Welcome to Litsy!

This is one of the funniest yet saddest books I have read. I was captivated by the ability to narrate such difficult experiences with humor without diminishing the depth of the tragedies. I laugh, but I am equally sad. The book illustrates how life can be both: it can bear immense pain and also carry hope and life without detracting from one another. A masterpiece in my eyes.

I saw the photo and heard the name for years, never knowing what the story was about. After grabbing it at a local goodwill while hunting for memoir/biography books for a hospice patient, I finally know the story. At first it was hard to follow, given the writing style. This book is full of dark humor and tragedy, from the early years of the author‘s life. Death, deep poverty, Catholic weirdness. The story makes you more grateful. An⬇️

I‘m a mixed bag on this one. It was slow and repetitive in parts, very depressing, and ended kind of abruptly. There were some funny and interesting parts as well but I definitely would not recommend this book to anyone. Kind of surprised it won a Pulitzer but what do I know 🤣

This was so popular when it came out (when my kids were in Catholic school.) But I‘m one to be wary of hype, and I put it off. But I shouldn‘t have. It‘s tragic, and funny, and very well written. Number 12 of #24in2024, and #bookspin for April. @TheAromaofBooks @Jas16

Enjoying the mild weather while it lasts, I‘m starting my #bookspin outside with an adult beverage and dried veggies.

Really enjoyed it! I liked the brutal honesty from the author.

Mostly very readable and also very sad for the constant poverty and a father who spends it all on drink. Parts are nice and there is humor, but it gets a bit raunchy in the end. Irish might appreciate it the most.

I am starting another older one I should have read long ago. My youngest sister told me a lot about it.

I read Angela's Ashes in middle and high school over and over and over...but I have only just discovered the audiobook, read by the author. It's been years since I've read it and hearing it in McCourt's own voice makes it feel like a brand-new story. Despite the backlash and controversy, I'm not sorry to say I'm positively tearing through this one and loving every sad, funny, bittersweet moment. #CurrentlyListening

#BookCoverChallenge
Day 45.
Here I will note 365 books (or as many as I will have before I get tired) that have shaped my taste in literature. No explanations, no reviews. Just the cover of the book.
I do not challenge anyone. You are all welcome to take part.

I'm packing and listening to the tagged memoir (the last person who hasn't read it?) while my companion watches for bugs.

One of those books that makes you laugh and cry at the same time.

At first glance , Frank McCourt‘s first book, “Angela‘s Ashes,” might seem like a run-of-the-mill memoir about his wretched childhood. But McCourt‘s voice, full of wry humor, and his knack for sketching memorable characters lifts his book into the realm of classic memoirs.

I actually read this book when I was in High School for a book report. I remember enjoying it a lot, now over 15 years later I've decided to read it as an adult. This is also my book pick for my reading group, making this my 'book of the month.' I hope to enjoy as much as I did when I was younger, if not more.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day 😊

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚 #boleybooks #angelasashes #frankmccourt #bookjoy #bookbeast #readwithme
What are you reading? 😊

"You have to study and learn so that you can make up your own mind about history and everything else but you can't make up an empty mind. Stock your mind, stock your mind. It is your house of treasure and no one in the world can interfere with it."

This is a book that first touched my soul in middle school, and many times since. Because of my deep love of this book, I genuinely can‘t understand (although I don‘t judge!) when people don‘t like it. That being said, this most recent reading I listened to McCourt‘s audio book and felt very intense emotions the whole time- I strongly recommend. And if anyone wants to hear how this book relates/performs to oral tradition- I‘d love to talk more!

1.) Voting is an illusion of choice and an illusion of freedom, I only vote for Scottish Independence 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

2.) What I'm most thankful for this week is touring bookstores/charity shops all over London with my girlfriend, we had so much fun and got a whole bunch of nifty books! 😍

Thanks for the tag @LitStephanie 💫

#ThankfulThursday @Cosmos_Moon 🌛

I can‘t believe I‘d never read this - it was such a gap in my nonfiction reading for so long (especially given my Irish ancestry). Listening to McCourt tell his story in his own voice was great and I can‘t imagine experiencing this book any other way. It‘s not an easy read but the balance of humor and horror is truly extraordinary.

4 stars for Angela's Ashes. A very quick listen. I definitely enjoyed this audiobook read by the author.

