Boy, just when I was starting to think "how could life for this family get much worse?," it gets worse once they move to Ireland! They are greeted by grim relatives who are hardly willing to help them get settled, they move from one horrible apartment to the next, Malachy Sr. continues to drink away any income that is brought home, and two more kids die. And once Frank and Malachy Jr. are old enough to attend school, they are forced to endure the nastiest school masters, who seem more interested in whipping the students than in teaching them. It is amazing to me that the spirits of these surviving kids are not broken by all their hardships. Still, snippets of humor are woven among these sad, sad descriptions. I particularly enjoyed Malachy's reference to the horse dung (on the way to one of the funerals) as well as "going upstairs to Italy."
Also, I was upset when reading that Angela had ANOTHER baby. Instead of continuing to have kids that she can't properly care for, I wish she would have taken Frank and Malachy Jr. (there was a small gap of time when she had just the two kids!), left her basically good-for-nothing husband, and tried to find a job for herself, while the boys were in school. Who knows, she may even have had a better crack at finding work than her husband did, since she didn't have a drinking problem or that darned North-of-Ireland accent... I don't know which of the following is holding her back the most: the fact that women just didn't do that sort of thing at that time; the fact that Catholics don't approve of divorce; or her own weakness/ignorance. Whatever the reason, I am getting increasing annoyed by the paralysis of this family!
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The more Angela's Ashes that I read,the less sympathy I have for Angela. I understand divorce is frowned upon and she is stuck between a rock and a hard place,but this doesn't necessarily mean bringing more children into the world is going to make her life happier in fact,it's causing more stress,worrying about illnesses/possible death and finding money for another mouth to feed.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for Frank and his brother because they've had more than their fair share of depressing moments and yet,instead of more love and attention being given to them, all of the attention goes to another child that is being born or they are still not being properly taken care of since their father is an irresponsible drunk.
I loved the story of the angel on the seventh step and like Lindsey,the "going upstairs to Italy".
Frank's story telling is not bitter despite his depressing childhood which makes you feel compassion as you read the book.
I would have to agree with Brittany that I feel bad for Frank and Malachy. Their mother has Michael and they continue to not get as much attention from their parents as they need to. Even though there is not much mention of the new baby throughout the chapters, I am sure there is more attention towards Michael than Frank and Malachy. On the other had they are used to not getting much attention so I would assume they don't know any different. I would have to also agree with Lindsay on the fact that the teachers of the school are more interested in whipping the boys than teaching them. Things are very strict and they can't even ask any questions without being punished.
ReplyDeleteChapter II
This was quite a lengthy chapter. A lot happened throughout the chapter. When they arrive in Ireland they don’t get a warm and welcoming arrival. Both sets of Frank’s grandparents are cold and mean. Angela’s mother is better than Malachy’s mother. She helps them for a night and provides some food. She also helps them find a place to stay. It is nothing great but it’s a place to stay. Once they get there and head to bed there is only more troubles. The bed is full of fleas and attacking the children. They try to rid the fleas and a passer-by gives them a helpful hint. Later we find out it was Uncle Pa. It is quiet sad that poor Oliver passes away. There seems to be no hope for this family. They move again to get away from the death and move to a place by a school which seems to be very strict. The teachers are mean and the children must follow many rules if they do not want to be whipped. I liked the part when Angela goes behind Malachy to the dole collection and takes the money in front of all the other men and embarrasses Malachy. It’s about time she takes control of him so he doesn’t go spend all the money on the pint. Again more death comes along with Eugene. At this point it seems routine for the McCourt family. Frank is losing his siblings one by one.
