearly as sad as Angela’s Ashes, ’Tis also has a lot of emotional moments. His relationship with his mother and siblings is very touching. Just think of how much he worked so they could live better lives (or what they thought were better lives) in the US.

As I mentioned before, he does not really dwell in the sad and complicated parts of his life. That’s probably what I enjoyed most about this book. McCourt is very matter-of-fact about his life, and seems to be really positive on the subject. He doesn’t let his past define him, which I think it’s a brave and incredible thing to do. These experiences shaped him, of course, but they are not the only thing that did. His family, his friends and all that also made a huge impact in his life. He’s clearly more than just his pain and suffering. He is a brave man and that’s the important thing

I also loved that he doesn’t really paint himself as a hero. He talks about his marriage and how he ended up leaving his family when the relationship turned sour. He actually compared his leaving with his own father abandoning them.

The book ends with the death of both his parents: she in New York, and he in Ireland. The brothers had to deal with the two funerals and so on, which was one of the most poignant moments in the book.
It’s a really good book, and you should totally read it.