Frank McCourt

[Jeff Lebowski]

Just bought a copy of Teacher Man by Frank McCourt. I thoroughly enjoyed Angela's Ashes a few years back and Teacher Man is getting rave reviews so far. I have not read Tis (the middle book of the trilogy), but I hear it was just OK. Anyone red Tis? Is it worth the effort or should I skip directly to Teacher Man?

[Archaea]

What is the plot of Angela's Ashes? Who dies?

[Jeff Lebowski]

It is basically a memoir of McCourt's childhood in Ireland living in horrific poverty with an alcoholic father. In the end he immigrates to the U.S. (where he has lived since that time). The beauty of the book is not so much in the plot as in the story-telling. McCourt has a remarkable gift for wit and the book is quite moving and inspiring. It won the Pulitzer Prize. Highly recommended.

http://www.amazon.com/Angelas-Ashes-...e=UTF8&s=books

The book was made into a movie a few years back. I have not seen the movie, but the reviews were not great. Didn't seem to me like it would make that great of a movie. The magic of the book is the narrative, not so much the story.

[Archaea]

Is that the author that really lambasted the US?

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Is that the author that really lambasted the US?

? Not that I know of. I highly doubt it.

[hyrum]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Just bought a copy of Teacher Man by Frank McCourt. I thoroughly enjoyed Angela's Ashes a few years back and Teacher Man is getting rave reviews so far. I have not read Tis (the middle book of the trilogy), but I hear it was just OK. Anyone red Tis? Is it worth the effort or should I skip directly to Teacher Man?

I read it awhile back, just checked, and it came out in 1999, so I may have read it 5-6 yrs ago. Anyway, I recall it being not quite as good as Angela's Ashes, but after that, of course, expectations were quite high. It was still a good read, and to this day I can't recall exactly where one story stopped, and the next book picked-up. In Tis he continues to tell-all, including some graphic things about his experiences in WWII. Haven't read the current book, so can't say if its needed to understand it. Myself, I would want to read them in order, I think.

Its a classic story of the value of hard work and education and the American Dream.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by hyrum

I read it awhile back, just checked, and it came out in 1999, so I may have read it 5-6 yrs ago. Anyway, I recall it being not quite as good as Angela's Ashes, but after that, of course, expectations were quite high. It was still a good read, and to this day I can't recall exactly where one story stopped, and the next book picked-up. In Tis he continues to tell-all, including some graphic things about his experiences in WWII. Haven't read the current book, so can't say if its needed to understand it. Myself, I would want to read them in order, I think.

Its a classic story of the value of hard work and education and the American Dream.

Thanks. I think I will pick up a copy.

[Parrot Head]

I thought the writing in AA was great. It was innovative in that as he aged from childhood to 20-ish, his writing/soeaking style changed just as it should in life. I can't remember any other books with that form and it won me over. Compelling story, good writing. Never did get around to Tis.