Call number
BIO McC
Collection
Genres
Publication
Scribner (1999), Edition: 3rd Printing
Description
Biography & Autobiography. Nonfiction. HTML:A #1 New York Times bestseller and the eagerly anticipated sequel to the Pulitzer Prizeâ??winning Angela's Ashes, this masterpiece from Frank McCourt tells of his American journey from impoverished immigrant to brilliant teacher and raconteur. Frank McCourt's glorious childhood memoir, Angela's Ashes, has been loved and celebrated by readers everywhere for its spirit, its wit and its profound humanity. A tale of redemption, in which storytelling itself is the source of salvation, it won the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Rarely has a book so swiftly found its place on the literary landscape. And now we have 'Tis, the story of Frank's American journey from impoverished immigrant to brilliant teacher and raconteur. Frank lands in New York at age nineteen, in the company of a priest he meets on the boat. He gets a job at the Biltmore Hotel, where he immediately encounters the vivid hierarchies of this "classless country," and then is drafted into the army and is sent to Germany to train dogs and type reports. It is Frank's incomparable voiceâ??his uncanny humor and his astonishing ear for dialogueâ??that renders these experiences spellbinding. When Frank returns to America in 1953, he works on the docks, always resisting what everyone tells him, that men and women who have dreamed and toiled for years to get to America should "stick to their own kind" once they arrive. Somehow, Frank knows that he should be getting an education, and though he left school at fourteen, he talks his way into New York University. There, he falls in love with the quintessential Yankee, long-legged and blonde, and tries to live his dream. But it is not until he starts to teachâ??and to writeâ??that Frank finds his place in the world. The same vulnerable but invincible spirit that captured the hearts of readers in Angela's Ashes comes of age. As Malcolm Jones said in his Newsweek review of Angela's Ashes, "It is only the best storyteller who can so beguile his readers that he leaves them wanting more when he is done...and McCourt proves himself one of the very best." Frank McCourt's 'Tis is one of the most eagerly awaited books of our time, and it is… (more)
Subjects
Media reviews
Auch der zweite Teil von McCourts Autobiographie bewegt durch die Einfachheit der Darstellung. Ein Bild der amerikanischen Klassengesellschaft aus der Perspektive von unten wird entwickelt, wie es lebendiger nicht sein könnte. Das Buch lebt vom Einblick in die Gefühlswelt der "kleinen Leute" und
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ihre Strategien im Überlebenskampf. Es berührt durch die Erkenntnis, wie schwer es ist, Kindheit und Jugend abzuschütteln und neu zu beginnen. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member bjmitch
Quite some time ago I reviewed McCourt's first autobiography, Angela's Ashes. 'Tis is the second book which picks up as Frank is sailing from Ireland to America, where he expects to see everyone has a tan and beautiful white teeth, i.e. the Hollywood version. First lesson, New York City and its
He's still poor as a churchmouse of course but he finds a job sweeping the floor and emptying ashtrays in the lobby of the Biltmore, then moves on to a warehouse job on the docks. He rents a place at a rooming house with a strange landlady and her handicapped son. Eventually he talks his way into NYU despite his lack of a high school diploma. Many of my friends will be happy to learn he got in because of his reading habit. He had read classic literature that most American youth would disdain. At length he becomes a teacher, a teacher with a girlfriend no less.
You may remember he had three surviving younger brothers; they all came to this country. His mother finally came here as well and made a career of carping about everything American. The book ends as the McCourt sons and their children take Angela's ashes back to Limerick.
I raved about the first book. I laughed my head off reading parts of it and other parts tore my heart out. Young Frankie's poverty-stricken childhood was terrible. However, I was disappointed in this book. It's written in the same stream-of-consciousness style and he has the same sense of humor, and parts of it made me laugh out loud. The adult Frank McCourt, though, isn't such a sympathetic character. There were times when I wanted to take him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him. I wanted to say, "Stop feeling sorry for yourself and for heaven's sake stay out of Irish bars!" But I must admit McCourt is a good man at heart and he's certainly a better writer than I'll ever be.
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people don't much resemble his expectations.He's still poor as a churchmouse of course but he finds a job sweeping the floor and emptying ashtrays in the lobby of the Biltmore, then moves on to a warehouse job on the docks. He rents a place at a rooming house with a strange landlady and her handicapped son. Eventually he talks his way into NYU despite his lack of a high school diploma. Many of my friends will be happy to learn he got in because of his reading habit. He had read classic literature that most American youth would disdain. At length he becomes a teacher, a teacher with a girlfriend no less.