Chapter III
The McCourt family has to move again because Angela cannot stand another minute in the place that Eugene had died. They find a place for six shillings a week and it has an upstairs. They soon find out that there is only one lavatory for the entire street and the smells are very strong. It is around Christmas time and the cold weather helps with the smell. It is the rainy season and when it rains all the water from the streets rush down to the end of the lane where they live and in under the door. It turns there downstairs into a lake. They move upstairs and call it Italy. They try to find some food for Christmas dinner but all they can afford is a pig’s head. The other children make fun of Frank once they see he is carrying a pig’s head. Christmas morning rolls around and they have their sausages that the butcher kindly gave them. Dinner time came along and there was not enough coal to keep the pig’s head boiling to Frank and his brother goes out and scavenges for coal bits. Uncle Pa stumbles upon them and takes them to a pub that he is a regular at and they get real coal which is plenty for the pig’s head. Angela is having back pains lately and it turns out she has another child, Michael. There were men from the St. Vincent de Paul that came and Angela was hoping maybe they’d get more shillings because of Michael. Malachy gets a job and when payday comes he doesn’t come home. Drinks all his money away and is too drunk to wake up and go to work and loses his job. The family is back in the hole.
Chapter IV
This was quite an interesting chapter. Frank is preparing for his first communion day. He is classes and the teacher is very mean. He spits all over the children because he is always yelling about something. Mickey Molloy the son of the champion pint drinker Peter Molloy is turned out to be not a real Christian. He is a cross eyed boy who is older than Frank and tells him some stories. He tells him one story about how Cuchulain came upon his wife known as Great Bladdered Emer. Frank has to tell his sins to the priest and he does not know what to tell him. Once Mickey told him the story of Emer and he heard a swear word, Mickey told him he had a sin that he was told a story with a swear word in it and that is what he must tell the priest. Frank is all worried that if he tells this to the priest he may become like Mickey and not a real Christian. Everything turns out okay and Frank is relieved. On communion day he sleeps in and his grandmother comes to help him get ready. He almost misses first communion but just makes it. Afterwards he eats at his grandma’s house and later pukes up the body of god in her back yard. She goes crazy and drags him to the church to the confession. His grandma seems very controlling and dramatic. Things turn out okay and Frank gets to see James Cagney.
Chapter V
The chapter is full of events. It starts off saying how this person is not supposed to talk to this person and this other person not to this person. It’s confusing on who all is talking to whom. It seems as though the people in town hold grudges against people if there is just one thing they don’t like about them. Angela seems to have this notion that Frank needs to learn the dance of Ireland. Frank is against this very much and does not want to be there at all. He is afraid that other boys will see him and make fun of him and call him a sissy. One day he decided not to go and every Saturday after that he didn’t go until he was caught. If I were him I probably would have done the same thing. There seems to be a lot of mention about religion and being a good catholic. Something else that I found interesting is that fact that Franks parents tell him how smoking is bad for you and could kill you yet they sit there and smoke. Isn’t that so true in the world today as well? They end up getting false teeth and still smoke the fags. There is not much mention of baby Michael in this chapter or the previous chapter. I assume he is doing well. Another thing that is confusing me is that Franks parents both smoke, his father drinks, and hey are paying for dance lessons? Why are they spending all the money on those things when they could be improving their lifestyles?
Jonathan Taylor
These first few chapters of Angela’s Ashes have opened my eyes. I feel as though I never have the right to complain about any unfortunate aspect of my life after reading about Frank’s childhood and how “heroic” I think he is. Frank is only a child in these chapters but he has had to put up with many hardships that would make a grown man crack. He has had brother’s and sister’s die, he goes hungry almost everyday, and the condition of his homes have always been…less than perfect. None the less, Frank has gone through all of his struggles with a smile on his face. If I lived Frank’s life, I would have given up long ago and I would have forgotten how to smile. Even though he is a child, I think we could all learn valuable lessons from Frank. I have heard the phrase “Faith like a child” before and I think that all people need to construct their lives around that idea. Whether it be faith in God, faith in your family, or faith in yourself, I think that our world would be in a much better place than it is now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brittany when she says that she feels little sympathy for Angela. The mother of the family could learn a few things from Frank…like how to be an adult. She needs to be stronger for her children and try to provide a better life for them.
I agree with Mitch about having faith like a child. Frank and his brother both seem to have hope in life, despite their situation. They have dreams and they belive in hope. Yet Malachy and Angela seem to have a lot of faith in God and Ireland, but no faith in their family. They smoke cigerrettes and sit around and act like things are hopeless, but they are just adding to the problem by being so hopeless themselves. I hate how immature they are; Frank is so much more mature than his parents who have 3 some years on him: ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteChapter 1 - It is so sad that the baby died. The depression is a horrible thing, and death magnifies the hopelessness of America. I had high hoped that things would be better for the family in Ireland.
