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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
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 dark humour 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, in which Angela's ashes are scattered over a Limerick graveyard. --Wendy Smith
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Peter Collier "Los Angeles Times Book Review""'Tis" has those elements that made "Angela's Ashes" such a success -- the narrative brio, the fierce sympathy for human tie and torment, the intuitive feel for character and above all the love of language.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
When the MS Irish Oak sailed from Cork in October 1949, we expected to be in New York City in a week. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
When the MS Irish Oak sailed from Cork in October 1949, we expected to be in New York City in a week. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Frank McCourt has a wonderful style of writing that ties the reader to the pages. He writes in a conversational manner which makes the entire book seem like a story your friend Frank was telling you. The story continues from Angela's Ashes and young McCourt lands himself in America. As a European living in America for a while, I encountered the same oddities and quirks about the Amerikcan McCourt found when he described his experiences in America. All and all it's an entertaining story to read, and and definetly an engaging book.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'Tis' holds parallels with 'Sons & Lovers', albeit set in the bustling metropolis of post-war New York as opposed to 19th century Nottinghamshire. The educated elder son of an awkward mother and absent father struggles to find his own identity in a land that displays prejudice against his background and compulsively remarks at 'the Irish brogue'.
The young adult Frankie takes several menial jobs and has to endure providential college students who ride the trains: handsome guys and wholesome girls with perfect teeth and skin and NYU folders flaunting their superiority. A stretch in the army enables Frankie to learn useful administrative skills, and he finally pleads to be allowed to study at NYU, eventually becoming a teacher.
At this point, McCourt's memoirs cease to follow the path of 'Angela's Ashes', and with each progressive chapter the verse loses the lilt and cadence that so coloured the previous work. Writing that was once a joy to read becomes tedious and monotonous: the repetitive references to life back in Limerick and seemingly endless prose leading apparently nowhere. The reader is left confused by Frankie's attitude towards his family and somewhat weary with the dry anecdotes of his time spent teaching dispassionate students.
As with DH Lawrence, however, one can only share McCourt's obvious frustration with his life, particularly the way he feels trapped between the life of a bohemian, listening to jazz and discussing philosophy, and the comfort and security of his wife, child and home. As such, Frankie seldom seems to learn any lessons from his experiences or those of his family. Students, and their fashions, come and go but McCourt treads slowly along, disenchanted and unable to find fulfilment.
Although 'Tis' continues with the life of Frank McCourt a few unanswered questions frustrate throughout, particularly why did it take so long to write 'Angela's Ashes' following the triumphant debut University essay, 'The Bed'? From such an extraordinary life in Limerick to the abject normality of a teacher's lot in New York, the reader can only empathise with the apparent loss of exuberance and vivacity that, despite the unimaginable poverty, 'Angela's Ashes' portrayed.
'Tis' could never match McCourt's Pulitzer Prize winner, but as a reflection of one man's determination and soul searching it still remains a triumphant, if challenging, read.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book picks up exactly where Angela's Ashes left off - on the boat to America. Having enjoyed McCourt's first memoir, I was looking forward to this follow up. At first I preferred it - It was less harrowing! There were still mentions of Ireland to jog your memory if you had not read the prequel for a while, and it was full of tales of how he settled into New York, girls he met and his time in the army.
After a while the story started to wane. There was little or no mention of Ireland and the family after Frank went for a visit, and his family came over to the US for a visit. There were plenty of teacher's tales, but I felt he was almost padding the book out until he got to a suitable ending (which he did). I feel he was very vague with references to how his family got on after a while also. You know they got on with their own lives, but you don’t know if they were happy or successful.
The style of writing is as Angela's Ashes, no speech marks are used, just indentations. For the most part it is an easy read, those it does get a bit repetitive in parts. I still enjoyed this book, and fans of Angela's Ashes would also enjoy it, just don't expect more of the same.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
'Tis
Recieved quickly and in excellent condition. Would buy from this seller again. Excellent book-highly recommended.
Published on 21 Sep 2009 by Mrs. Rk Lane
An Engrossing, Memorable Recitation By Frank McCourt From His...
Of his three well-written memoirs, "'Tis" has been the one of Frank McCourt's which I have unjustly underrated in the past (There are a complex scope of reasons, but looking back... Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2008 by John Kwok
ACTUALLY.... `TIS NOT....
I hate when someone writes a book about their childhood, and does well, and then they come back and try to do it all again. Read more
Published on 28 April 2008 by Leeds lass
great read
a great book, really enjoyable, a good follow-up from angeles ashes. Although did have the possiblity of being a much larger book, as it only tells you the main details at times.
Published on 20 Aug 2007 by jppyro
Moving Forward.
Having just read this for a second time, I wish I could revise my star rating to 4. This time around, I read it in direct sequence to re-reading Frank McCourt's first... Read more
Published on 20 July 2006 by C. Calisgil
Rubbish
Rubbish
Published on 5 Sep 2005 by P. Williams
Disappointing to say the least
This is an extremely disappointing book after Angela's Ashes.
The style of writing is poor at best, the author writes in a child-like manner which suits AA, but does not suit... Read more
The style of writing is poor at best, the author writes in a child-like manner which suits AA, but does not suit... Read more
Published on 31 Aug 2005
A fantastic, thought evoking read
I found this book a really enjoyable read that i couldn't put down. I was keen to find out what happened next and had to refrain myself from reading the end to find out how it... Read more
Published on 21 July 2005 by Anna Hay
Tis Fantastic!
I've spoken to quite a few people who have read this book and quite a few of them have told me they found it quite hard to get into. Fortunatly I didn't have that problem. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2004 by Gem
Be prepared - a great lure
I haven't read 'Angela's Ashes' or seen the film but I read ''Tis' last year, encouraged by countless good reviews.
It is a deftly composed beauty. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2004 by Eccles
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