Review of Angela's Ashes

Author Frank McCourt was born in Brooklyn and returned to Ireland at the age of four. Angela’s Ashes is the story of his childhood. Throughout the memoir McCourt illustrates many common themes in his childhood. Hunger, discrimination, rules of the Catholic church, and survival skills are all depicted throughout the novel. McCourt best paints the picture of the will to succeed and the strength to triumph through tragedy. He returned to America at the age of nineteen and was a high school English teacher for many years. McCourt published Angela’s Ashes in 1996 and the sequel to the book, Tis,’ was released in 1999.
Angela’s Ashes is the story of Frank McCourt’s childhood. The memoir begins in Brooklyn, explaining Frank’s parent’s childhoods, and their forced marriage due to Angela’s unexpected pregnancy. Malachy, Frank’s father, is an alcoholic who cannot hold down a job and the family experiences immense suffering. They decide to return to Limerick Ireland, yet f...