Chapter 2 - When the family gets to Ireland, Frank encounters a very bad experience with heartless grandparents. The grandparents did give the family one meal, but then they threw them out. It was mostly because Malachy is form the North, but also because the house is packed already and they can't afford to feed another 6 people. I also agree with jtayl22 about how Angela was justified in taking the dole before Malachy could be a d-bag and spend it on beer. I can't stand his immaturity, he needs kicked in the face a few times.
Chapter 3 - 5: alot happens in these chapters. The things that pisses me off is that Malachy just keeps losing his jobs over drinking: what a loser. The whole time that the family is nearly starving, malachy and Angela are smoking, i can't get over how horrible that is; starving kids and they still have to smoke(which is bad for the kids anyway). Frank thinks he is going to hell because he listened to Mikey's story about the pissing women but the priest reassures him that the sin is not too bad. I like this story alot because as it progresses there are a lot of depressing things going on but the mood is one of a light humor. The story has the unique ability to make you cry and laugh at the same time; very good writing.
I agree with what Mitch said, looking at Frank and his problems my problems seem very insignificant. I do appreciate what I have because not everyone gets that in life.
ReplyDeleteAs the story progresses and Frank gets older, he still has the innocence in him. He thinks he has committed a sin by listening to a boy talk about “dirty” things. He still talks to his imaginary friend who understands him without questioning him. You can tell that schools back than didn’t let kids grow as individuals like they do know. When the school master doesn’t allow them to ask questions he isn’t helping them learn. I went to a school where we would get punished for not doing exactly what the teacher asked of us. Coming to America and attending classes here showed me that still some countries don’t allow the kids to be all that they can be.
I was also wondering, it shows the McCourt family going to the doctor so many times during the book but where do they get the money from? Back than did they have charity or a health system that allowed them to get treated without money? We can’t even afford to get surgery on our tonsils without having insurance because it is so expensive.
I liked Thomas’s summary of chapter 2. I was also surprised that neither sets of grandparents seemed to be very charitable. If you can’t count on your own family, who can you count on in Ireland? It is sad how the McCourts are discriminated against wherever they go. When they’re in America, they are looked down upon because they are Irish immigrants. In Ireland, they are discriminated against because of their American possessions (i.e. Frank & Malachy’s American coats). Malachy Senior’s Northern Irish accent doesn’t help them either. This poor family just can’t catch a break! They are never treated with respect and are always looked down upon.
ReplyDeleteI was very upset about the coal and pig’s head situation- it was truly sad. Malachy could have sucked it up and gotten some coal with the rest of his family. I was even more upset by the fact that Malachy brought the coffin into the bar and actually went so far as to set his drinks on it! This man is truly ill- he is overcome with his disease: alcoholism. Like so many others, he is paralyzed by addiction. Angela, on the other hand, seems to be paralyzed by religion and the society around her.
I thought that the part about Frank’s first communion was funny. He ate too much at his grandma’s and she freaked out because she thought “God was in her backyard”. I was sad that Frank didn’t get his communion money, since his grandma took him to the church during that time. I am also surprised that other families actually had it worse than the McCourts- wow! I can’t even imagine.
As much as how I felt sympathy for the McCourt family as their condition continued to worsen, I enjoyed Frank’s constant bits of humor. He has this charm in his writing, where he is able to describe different scenarios in a way that would touch his readers’ heart where readers would cry and laugh along with his writing. I couldn’t help laughing when I was reading about Cuchulain’s wife or when Malachy got a toffee because he stick his dad’s teeth into his mouth.
