41 pages • 1 hour read
Angela's Ashes
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Book Brief
368
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Limerick, Ireland • 1930s-1940s
1996
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Angela’s Ashes is Frank McCourt's 1996 memoir recounting his challenging upbringing in the slums of Limerick, Ireland, detailing his family's struggles with poverty, his father's alcoholism, the deaths of siblings, and the impact of a strict Catholic culture on his development. Frank's journey from a young boy discovering a passion for literature to a 19-year-old emigrating to America is framed by rich anecdotes and interactions with the people of Limerick. The book includes vulgarity and scenes of a graphic sexual nature.
Melancholic
Bittersweet
Nostalgic
Emotional
Dark
Reviews & Readership
644,470 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt receives high praise for its poignant and evocative storytelling. Readers commend its vivid depiction of poverty in Ireland and McCourt's lyrical prose. Some critics note the repetitive nature of hardships described. Overall, the memoir is celebrated for its emotional depth and authenticity, though its relentless bleakness can be overwhelming.
Who Should Read Angela's Ashes?
A reader who appreciates poignant memoirs, vivid storytelling, and themes of poverty and resilience will enjoy Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. Fans of The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith will find McCourt's narrative equally compelling and heart-wrenching.
644,470 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Angela Sheehan
Angela Sheehan
Frank's mother, who navigates the difficulties of raising her children under impoverished circumstances, displaying resilience and assertiveness despite familial and societal challenges.
Malachy McCourt
Malachy McCourt
Frank's father from Northern Ireland, known for his struggles with alcoholism, which impacts the family's finances and dynamics, yet possesses a literate and proud nature.
Grandma Sheehan
Grandma Sheehan
The matriarch of the family, providing critical support to Angela and her children with a judgmental and often gruff demeanor, yet her help is essential to their survival.
368
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Limerick, Ireland • 1930s-1940s
1996
Adult
18+ years
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