And that's another Bingo for me! #bookspinbingo

@TheAromaofBooks

I'm told this is a must read. Looks like it should be a quick one. On my way to another bingo. #bookspinbingo

The author tells a horrific story that caused me to cringe, grind my teeth and cry my head out. This book affected me emotionally. But McCourt wrote it in a way that kept me reading.

I read this book way back in the time and I still know how I felt about it.

As depressing as it was I couldn't put it down. I liked the writing... it is mesmerizing.

What a treat it was to listen to this book in Frank McCourt‘s own voice! He covers heavy material, but has a survivor‘s humor. What a tremendous gift he has for telling his story!

A second or third read of this well known memoir. Frank McCourt really knows how to tell a story. #StayHome24in48 #SocialDistancingReadathon

I just can‘t keep going with this one! I don‘t like McCourt‘s writing style, it was so difficult for me to keep up with.

1. Tagged, and also Eli‘s Promise from #NetGalley!
2. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon! I love it so much I want to reread it already!
3. I got a new stuffed bear this week! It‘s very cuddly and soft
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

“My father and mother should have stayed in New York where they met and married and where I was born.”

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

Day 9 -#MemoirMonday #MagnificentMarch

Since it‘s March, that‘s why I chose this memoir from Ireland.

3 generation in my family. My father, Larry. My later sister, Christy. My son, Jack!

Omg, thank you so much @Crazeedi for the Birthday Gift!!! ❤❤❤ I'm excited to read it, it's been on my TBR for years!!!

Kinda hard to read with Master Finn standing on me. He‘s watching daddy snow blow out the window. ❄️

Laughed and cried so much!

Today‘s book Mail. And I am going to be participating in a real life book club next month. This is their pick! I cannot wait!

Movie:Angela's Christmas. 2018. Netflix.
Based on a story by Frank McCourt.
A trip to church with her family, gives Angela an idea...
#wintergames #ReadNosedReindeer @Clwojick @StayCurious
#bingo....someone says miracle......

These are both excellent books! Very well-written.
#memoir
#GratefulReads

#scarathlon #TeamStoker Just finished this for another challenge, unfortunately it doesn‘t fit the team theme.

So this has been on my TBR list for the longest time.i would bet close to 20 years? I am proud to say I finished it today. It was wonderful. His writing was divine. I literally smelled the smells, felt the hunger, witnessed the poverty and loss and found myself smiling at the shenanigans. The story of a poor Irish family growing up in the lanes of Limerick pre and post Ww2. A story of poverty and hope. Now to find his 2 follow ups❤❤❤❤❤

Current audiobook

(Teacher Man is hiding underneath.) Three books from #Ireland on my TBR. #letstraveljuly @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

This book is a must read!! How anyone can write in a way that can have you so deeply moved with the pain and struggles of the characters and nearly simultaneously laughing, due to all the shenanigans and accounts of “Presbyterian” hair is beyond me. I‘ve never heard hair described as pertaining to a specific religion but this along with many other little treasures in this book keep it as a classic.

#Riotgrams #Day19 #IReadThisTooYoung

While the content of this book was certainly beyond my maturity level at age 11 when I first read it, the power of the McCourt‘s writing has stayed with me for nearly two decades. This is the actual book my older brother gave me back then, I even wrote my name inside the front cover in my 5th grade cursive! I‘m guessing he hadn‘t read the book himself...

Y‘all, I am so sorry I have been MIA! Life has been crazy the last few weeks since I have been working overtime to get time off for our cruise next week! Every other moment has been spent trying to get ready for said cruise. 😩
But I got the most LOVELY #litsylove smile box from the beautiful @Stacypatrice Stacy, you are such a sweetie! I loved this box of smiles & am really looking forward to reading Angela‘s Ashes! Thank you with all my ❤️!

We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow
The hammer of the gods
W'ell drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde, and sing and cry
Valhalla, I am coming!

Day 12 of #MayMovieMagic with #ImmigrantSong #BookToMovie #HappyMothersDay
@Rohit-sawant @Cinfhen

Such a powerful book. Wow! The pain and suffering of our Irish ancestors. They survive!

#kindledeal #kindledeals #ebooksale

One of the first books I always think of when I think of #Ireland. #LiteraryLuck