Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

I finished reading Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt, during my flight home from Ireland this past week.  I have to say that I had a hard time putting this down.  Though the subject matter is anything but cheerful, the way the story is told is very entertaining.  It's almost a stream of consciousness narrative.  McCourt tells the stories of his life as if he were sitting in the room with you.

Frank McCourt details his childhood, growing up in Limerick, Ireland, amidst extreme poverty.  His father is an alcoholic who spends most of the what little money he earns in the pubs.  The mother struggles to keep everyone clothed and fed as much as possible, even if it means surviving on tea and bread.  His mother relies on charity to get them through, as there weren't many jobs for women at the time, and when McCourt is old enough he goes to work to help support the family.  This novel ends with McCourt's journey back to America and I may pick up the sequel to see how it all comes out.

One of the saddest passages for me to read was the one where he is certain that he caused the eternal damnation of a girl's soul.  His prayers for her miraculous recovery went unanswered and he was sure their sexual relationship had damned her.  It's only when he confesses everything about his life to a sympathetic clergyman that he's able to get some peace.  This moment, with him crying on the floor of the church, just brought tears to my eyes.  With everything else he had to deal with in his life this is where it all came spilling out of him.

I would definitely recommend reading this one.  Though, be warned, it is not a happy go lucky read and deals with some very depressing subject matter.  But it is beautifully done.