Specify Books Toward Tis (Frank McCourt #2)
| Original Title: | 'Tis: A Memoir |
| ISBN: | 0006551815 (ISBN13: 9780006551812) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | Frank McCourt #2 |
| Characters: | Frank McCourt |
| Literary Awards: | Audie Award for Nonfiction, Unabridged (2000), New York City Book Award for Memoir (1999) |
Frank McCourt
Paperback | Pages: 495 pages Rating: 3.69 | 52718 Users | 2178 Reviews
Be Specific About Of Books Tis (Frank McCourt #2)
| Title | : | Tis (Frank McCourt #2) |
| Author | : | Frank McCourt |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 495 pages |
| Published | : | 1999 by Flamingo |
| Categories | : | Nonfiction. Autobiography. Memoir. Biography |
Chronicle During Books Tis (Frank McCourt #2)
The sequel to Frank McCourt's memoir of his Irish Catholic boyhood, Angela's Ashes, picks up the story in October 1949, upon his arrival in America. Though he was born in New York, the family had returned to Ireland due to poor prospects in the United States. Now back on American soil, this awkward 19-year-old, with his "pimply face, sore eyes, and bad teeth," has little in common with the healthy, self-assured college students he sees on the subway and dreams of joining in the classroom. Initially, his American experience is as harrowing as his impoverished youth in Ireland, including two of the grimmest Christmases ever described in literature. McCourt views the U.S. through the same sharp eye and with the same dark humor that distinguished his first memoir: race prejudice, casual cruelty, and dead-end jobs weigh on his spirits as he searches for a way out. A glimpse of hope comes from the army, where he acquires some white-collar skills, and from New York University, which admits him without a high school diploma. But the journey toward his position teaching creative writing at Stuyvesant High School is neither quick nor easy. Fortunately, McCourt's openness to every variety of human emotion and longing remains exceptional; even the most damaged, difficult people he encounters are richly rendered individuals with whom the reader can't help but feel uncomfortable kinship. The magical prose, with its singing Irish cadences, brings grandeur and beauty to the most sorrowful events, including the final scene, set in a Limerick graveyard. --Wendy SmithRating Of Books Tis (Frank McCourt #2)
Ratings: 3.69 From 52718 Users | 2178 ReviewsWeigh Up Of Books Tis (Frank McCourt #2)
I must admit that my first reaction to this book was to be offended...here was this American-born Irishman returned to America to fulfill his dreams and all he could do was complain. I kept reminding myself how hard it would be at 19 yrs to ride the "learning curve" of customs, language, job & adult responsibilities while being mixed into the melting pot of NYC in the 1940's. He was frustrated, disenchanted, tired, confused. I continued reading - I wanted to see how this guy redeemedFrank McCourt's first book, Angela's Ashes, was incredible in its descriptions of an unbelievable poverty experienced within living memory in a Western European country. The impact of the continuation of McCourt's life story could hardly fail to pale in comparison. I felt that his descriptions of his miserable life at a succession of pitiful jobs and in the army dragged on too long. I was irritated by the continual harping on about how fortunate the Americans were, with their electricity, hot
I was skeptical about reading this memoir after having a hard time getting into Angela's Ashes in high school, but I really enjoyed this read. Maybe that's because I could relate to McCourt more in this book- as a teacher, as someone trying to find purpose in their early adult life, navigating relationships and friendships and work. I found his take on veteran teachers versus rookie teachers interesting to read... I think there's still a certain amount of truth to the relationship between
Pales in comparison to its prequel Angela's Ashes, which is heart-wrenching and brilliant.
Sadder in some ways than Angela's Ashes. Whereas Angela's Ashes was a story of Frank McCourt fighting the odds and dangers of growing up in a Limerick slum and trying to escape, this book is about Frank McCourt fighting with himself and occasionally American society. This book reveals his darker side, including his own battles with the drink (though these are never as bad as his father's alcohol problems), his insecurities and the chip on his shoulder about growing up in a slum. Frank had a
Quite some time ago I reviewed McCourt's first autobiography, Angela's Ashes. 'Tis is the second book which picks up as Frank is sailing from Ireland to America, where he expects to see everyone has a tan and beautiful white teeth, i.e. the Hollywood version. First lesson, New York City and its people don't much resemble his expectations.He's still poor as a churchmouse of course but he finds a job sweeping the floor and emptying ashtrays in the lobby of the Biltmore, then moves on to a
I enjoyed this second memoir / story collection by Frank McCourt. I listened to this on audiobook and having it told with the appropriate accent brings the stories to life.
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