ReplyDeleteIt was frustrating for me when I read about Angela having another baby—Michael. They had no money, and it had been so hard surviving, but yet, they still welcome another baby. What if Michael will not survive like Margaret or Eugene or Oliver? I also cannot forgive Frank’s parents for their need of cigarettes. I understand that they do not have much food and cigarettes may help with suppressing their appetite, but I feel gross about how their lungs and teeth get bad because of smoking. The more I read into Angela’s Ashes, the less I feel sympathy for Angela. How irresponsible of her that she would ask the kids to stay outside (even when it is freezing cold outside!) when her friend comes over. She also does not really take care of her children.
I was really sad when Frank was not accepted as an altar boy. It was like a reality check. He was not accepted because they are poor. It made me felt really sad. How unfair life can be.
I agree with Winnie that Frank still remain innocent in what is happening around him, i think he has lived seeing his family going through hard times and he has always accepted their situation as inborn and may not change.
ReplyDeleteThe whole story doen not seem to get better for this family, even after moving to Ireland hoping fpr a better life, they end up being worse. The climatic condition of Ireland does not go well with the young kids. Pneumonia is common and the fact that Angela does not know the symptoms of it, they end up losing a child. Lack of enough food is also making the chlgren unhealthy and thus prone to diseases. What i find intresting is how Angela and Malachy never learn. Angela continue to give birth to more children and they cant even support the ones they already have.
The hatred between those who supported the british and those who were against the british bring a division between them, most people in the lane does not talk to one another.I wonder how a society can live under this situation.
The theme of religion plays a role also, most people are catholics and the importance of the first communion is a big thing for the children.Being a protestant is also not a good thing in Limerickk because protestants there are thought to have given up their religion (catholic) because of protestant soup.
The people from the north are considerd as decent, Aunt Aggie tells Frank that his dad should go find jobs like decent men of Limeric.
I enjoy reading Angela’s ashes, but I agree that the sympathy I had in the beginning of the book for Angela is gone. It must be hard to live life knowing that things will probably never improve, but I feel that malachy and Angela make some wrong decisions. Cigarettes are a luxury and Malachy needs to swallow his pride. He thinks he is too good to accept money, collect coal, or get charity, but I think his pride is getting in the way of his family’s welfare. His family needs everything they can get, and he cannot afford to miss out on any charity. I was hoping that with only two children, Angela and Frank might be able to take care of them better. But instead, Angela ends up having another baby, adding expense to their lives.
ReplyDeleteThe family dynamic between the grandparents is a little strange to me. I grew up knowing that grandparents were always there to help and to love their grandchildren, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in Ireland. The McCourts are an inconvenience to their family, which must feel awful. It would be hard knowing that your family doesn’t really care about you.
This book has made me feel grateful for what I have. I cannot imagine living in the conditions that the McCourts do. It seems like anytime anything good happens to them, something awful immediately follows. They also don’t have much opportunity to improve their lives, so they are stuck being poor and sick.
I agree with what Kelly said. This book has also made me grateful for what I have. It seems like we don’t really appreciate what we have until we see how much better off we are than other people in society today. And I also agree with what Han Ying Gan said about not being able to forgive Angela and Malachy for smoking while their family is starving. I also agree with what was said about how it is so frustrating that they had another child, while they have already had three die, and two that were starving to death and living a crappy childhood.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been very sad for the McCourt family to have so many of their children die. But at the same time it seems as though every time one of their children die, they have one on the way. Like whenever Margret died, Angela was pregnant with the twins, Eugene and Oliver. Then after they died, she found out she was pregnant again with Michael. I think that since they don’t have much money or food for the family they have now, they should be a little more careful about the whole having children thing. They should be more responsible and take care of the family they have now, making sure they are getting by good day to day, instead of bringing another child into the world and have to care for them on top of caring for the children they have now, not that they really even care much for them anyway. I think that if Angela and Malachy were a little more responsible, then their family wouldn’t be as bad off as they are now.
Angela’s Ashes
ReplyDeleteI am really starting to get into this book. I feel bad for Frank and Malachy, because their mother just seems to expect much more from them than they are capable of. I don’t really understand why Angela isn’t greatful for what she has and care for her children. I enjoyed reading the chapter about Franks first communion and all the eventful situations that occur with that. The process of receiving first communion was pretty intense and much different than how it is now.
