Angela's Ashes: Book Review

A very touching read where the reader suffers through the narration about the author Frank McCourt’s childhood. The poverty pictured in this Pulitzer-winning-memoir is very heart wrenching; the survival of a family amidst dirty rags, lack of food, illness and infections, an alcoholic father and children who appear and disappear. Frank McCourt starts his tale by introducing how his Irish parents meet each other in America, leading us into his birth and also his parents' wedding. After Frank's birth his family grows by the head-count, but shrinks monetarily, while his father thrives on alcoholism, instead of making their ends meet. The tragic death of their little sister shatters Frank’s mother-Angela, and deteriorates her health. But other than whining and blaming her husband - Malachy, Angela does not seem to take any drastic measures to better her family. With such hopeless parents, Frank's maternal relatives intervene and arrange the whole family to be shipped back to Ireland. They first stop at his paternal grandparents’ place where they spend a day. Next day they briefly visit Dublin en-route to Limerick (Angela's place). The family tehn arrives at and settles in the slums of Limerick. Frank articulates for us, all the hardships they go through, deaths in the family and the misdeeds of his parents. He also gives the reader a sneak- peek into his growing mind, his adaptability to the circumstances and yet an undying hope to lead a better life.

Angela’s ashes made me think of how people are afflicted with poverty - sometimes by their own actions and sometimes by sheer chance. Even if it is for a moment, this book compels the reader with humility towards what they already possess. The book gave me a good glimpse into the Irish culture and religion. I have seen directly/indirectly how poverty prevails in India, read stories and saw movies about poverty in some developing/under-developed countries; but, I always wondered, how it is in the Western countries. I also got this book from the library, but am going to return it back; it is too much of sadness I can take at the moment. Have to put it off until I am ready for another gutsy read. BTW, the only thing I could not understand was the ending of the book. Since it is a memoir, I did not expect it to have a framed plot & ending, however, I could not understand what the author wanted to convey about his future.

Image Source: http://www.impawards.com/1999/angelas_ashes.html