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Angela's Ashes cover art

Angela's Ashes

Written by: Frank McCourt, Jeannette Walls - introduction
Narrated by: Frank McCourt, Jeannette Walls - introduction
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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.

What the critics say

"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)

What listeners say about Angela's Ashes

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Superb!

Have read the book twice before & loved it, but this audio version is brilliant! Frank McCourt's narration enriched the characters & I got to appreciate the humour, the desperation & hopefulness from the author's lens.

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Amazing in every way.

This is one of my favorite pieces. I've listened to this and read the book half a dozen times. narration is perfect. The story flows so well and really paints a picture. I loved it in every way.

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Riveting from start to finish! Brilliant!

Angela’s Ashes is a brilliant listen! Listening to Frank McCourt narrate the story of his impoverished childhood in that charming Irish brogue of his was powerful. Definitely the best memoir I have ever listened to. WOW

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The best thing on Audible!

I’ve read the book years ago and have seen the movie but this performance is beyond my expectations. I laughed out loud so many times during this performance. One word - Fantastic.

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  • Ti.
  • 2023-01-31

love this book

I have read this book multiple times and the audio book did not disappoint! I look forward to Tis and Teacher Man

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  • Ben
  • 2023-01-16

Laugh and cry and cry and cry and laugh

Thank you Frank McCourt. Lovely story telling in his very unique way. Will start Tis soon.

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Loved this book!

One of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to! It’s a wonder Frank survived his childhood. I will recommend it to all my friends.

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Frank McCourt's autobio not for faint hearts

So moving and touching ... wonderful narrating by Author Frank McCourt. Will look for his other audiobooks!

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FM was a national treasure!

Beautiful prose, brilliant story, unforgettable memoire, and a narration that will never be outdone. AA won a Pulitzer for a reason, afterall. can't recommend it highly enough.

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'Tis A Great Book Entirely - Effective Narration

This book is filled with Irish clichés (the good-for-nothing drunk Da, the ever-suffering Catholic Mam with a pile of kids), but it's undeniably true-to-life. Frank McCourt relates a series of mindblowing anecdotes about growing up horrifyingly poor in Brooklyn and Ireland. There is gritty description, legitimate humor, and genuine pathos in this book. Yes, it advances stereotypes (clearly not all Irish - actually not many - fit this cartoonish depiction), but 'Angela's Ashes' is a generally enjoyable look at Mr. McCourt's life experience (I, for one, do not doubt the veracity of his childhood tales of jawdropping poverty, personal failings, and recurrent infant death). 'Angela's Ashes' sounds - on it's face - dark and depressing, but the underlying theme is actually the resilience of humanity. Additionally, the prose is unparalleled, the pacing is spectacular, and the "characters" are palpably real. This is a marvellously-written book.

Authors reading their own stuff isn't always a good idea. Too often it's a glaring mistake.. but Frank McCourt's narration is great: his emotion reading some segments is genuine (and gives heartrending impact to the beautifully-written words); his authentic and not-too-thick Irish accent lends the book veritas; and he actually sings the numerous little ditties/shanties he puts into the text.
That said, McCourt reads too slowly (I had to speed playback to 1.25X to optimize the reading) and his cadence makes it clear he is reading rather than relating.
Altogether, a professional reader could have brought a different feel to the audiobook, but using McCourt was generally a good move from Simon & Schuster Audio.

This 9.5/10 audiobook is emotionally-gripping and well-worth your Credit. I can highly recommend this deserved Pulitzer Prize winner.

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