Comment
I agree with Brittany about not feeling sorry for Angela. She is the mother and needs to take care of her duties, like family. I disagree also with her decision to continue having children and what not, which is not completely her fault alone. The stress that comes with another child seems to be too much for her to handle at this point in her life.
Angela faces a lot of hardships, and as I continue to read it doesn't seem like things are getting any easier for her. In my opinion Angela should stop having more children because that is one of the reasons she is faced with so many troubles. It isn't fair to keep bringing children into this troubled world of hers. I think it would benefit everyone in the family if she was able to get a divorce, but then again I understand the time period. I agree with what Kelly and some of the other students have said about not having anymore sympathy for Angela. At the beginning of this story and throughout when her children have died I've felt horrible but to continue to bring more children in this wold upsets me. I wish Angela and her husband would focus on the children they have now instead of being irresponsible.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis book just keeps getting more depressing as I keep reading. This is a very poor family with many problems. The major problem is that the dad drinks away all the money that they have which means that the parents can’t support their large family. Angela keeps on getting pregnant and kids keep on dying. So far, the McCourts have lost four children. It is very sad to see this family keep on losing kids while the dad still cares more about drinking then his family. The dad is too proud to pick up coal from the side of the road so Angela and the kids have to do it. He is too proud to carry anything and all he is focused on is trying to get another drink. The parents were really bad with money. They would spend it on things that weren’t necessary. The parents managed to always have cigarettes while the children always go hungry. Franks mom also feels that it is necessary for Frank to go to dance class, even though they don’t have any money. I feel bad for this family but it’s their own fault that they are in the position that they are in. I agree with jopdycke when they mentioned the fact that Angela expects way too much out of her children. At this stage in their lives their supposed to be kids but instead they have to carry out the father role because their father is either to proud to do something or he’s drinking.
ReplyDeleteAfter being several chapters in, I do find this book much more understandable and I feel that the more I can follow along, the more I like the story. I feel that this Angela and Malachy are not so good at the parenting skills. They consistently find ways to make me frustrated with them as I read more. I feel like Malachy does not need to be drinking, and I feel like neither of them need to be smoking. They have a family, as well as themselves, to feed and by wasting money on things like cigarettes and alcohol they are not providing for the needs of their kids. At times however, I do feel bad for Angela. I can understand that at the time of the story it was not okay to use forms of birth control as a catholic woman, and thats what leads to the overwhelming number of children. But then I want her to take control of the situation she is in and stop getting pregnant.
ReplyDeleteComment: I agree with Lindsay when she said that Angela should have taken the two boys Frank and Malachy and left her husband to support herself and those kids. She would have avoided her other unfortunate pregnancies as well as avoided her husband wasting all the money on alcohol.
I am really enjoying the book, it is so sad but so interesting that at times I can’t put it down. I feel so bad for Frank and Malachy because their lives are just horrible. I can’t imagine having to live like they do, especially go to school with no shoes. Although it is the normal thing because a lot of kids that go to their school don't have shoes, I still just can’t imagine what that would be like. I guess the good thing is that they were able to get shoes after a while. I think that the government and church system is much better there than it was in America because they got so many things donated to them in a timely manner which I don’t think would happen in America. I agree with Kelly that I have no sympathy for Angela or Malachy. They keep having kids which is stupid because they could barely afford food for the kids they had. I also can’t get over the fact that they smoke. I don't care if they need a "break" from their lives because it is extremely selfish that they would spend money on cigarettes instead of save the money to buy food for their starving children.
ReplyDeleteI really like this book, even though it is such a morbid read. There are so many aspects of this book that I do not understand. It blows my mind to think that children can raise themselves and do a better job than two able bodied parents. I dislike both parents, Angela has the worst personality for a character I have ever seen and the father has a moderate personality but does nothing to benefit his family. I don't understand how they can wake up every morning and look around and carry on throughout the day. Frank is definitely my favorite character and I think he is such a sweet boy. I think a major part of the reason is he is clueless to what his life really is. I don't understand why there father doesn't try and write for a newspaper or publicize himself and try to make money for his family. Why do they smoke cigarettes? How can they not feel guilty when the children are starving and need warm clothes and yet they just smoke day after day. I feel like their house is filthy and Angela needs to become a better mother and clean the house and be a better mother. And why would she let her children play in the rain and catch a cold - they have already had four siblings and the only benefit to playing in the rain is getting the dirt washed off of them. I thought it was really cute how Frank wanted to become an alter boy and I thought it was basically racist that they wouldn't let him in.
