The story of frank McCourt's Childhood and his very battle for survival.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Heading off to the winner of the Audiobook Sweepstake.

Congratulations :o)

Thank you, Smurphie! I can't believe I won, and I can't wait to listen to all of my new-to-me audiobooks. I hope Frank McCourt has a wonderful Irish accent as he reads his own book--what better voice for his memoirs could there be?

I thought I knew this story from seeing the movie when it first came out, but hearing it from the author's own lips (and yes, he does have a wonderful Irish accent) really made it come alive. This abridged version, which is three discs and three hours long, is harsh and heart-breaking, yet hopeful.

Added to indygo88's CD Audio Bookbox (2). Enjoy!

I've read the book before, and wrote the following:
Gorgeously written and heartbreaking, Angela's Ashes is everything a memoir should be. It captures childhood and the inherent innocence in the young, and the harsh realities that unfold one by one as a boy grows up. The family grows up in a world where a man can drink down a week's wages in a single night at the pub and no-one thinks to stop him; it is as far from my lifestyle as one can go. The children are half-starved and live on meager fixings of toast and weak tea; prisoners eat better! I tried to do that just for one day, to get a feel for what it was like - but I failed. My stomach just wouldn't stop growling, so instead of the slice of bread and cup of tea as the book describes my slice grew into half a loaf and the tea became milk.
Despite the depressing state of living, the book remains hopeful and often very happy, with humor all over the place.

--

I might be keeping this one. While I've read the book, I've never listened to it, and I've heard that McCourt was a marvelous storyteller.

Started listening today.

Finished today.

Basically, what I said before still stands. It was really neat to hear the author tell the story, though. The way he tells the story makes it seem like he's standing right there, as a six-year-old boy, but he's also deep in his memories and you can sense the distance between the present and his childhood. It brings another dimension to the story, for sure.

I am adding this book to booklady331's Audio Bookbox!

a very good listen, another of my "Oprah Book Club" trifectas, which I've seen the movie, read the book, and listened to the audio - now on both cassette and CD!

Enjoyed as much as ever.... Mccourt is a good writer, though his later books were not up to the caliber of this.

will release into my box....

Am putting this into my "First CD-Only AudioBookBox" for round two! Hope this finds a good home!

Taken out of BigJohnLefty's audio book box. Looking forward to it.

This was a very moving audiobook. The poverty and circumstances described are very harsh and the reading with the half naive comments of a young boy are heartbreaking. The accent makes it even more real.
Hopeful? Well he went on and survived, but I didn't really think the book was hopeful and there surely was no hope for his mother.

Released to the winner of the audiobook sweepstake. Congratulations - I hope you enjoy this one!

Sent to me as the winner of the summer audio sweep. I look forward to reading it.