Upon reading the book “Angela’s Ashes”, I am beginning to fall deeper into the book. This book is truly a classic modern memoir, but also funny and forgiving. Each week the readings grow more interesting, and I fall more in love with the boys. I think the best part about this book is the narrator, Frank, and that it comes from his perspective. I also notice that Frank is like his father in a way that they both are great story tellers. The father, Malachy, still is unemployed. What upsets me even more is Malachy is an educated smart man, and the fact that he still doesn’t have a job puts me in distraught. He continues to waste his money at the ‘pub’ even though his family is starving. The day Frank made his First Communion, and threw up his dinner was my favorite part in the book so far. His grandmother made him go to confession twice that day to find out what she should do with ‘God’ in her backyard. This just shows how religious people are in Ireland. His grandmother is insane, and I understand why their family doesn’t live with her anymore. I was really relived to know that Angela didn’t punish Frank for skipping school. She was too concerned about her old dance partner, Mr. Clohessy, who is deathly ill.
-Ashley B
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Reading Angela’s Ashes from Frank’s point of view has really made the story pretty interesting. Hearing the story from a child’s mind and how a child would repeat things they heard, or the way they would tell a story makes the reading more interesting. I feel that the McCourt’s will never better their financial or living situations because Angela and Malachy are both inactive characters throughout the book. Angela complains about Malachy using his earnings on alcohol, but she herself spends her little money on cigarettes. Angela also continues to have children, she has given birth to eight children and although they get welfare, the McCourt’s are not in the place where they can afford to feed and clothe so many children. Even though several of her kids have passed away, she still continues to keep having more, adding to the family more mouths to feed and children to take care of. Malachy holds the McCourt’s back by never being able to hold a job for more than a few weeks at a time and then immediately spending all of his earnings at the pub. Malachy is an intelligent man and would be able to do a lot to support his family, but he offers nothing because he seems to take nothing seriously.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Ashley B, the religion in this book is portrayed very radical, which is how the Irish were. The religion seemed to be taken more seriously than it should have been. The grandmother sending Frank back and forth to ask the priest what to do about Frank throwing up God in the back yard is taking her faith and consequences of her beliefs way too seriously. I feel that if the Irish lightened up their beliefs they might have been happier people in some aspects.
-brittni stump
In responce to Ashley B:
ReplyDeleteI really agree with you when you say your starting to like/love the book more and more as we get deeper into it. The characters grow more interesting with each chapter, and you can not help but feel for them and what they are going through. With each chapter the boys mature and grow up and you almost can't help not to put the book down.
After reading the chapters for this week I can't help but to be frustrated and upset with the father Malachy. In the beginning I tried to feel for him and to understand why he acted as he did. I even felt for him because of his addiction and was trying not to judge him. This however changed when he decided to spend all the money that was sent to the family for his new born son. To do that is something I just can't get over or put past me. As a man I can not have any respect for a father who willingly blows all his families money for a few drinks. And it makes it even worse that the money he spent was for his new born that needs nourishment more than anyone. He truly shows how he chooses alcohol before his family and puts them and their needs on the back burner. It is so upsetting to read chapter after chapter about how whenever the family gets a little money Malachy takes and drinks it away. You almost wish you, yourself could go back in time and help the family out. I just hope that soon Malachy will see how stupid he is being and finally take responsibility as a father.
ReplyDeletePoster By: Kris Braxton
The past week's reading of Angela's Ashes showed important points in Frank's life and also hints that Frank is beginning to grow up. In chapter seven, Frank gets his first and second jobs as a newsboy and as a personal reader to a strange, elderly man. Then, Frank has another baby brother born named Michael. In chapter eight, Frank has his Catholic confirmation performed but sadly develops typhoid fever. The typhoid was a very lethal disease at this time and Frank barely makes it through alive. He develops two friendships in the hospital, one with another young, girl patient and another with a janitor. When Frank is allowed back to school, his intellect is seen after a composition he writes is so good that he is placed into a grade above. The events that happened were major because they begin to show Frank glimpses of adult life. One of these glimpses is of the pride Frank feels when he can contribute to his family's welfare. His near death experience will also teach him to cherish his and other lives around him. When death strikes again, he may not be as nonchalant as he was post-typhoid. And with all this, I hope Frank's intellect becomes more appreciated in the book. They are always telling him he has the odd manner, but maybe they just can't understand the ways of an extremely intelligent young boy.