ReplyDeleteCOMMENT.
I agree with Kelly, I feel so much more grateful for what I have and I don't understand how anyone could live the way they do. I am curious to see how this story will evolve and how long until the kids notice what they don't have.
I agree with Chelsey that the public assistance is better in Ireland than it is in America. When the McCourt's lived in America they had even less than they do now and Frank even had to resort to stealing to feed his siblings. However life did get harder in Ireland when both the twins died. I thought it was very sad that they both died, but you would have thought Angela would have been paying closer attention to her childrens' health after she already lost two. However it is good that Eugene doesn't have to suffer going through life without a twin. I also wonder how it's possible that there are poorer children at school than the McCourt's. Neither parents have a job and all they get are the dole and the churches donations. It makes me really angry that Malachy loses every job as well. You would think if he was as proud as he acts he would want to be the one bringing home the money and not just getting it handed over by the government. I also agree with Chelsey that Angela and Malachy buying cigarettes before food for their children is very selfish. I can forgive them for smoking, but not for the fact that they would rather spend the money on cigarettes than risk losing another child. The book is very sad so far but gives an interesting perspective on life.
ReplyDeleteAlyssa Pearce
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ReplyDeleteI found it kind of funny that after Frank heard Mikey Molloy's "dirty story about girls" he thought that he would be going to hell for having heard such a sinful story. Frank is still very young at this time and hearing about women peeing seems to be a big deal to him. Mikey's mother is usually admitted to the lunatic asylum because her husband constantly drinks away their money and she doesn't know how shes going to feed her family. Before she is taken away, Nora bakes a lot of bread so some of it has to just be thrown out because it went bad. I think that if she was so worried about how her kids will be eating she wouldn't bake all of the bread at once, she should have saved some to make another day.
ReplyDeleteAt Frank's first communion he is very excited because Mikey tells Frank that you get to collect a lot of money from your neighbors and go to the movies and eat sweets.
In chapter five I thought it was pretty funny how because of all Malachy and Angela's smoking they had to get their teeth pulled and get false teeth. Then as a joke Frank's brother Malachy puts his father's fake teeth and they get stuck. He had to be taken to the hospital and while they were all there, the doctor sees Frank's throat and decides he has to get his tonsils removed. Another funny part in this chapter is when Angela tells Frank he must take Irish dancing lessons and when he goes for the second time he uses the money to go to the movies instead. I do find it kind of wierd that Angela has money to spare for irish dancing lessons, but can barley feed her family.
I agree with Caitlin that Angela and Malachy should not be smoking cigarettes as much as they do. I do also think that they should feel guilty about not spending their cigarette money on getting their children some more food or warm clothes.
I'm starting to not like this book as much as I did when I started. The parents are so frustrating and terrible. They cant even provide food and proper clothes but can afford cigarettes and dance classes! I dont think Malachy can be called a father, he tells his children stories but feeding the mind is not nearly as important feeding their bodies. Maybe he didnt realize that half of his children have died, but his ignorance is unbelievable. He doesnt work, lives off charity and drinks what money they have away. I want to feel bad for the parents but I dont, all the problems they have are due to their own selfishness. I do feel bed for Frank and Malachy, and am suprised that Frank isnt more bitter about his childhood. I'm glad that he survived but the twins and his sister never had a chance. I agree with Nicole because I want Angela to take control of the situation her and her children are in.
ReplyDeleteThere are some good moments in the book though. I could just imagine two little boys playing with their parents teeth and the youngest one getting it stuck. I also liked when Frank confesses twice within a minute and the priests reaction to it.