You may remember he had three surviving younger brothers; they all came to this country. His mother finally came here as well and made a career of carping about everything American. The book ends as the McCourt sons and their children take Angela's ashes back to Limerick.
I raved about the first book. I laughed my head off reading parts of it and other parts tore my heart out. Young Frankie's poverty-stricken childhood was terrible. However, I was disappointed in this book. It's written in the same stream-of-consciousness style and he has the same sense of humor, and parts of it made me laugh out loud. The adult Frank McCourt, though, isn't such a sympathetic character. There were times when I wanted to take him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him. I wanted to say, "Stop feeling sorry for yourself and for heaven's sake stay out of Irish bars!" But I must admit McCourt is a good man at heart and he's certainly a better writer than I'll ever be.
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LibraryThing member dpf2102
From reading through the reviews, I imagine I'm in a very small minority of readers who picked up "'Tis" wthout ever having read "Angela's Ashes". While this may mean I am not aware of some information regarding character background, etc., I did not feel at all lost while reading the book. In fact,
While many other readers were apparently disappointed in this book compared to "Ashes", I believe that on its own it is a very well-written and enjoyable book. The prose was extremely readable and the situations and characters very interesting. McCourt helped make the immigrant experience approachable by highlighting the awkwardness and disorientation that a young Irish man finds upon his arrival in North America.
Very highly reccomended, whether or not have you read "Angela's Ashes".
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it was only after I finished reading it that I realised this was a continuation of sorts of another book.While many other readers were apparently disappointed in this book compared to "Ashes", I believe that on its own it is a very well-written and enjoyable book. The prose was extremely readable and the situations and characters very interesting. McCourt helped make the immigrant experience approachable by highlighting the awkwardness and disorientation that a young Irish man finds upon his arrival in North America.
Very highly reccomended, whether or not have you read "Angela's Ashes".
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LibraryThing member Moonkey
For me this was such a disappointment after Angela's Ashes which is one of my favourite books. It felt too much like he was trying to scrape up any vaguely interesting memories for the sake of it and the last half was boring in places. It's still worth a read if you liked Angela's Ashes.
LibraryThing member cljacobson
after having listened to Angela's Ashes-- the sequel seemed required; I enjoyed the parts where he was working at getting his education ( although not having a hs diploma) and especially his first weeks in the classroom; having recently begun substitute teaching... it is apparent that some things
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"never" change. Show Less
LibraryThing member Clueless
Funny how people who liked [Angela's Ashes] hated ['Tis] and vice versa. I loved Tis, it had me in stiches again and again!
LibraryThing member TTAISI-Editor
A great story, and a good follow-up to "Angela's Ashes."
LibraryThing member DSlongwhite
I have mixed feelings about this book. I kept hoping I'd come to the point that I would like the character, but I never did. He seems to blame other people for his problems, he's not moral, he drinks too much.
His life was difficult and only moderately interesting.
His life was difficult and only moderately interesting.
LibraryThing member MiserableLibrarian
The sequel to Angela’s ashes. McCourt picks up where Angela’s ashes left off-Frank has arrived in New York at age 18, and begins his life in America once again. The story traces his difficulties as a poor immigrant, his relationships with many people, and his eventual career as a high school
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teacher in NYC. It may be that sequels are always a bit disappointing, and McCourt’s well-written story with its unhappy and somewhat fatalistic ending was to be expected. Show Less
LibraryThing member Joles
The wonderful continuation of Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes" please see the review for Angela's Ashes. Everything there is also fitting for this book.
LibraryThing member Crumples
Tis is the sequel to Angela's Ashes. The book continues to describe the life of Frank McCourt, a very poor Irish immigrant trying his best to make a life in America. The tale is told with much humour and it describes the hardships of immigrants who have a very limited social net.
LibraryThing member joeycgrant
This book was good, but I felt it was much slower than Angela's Ashes.
LibraryThing member l-mo
'Tis follows Angela's Ashes in the life story of Frank McCourt, now a poor Irish American trying to make his way in New York City. It's not as endearing as Angela's Ashes but worth reading anyway to learn more of McCourt's life.
