Angela's Ashes

By: Frank McCourt, Jeannette Walls - introduction

Narrated by: Frank McCourt, Jeannette Walls - introduction

Length: 15 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Biography/Autobiography, 1997

National Book Critics Circle, Biography/Autobiography, 1997

Frank McCourt's Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, movingly read in his own voice, bears all the marks of a classic. Born in Depression-era Brooklyn to Irish immigrant parents, Frank was later raised in the slums of Limerick, Ireland. His mother, Angela, had no money to feed her children since Frank's father, Malachy, rarely worked, and when he did, he drank his wages. Angela's Ashes is the story of how Frank endured - wearing shoes repaired with tires, begging for a pig's head for Christmas dinner, and searching the pubs for his father - a tale he relates with eloquence, exuberance, and remarkable forgiveness.

Listen to Frank McCourt talk about this book on C-SPAN's Booknotes (7/11/97).

©1997 Frank McCourt, All Rights Reserved (P)1997 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved, Audioworks is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"Frank McCourt is a marvelous writer whose words are made all the better when he reads them aloud..." (Bookpage)

"...one of the best I've heard in years." (The Boston Globe)

"...so good it deserves a sequel" (The New York Times)

"Here we have the stereotypical Irish characters - the drunken poet father; the all-suffering mother; the miserable, hungry kids being turned away by a haughty Church - all made three-dimensional and brought fully to life by both McCourt's language and his loving, intimate narration.... Grim it is - but the tale and its teller transcend the poverty - and so does the listener, who glories in the story and voice from beginning to end." (AudioFile)

THE BEST STORY EVER WRITTEN

What did you love best about Angela's Ashes?

It was told in a folksy manner with no emphasis on the family's tragic life.

What did you like best about this story?

It was told in such a light, off handed manner.

Have you listened to any of Frank McCourt and Jeannette Walls - introduction ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Also listened to his other books - Teacher Man, 'Tis

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was the best, the most poignant story ever told. I cried a lot.

I Have Read This Book At Least 5 Times

Where does Angela's Ashes rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I think this is by far my favorite because of who is reading it and, it being his own story, Frank McCourt is able to read it with so much humor and feeling that it makes the story. I have read the book 3 plus times and just got the Audio version this week. I completed the Audio version already and have gone back and flipped around to other parts. Most of the other audio books I have aren't worth re-listening to because the narrator's voice grates on you after awhile the first time through. Frank McCourt is smooth as Irish Whiskey. ;) I have bought this book for family and friends and even donated a copy to the church library.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Angela's Ashes?

MY FAVORITE part of the story is when he has his first Communion. I don't want to give it away, but I laugh so hard everytime I read it, watch it in the movie or now, hear it being read by Frank McCourt. "Now I have God in me backyard and what am I to do??" says his Grandma.

What about Frank McCourt and Jeannette Walls - introduction ’s performance did you like?

Jeanette Walls, while writing some pretty incredible bios herself, didn't add much to the intro for me. I skimmed over it when reading and when she narrated it, I actually listened through. She basically just gave a short version of his life story that was much better told by him in his own words and his own voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There was a point when the first baby died in New York causing the entire family to move to Ireland. The grief experienced by the father over the loss of his baby daughter gave him a much more human side than the rest of the book. You reflect on these moments when you are hating him throughout the remainder of the book.

Any additional comments?

A must read. It is a bio with humor, history, emotion and just a wonder to listen to being told in the author's voice. I cannot tell you much other than it is a wonderful piece of bio that I am so glad he shared with us. As someone of English and Irish decent, it caused me to look into this conflict further as I was unaware it was THIS bad. Is it embellished? Sure, I am fairly certain some is for effect, but most isn't, I would be willing to bet. Many will say it is made up. Irish didn't like it and the Catholic church didn't like the telling of it, but having married into an "Old German Catholic Church" family as a "Protestant from the North", I can tell you, his version of the tale of growing up Catholic in Ireland is more than likely true as I can attest to some of the thoughts of Old Catholics he refers to in his story are still held by my in-laws. :)

Not quite what I expected

Would you listen to Angela's Ashes again? Why?

No because it's just not entertaining enough.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were many poignant scenes.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I had to listen a little at a time. I was engaged enough to want to finish the book, but I wasn't compelled to listen all at once. It got boring after awhile.

Any additional comments?

While I do see why this is an important book, I was disappointed overall. I loved the author as the narrator, though.

Enlightening and enjoyable

I liked it and really enjoyed it...bit it was also upsetting and enlightening. What a horribly difficult time for the characters...and it's true. But the author includes joy and humor and it makes a lovely read.

6 Stars

I wish that I could give this book 6 stars because it was just outstanding. The writing and narration drew you in immediately to Franks tragic world. But as bad as his life is, he manages to insert humor into the story at every chance he gets. Funny, poignant and dramatic, this book has it all!

Humor among the bleakness

Enjoyed the perspective of the maturing child. well worth the listen. The narrator and author's Irish accent added to the experience but was easy for this American's ears to follow.

How thing are Well

🔹The story was great. Very real which that's what I wanted. The ending is a little abrupt, maybe, after mentioning America so many times, and he ends up in some kind of bar/brothel ... and then . At least he's with a priest to get him to a better place. The ending is why I only gave ❄❄❄❄ instead of
❄❄❄❄❄🔹

An unexpected pleasure

I didn't expect this story to follow the path that it did, but I was glad that it did !

Great book

Bought this to listen to on a recent road trip through Ireland. It really enhanced the drive and made me want to visit all of the places described in the story. I found myself laughing most of the time just from the authors unique way of describing people and situations. Was sad when it ended.

A vera good book

It was wonderfully written and rightfully so in the perspective of a young lad who is learning the ways of the world.
I appreciate the story of his journey.