ReplyDeleteTo comment on Kris' post, you say you hope Malachy comes to his senses and finally stops being "stupid." Though I also hope Malachy comes around, I have a good feeling that this will not happen. Though Malachy appears friendly enough, I believe he is ultimately a very selfish being and cannot, or will not, change his core values to fit the needs of his family.
The reading this week continued to dive deeper into the lives of Frank and his family. One of their main issues is that the father, Malachy, is an alcoholic. I was able to keep myself from judging him for the first few chapters, but when he used up the money given to the family for the new baby on alcohol I started to hate him a little. Many people have been in situations like the McCourt’s, or very similar to it, and some give and take is necessary until a person can come back from being an alcoholic. But now it seems that Malachy is not even attempting to quit abusing alcohol and never will. Aside from the father, Malachy’s alcoholism, another issue in the family, along with the rest of Ireland, is the strict way that they follow their religion. The grandmother making Frank go to confession not only once, but twice for throwing up his dinner and “God” is rather excessive. I feel that religion should progress and change throughout time as people do because when it stays static and strict, such as it has in Ireland and with the Irish people, it adds to the problem of these people not being able to move on and get out of the rut that they are in.
ReplyDelete-Victoria Hampton
To comment on what Ashley B said about falling deeper into the book and each week the reading is becoming more interesting, I agree. Now that they boy are getting older, the stories that Frank is telling are becoming more complex and detailed. An example of this is when Frank told us about skipping dance lessons to go to the movies. This little bit of his life was told in much more detail than most of the stories told from when he was younger.
ReplyDelete-Victoria Hampton
This week we read chapters 3 through 8 in Angela’s Ashes. In class one of the topics we discussed was whether or not the reader should believe that the author was as intelligent and insightful at such a young age as he seemed to be as an adult. He has added many detailed thoughts about events that happened during his childhood. I am not entirely convinced that he was having those exact thoughts at such a young age, and if he was, I don’t know how he could have remembered them so accurately. For example, in Chapter 8, he includes an essay he wrote with the hope of being moved from fifth to sixth grade. In my opinion, it is highly unlikely that Frank remembered his essay word for word. I appreciated the small intervals of comic relief offered throughout these chapters. With so many children dying in addition to Malachy (the father) drinking away all of the money he makes for his family and continually losing his job, the book was starting to depress me. Most of the humorous parts of the book are in some way connected to the McCourts’ Catholic religion. For instance, Franks grandmother is beside herself when he throws up his Communion wafer, and when the priest farts in front of Frank on his death bed, he is reassured that he will not die. In response to the post by Ashley B, I also recognized how the author highlights the similarities between himself and his father. They are both portrayed as very intelligent and literate. Frank is moved up a grade in school for his well-written essay, and Malachy composes letters for his neighbors, who are impressed with his talent for writing. However, I think it is sad that at times Frank seems to act more like an adult than his father. He gets a job at such a young age, and he sees that it is wrong for his father to drink away all of his money and tries to stop him.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Iams
The more I read “Angela’s Ashes” the more I find myself going farther into the book I tend to put myself in Frank’s shoes. The way the story is written makes you really realize how bad it was. Frank’s friends are so used to death in their families that they look forward to the week off when someone dies not even worrying about the death of a sibling. The alcoholism in the story still amazes me even though it occurs so often. Frank’s father is still drinking the dole money away once a month instead of giving it to the family for stuff they need. It starts off as lets get a drink not a bunch of them. His father should know by now that he cannot control himself and that the one drink will turn into more. Frank’s father is putting his needs and wants in front of what’s good for the family. The religious views in the book are a bit extreme too. Mr. Timoney is put in a psychiatric hospital because they believe that him practicing Buddhism and laughing at his dog-biting people make him crazy. Everyone is so worried about making their first communion and being completely free from sin. Frank goes to confession after taking food when he is starving and the priest told him under his circumstances he was ok and just needed to pray.
ReplyDeleteNick Romus
To comment on what Ashley B. said I am also getting more and more into the book. I completely agree that the father needs to take more responsibility and take care of his family instead of drinking. I know that it is wrong but having a problem with alcohol it is hard to overcome urges. I believe that the problem with his father is past the drinking and that he uses it as a form of self medication and that is why it is preventing him from keeping a job
ReplyDeleteTo comment on what Kris Braxton said, I too tried my best to sympathize with Malchany Sr.'s addiction to alcohol. I tried my best to not judge him, and simply try to understand that it was his addiction to the drug that made him do such irresponsible things. Once he spent all the money from other families for his newborn son, I lost all respect. I think he went too far. It was one things when he brought in the twin's little coffin into the bar with him and the men set their beer mugs on the coffin, but when he spent all the money that his family was in such dire need for, I was apalled. I really hope Malachy Sr. gets a grip and I don't know what it will take for him to do so.