I agree with the last post as far as the parents being frustrating, but I still really like the book. The dad and mom are just so dumb and ridiculous, but Frank on the other hand is cool, and continues to be ridiculous. Malachy the dad is funny sometimes, but usually he is hard to like. The mom is actually my least favorite. She doesn't do anything and blames Malachy and bad luck for all of her problems, yet still smokes cigarettes. I really don't like her.
ReplyDeleteThe writing of this book is so much better than the writing of last book. It is very easy to understand and it is pretty funny the way Frank writes it. The fact that it is written in a little kid perspective makes the horrible things that happen in the book readable.
I am not sure how i feel about this book yet because at the beginning of it i enjoyed way more then the dubliners but now i dont really know because i feel it is very depressing. I thought when they went to go back to Ireland life would get better, which of course it did not. i just cant get over the fact on what they spend thier money on cigrarettes...dance lessons..it's just really sad. They are living in a one bedroom apartment and sharing a bathroom with the neighborhood, I wish they would just either save the money or buy the kids some food. Although i for the most part dont like this book, i did really like the parts when he thought he was going to go to hell for hearing a bad story and when young malachy got the dentures stuck in his mouth. This showed that even though for the most part his childhood was miserable, there were somethings he was able to look back on and laugh now. All i have to say is i feel so grateful for everything i have now and will never complain again!
ReplyDeletecomment:
i agree with jpinney on liking the part where frank confesses to the priest twice within a minute and his reaction to it. Once again its a scenario you could look back on and laugh at later.
Im really enjoying reading this book. It has its little humor that is more enjoyable then joyce's. It is also a lot easier to read which makes it easier to understand. I agree with Jpinney when said, it is sad that the parents don't provide enough for their children. The father spends his weekly pay on alcohol on friday nights and the mother buys her cigarettes. Although i do give the mother some credit for baking bread to make sure her children do eat. I also found humor when Frank kept confessing with what it seemed to be every five minutes. He was so paranoid to make a sin. The priest also became annoyed because the grandma was so serious and ridiculous about confession and not wanting god being in her backyard a bad thing. Its also amazing that going to the movies and eating sweets is such a big event to them. I think we take for granted that we go to the movies and eat candy all the time. I can also see where they are coming from. Movies are over $8 now and going to the movie theatre is almost a treat now when you can afford it now a days.
ReplyDeleteI like and dislike this book the more I go on reading it. I am honestly getting sick of reading about the unfortunate deaths, lies, fighting, poorness, and drama. Angela needs to do something for her children. She is an inconsiderate brat and doesn’t deserve any children or “family”. It’s terrible that there were other parents taking care of the children. Angela has lost four children. Four! I don’t know how someone can live with themselves after losing one child let alone four. Malachy is a waste of time. He too ignores his situation and drinks his life away. It does make me proud to see some good out of this book though. You can see how Frank has put up with all of this and it made him a strong person. I really hope this book gets better as we go on.
ReplyDeleteThe first few chapters really show the bad living conditions that the McCourt family has to suffer through. Each place that they move into has something awful about it. In chapter three they find a place for cheap but they have to live next to a their lavatory. The issue with this beyond the smell coming from the lavatory is the fact that the lavatory is issued for the entire street. The family is also never provided with any food. Many references are made to how hungry they are and it is kind of sad reading it. On Frank’s first communion, he is more excited about getting money for candy and a movie than the fact of being accepted into the church as a real catholic. The description of his first communion was my favorite part of the first section of the book. Seems that Frank was always getting into trouble and his grandma gave him grief for everything that happened. It yielded for a pretty entertaining scenario. The most frustrating part of Angela’s Ashes is the parents and their cigarettes. I agree with Caitlin when I simply cannot forgive them for spending all of their money on cigarettes and not food for their children. Having kids is a responsibility they are forced to live with, especially when you have as many kids as they have had.