LibraryThing member dele2451
This is my second book by Mr McCourt and his writing make brings the reader so close to him that it is almost like I've becoming a cousin through his work. His insights into the bigger themes of teachers, the education system, and the invisibility of immigrant workers to the affluent are relevant
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themes and they balance nicely with the highly personal nature of the rest of his story. While 'Tis isn't as good as Angela's Ashes, it is still much better than most and definitely worth reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member melissavenable
Frank McCourt smiles from the book jacket cover photo, but his story (beginning when he comes back to New York from Ireland) is full of dissappointment, challenge, and heartbreak. He struggles as a US citizen with an Irish brogue, red eyes, and bad teeth. He finds his own way. Mr. McCourt's
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storytelling kept me laughing. The history of it all is also interesting from his being drafted to entering the education profession as an English teacher in a 'Blackboard Jungle' classroom. I think I'll find a copy of Teacher Man and continue on. Show Less
LibraryThing member KatharineDB
not as good as Angela's ashes... but still a great read..
LibraryThing member bookheaven
Not as good as Angela's Ashes.
LibraryThing member Matke
Although not as good as Angela's Ashes, this is still an engaging work from an author with a friendly, sweet voice. The reader will wish he/she could have met McCourt, shared a few drinks, and listened to some more of his wonderful stories.
LibraryThing member mmillet
As the second installment in Irish Catholic Frank McCourt's moving memoir series, 'Tis is the portrayal of a young man trying to find his place in a world ready to eat him up. His first book, "Angela's Ashes," details his early childhood in the slums of Limerick, Ireland and 'Tis picks up in the
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fall of 1949 as he is finally making his way to America. What follows is a wry, hilarious and often heartbreaking deception of his struggles to make his way through a foreign country to find a job, education and even love. McCourt finds his start in America at seemingly dead-end jobs even as he dreams of one day becoming a college student like those he sees on the subway with their books and superior attitudes. After spending time in the army, he is finally admitted to New York University even without a high school diploma but is constantly fearful of being looked down upon due to his lack of education. After finally obtaining a teaching post, McCourt depicts the farce that is the American educational system as he battles with students and administrators until he is able to teach a creative writing class at a respectable high school. Frank McCourt is a masterful writer. I think part of what makes him so dang good is his unusual lack of punctuation. No quotation marks and hardly any commas or periods either. I'd often read half a page before I realized it was all one sentence. This style made everything seem more immediate and more often than not, I'd feel myself right there with him during the war, at a job, or in his classroom. On top of that, his honesty is what really sets his narrative apart. McCourt cuts no corners and doesn't shy away from the truth, even if it is embarrassing or damaging to himself.The Hubby and I listened to "Angela's Ashes" read by the author himself and since then I can't but help hear his unforgettable, almost simplistic voice in my head as I read 'Tis. His story is so poignant, so honest that it and the emotions they raise so fresh - it all stays with you long after you finish, truly making his books absolutely unforgettable. Show Less
LibraryThing member KApplebaum
Angela's Ashes sucked me in. The sequel is a fabulous read (I couldn't put it down), but it's only getting four stars because Angela's Ashes is just a shade better.
LibraryThing member MarysGirl
I finished this last week. Not as relentlessly depressing as Angela's Ashes but there's still enough "Black Irish" to make you cry every now and then; and enough honesty to make you laugh. McCourt is a brilliant storyteller. I particularly like how he does dialog as a stream of consciousness
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without quotes or attributions. You can see the back and forth between teacher and reluctant students, wife and drunken husband, army grunts and officers. Although I did get a bit tired of the sore eyes and bad teeth. I assume he had them fixed, but he used them metaphorically throughout the narrative to put himself in a pathetic light. But that is a small quibble. Highly recommend this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member chichyJakMysz
This book is too witty! Had me giggling the whole way through. A lot different from the depressing Angela's Ashes.
LibraryThing member turtlesleap
McCourt's straightforward, affecting style is the big attraction in this book. For anyone who read Angela's Ashes, however, it is bound to disappoint a little. McCourt continues his story, taking it up with his arrival in New York, his military service, his early jobs, friendships and education and
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the early years of his teaching career. His honesty and low-key delivery make the memoir compelling. Show Less
LibraryThing member alexis3700
Not as great as it's predecessor, but good none the less.
LibraryThing member Teresa1966
As Tis opens, Frank is on his way to AMERICA! At last! But he has 'a pimply face, sore eyes and bad teeth' so not much has changed there since Angela's Ashes. Which is to say 'Tis is as compelling and bitter-sweet as the first memoir. Is that a brogue I hear?
LibraryThing member jjnaaucoin
I wanted it to be like the first book. I tried to get into it, I even finished it but it wasn't anything like the first one for me.
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2000)
New York City Book Award (Memoir — 1999)