ReplyDeleteAngela’s ashes have turned out to be a good story so far. I’ve started to get annoyed with characters like the father and mother. There lack of inhibition and spending money on cigarette instead of food is disturbing.. The father Frank’s father is still drinking the dole money away once a month while his family starves and has few clothing. HE is perfectly capable of getting a job but he loses every job he gets.
ReplyDeleteThe story makes the reader really feel how Frank felt during that time. Something that is very noticeable is the struggle of the social classes. Even the poor people have there own classes you can see them judging each other by who has shoes or other items of clothing. I think it is very cruel that the one boy eats in front of them when the others are hungry. Even if he is being picked on in school its not right to eat like that in front of people.
to comment on what Stephanie Iams said i agree that everything that is being said can't be believed because of the age of the author at the time these events were occurring. He probably did some research to see what was going on and maybe looked at some old pictures but the detail f his stories makes it less believable. I do understand that it is a STORY its meant for reading purposes so he had to do that
After further reading into “Angela’s Ashes,” we are introduced to more young characters that were friends or classmates of Frank. Each of them play a role in Frank’s life as he is growing up. They influence him, change him, and some even help him in certain ways. Billy Campbell, Question Quigley, Fintan, Declan, Paddy Clohessy, Mickey Spellacy, Mikey Molloy, and Quasimodo, just to name a few. Just like all children, Frank wanted to be normal and for other kids to like him. Sometimes he did what other kids wanted him to do. And sometimes he did things because he thought it would be the cool thing to do. Some of these kids led him in the wrong direction, but because of Frank’s awareness and good judgment he was able to find a way to overcome temptations and be a good catholic. His catholic religion also has major influence him. He realizes when he sins and he realizes when other people are doing bad things. Frank is really smart for how young he is. He is beyond his age for the knowledge he has. He is mature and responsible on top of that. Frank is a good role model for his younger siblings and is a good influence on them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nick when he says that Frank’s father is putting his needs and wants in front of what’s good for the family. This subject is brought up over and over again as we discuss the book. Malachy spends everything he can get at the pub, even the money sent for his youngest son. The entire family is starving and barely making it through the day. And all Malachy can think is to quench his thirst.
Leah Scabilloni
The more I read Angela's Ashes, the more I like it. We have witnessed as Malachy Jr. is growing up, and now he is ten years old. I love watching him live through his point of view. When we started, he was four years old, and so naive to the world, but at the same time, he was very bright for his age. Now, at age ten, we see him attempting to stop his father from drinking away the family's only source of income. There is so much pain in the book, but I love how McCourt ties in humor. When the grandma gets all upset over Frank throwing up the Communion wafer, I had to laugh. And asking the Priest if she should use holy water or normal water, it's great to think that this is McCourt's real life story. I wonder if he adds this humor, or if his grandma was really that ridiculous. I loved that part of the book. I am slowly starting to loose hope with Malachy Sr.'s addiction to alcohol. It's getting more hopeless when he spends the money from all the other families for their newborn son. It's almost hard to believe, and we really see how badly addicted he truely is. Malachy Jr. seems to grow up much faster than ten year old should. He definetely doesn't have a normal childhood, but it's good to see him at school succeeding the way that he does.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy reading Angela's Ashes because it is from a child's point of view. I feel like Frank sees and tells the truth but with a child' exageration. I like hearing stories from him because at points he doesn't really realize the severity of the situations he is in. He still seems innocent to the world. It is also intersesting to see how grown up Frank is when he is still so young. With the situations he is in he is forced to grow up and take responisiblity of his younger siblings. I also agree with Jacklynn on what she was saying. Franks not the only grown up one now. we have seen Malachy grow up and mature throughout the book. He now is aware of everything that is going on around him with his family and their issues. He tries to get his dad to stop drinking and wasting all of their money. I think its awesome that a boy his age could take such initative. I would never be able to do that when i was his age. I think growing up the way they did made them a lot stronger and independent unlike the "pampered/spoiled" kids we are today.
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