ReplyDelete-Angela's Ashes
ReplyDeleteWow... i am sort of liking this book and actually enjoying the book (parts of it). Although its quite hard for someone like me to imagine what life is like for Frank and Malachy because of what their lives are like. It's hard as an Education Major to even think of a kid going to school with out proper clothing or food and having to fight over daily survival items. Life had to have been hard on these children and i can't really see how no or little action was taken to find a solution to this horrible problem I agree with what Caitlin Wood said about the parents and how Angela isn't really a great parent. What she said about how they wake up in the morning and just carry on with life how it is amazes me to see how they did what was needed and they lived their life to the best they could. Back to talking about money problems and how the father can just go out to buy cigarettes and not put that money towards food or clothing for the family. Can't see how it could be done, and why nothing was changed for a positive towards the kids. Life was hard for them just by what i have read so far, and i give them respect (for the kids only) to what they have lived for and what they have done.
I really enjoy reading Angelas Ashes. Even though it is all about alcoholism, sadness and depression, it is still a really good book that interests me. When the two twins die, it made me feel like these peoples lives couldnt get any worse, and I was shocked to find out she was pregnant again with baby Michael, but as much as I dislike Angela and Malachy for the kind of parents they are, a part of me also likes them. I just wish that Malachy would give up the alcoholism and get a job, and that they both would give up cigarettes to feed their children. I also dislike Angelas mother because she is not at all loving towards he grandchildren. She expects them to be adults and not make mistakes, and she is a very heartless and unfair person. I really feel for this family, but as sad as the story is it also keeps you interested because it shows you that the little things in life make them happy, like a loaf of bread or being able to see a movie. I hope that this family eventually begins to become happy and the hardships stop coming to them.
ReplyDeleteThe more and more I read this book the more sympathy I show for little Malachy and Frank, especially for Frank. Everything that happens in this book somehow, if not directly, effects Frank and thats not a good thing. Like having to remove his tonsils when Malachy was the one in need of help at the doctors, or eating too much and throwing up which lead to him not being able to collect communion.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people would say that Angela's mother is too harsh and unfair. Well what would you expect when the economy is so horrible and theres not much food or clothing. It's survival of the fittest, and shes teaching them how to be responsible and take care of themselves.
Now I did show sympathy for Angela in the beginning of the book, but thats starting to dwindle away the more I read. Honestly, six kids when you dont have much money and not enough food to feed them all. That is just plain stupidity in the making. You figure the parents would learn their lesson on how to raise a child when the first one died. Not only that but Angela sends her children on there own so she can have fun with her friend. Who cares if it's raining or snowing out side. Even though we had two kids die from imonia. Also the parents spend their money on cigarettes instead of clothes or food. That sets a great example of how to manage your money for the kids. It's pretty sad to think that they're having Micheal so they can receive more pitty money.
I've actually started to enjoy reading this book. I like the parents less and less but the kids are fairly entertaining and the way Frank tells the story is captivating. The thing I have the biggest problem with is the fact that they keep having more kids even though they can't afford to properly take care of the ones they already have, and after reading all the other posts it seems like most people would agree. It really is plain and simple stupidity. I honestly don't know how Frank and his siblings are surviving as well as they are with such incompetent parents. The fact that there has only been 2 deaths is surprising at this point. I don't think the living situation is any better for them in Ireland than it was in New York. At least in New York, the family had neighbors that genuinely cared about their well being. We'll see how much the parents continue to loose favor as the story goes on.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Mr. and Mrs. McCourt are being really irresponsible inregards to having more children. They cannot afford to raise any more period and by having more they are making their own situation worse. They are in dire poverty; how can they expect to raise children and give them what they need much less a good life.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Cbarke2 on the irrisponsibility of both parents. It does not make sense for them to have more kids yet they are very poor.
Frank makes his story humourous and i can't help laughing on how he explains differnt scenes. I feel sorry for him for what his parents have made him go through. Nothing seem to improve since they moved to Ireland, the parents seem not to learn from the past! his father is still drinking, and the mother still gives birth to more children. They dont have any plans of improving their lives.
It is encouraging to know that Frank is able to read and he seem to be a hardworking boy. At his age, he works for his uncle and manages to give his mother the money. Frank can now realize how things are and i think he will change his family situation in the fuure. Religion plays a big role in the lives of people living in Limerick. The rate of poverty is still high and most families seem to be going through hardtimes. I think living in Ireland is still a challenging thing, considering the weather.