Angela's Ashes

Angela's Ashes

Angela's Ashes tells the story of a boy Frank McCourt who grows up poor in Ireland. Angela, Franks mom, works to feed all of her kids despite the hardships her husbands gives her by being a terrible alcoholic and drinking away all of his earnings. Many of Franks siblings die in the book because it is so hard to stay alive in such tough times.

Growing up Frank did not have much at all. During the first winter the house floods and it is very hard to continue on living there. Franks dad is an alcoholic, but he is not completely terrible because he gives Frank little talks and makes him happy sometimes. Frank goes to a Catholic school he receives his confirmation when he is a young boy and has a good time because after their confirmation the boys get to go to a movie. After this though he gets sick and is in the hospital for a very long time with the typhoid fever. In the hospital he meets a girl and talks to her a lot and he discovers Shakespeare and he begins to like it very much. The time in the hospital also has a positive effect though because his language skills increase from reading so much.

Later in the story Franks father leaves for war and is suppose to send home his earnings for the family. Proving to be a good for nothing Malachy sends home no money and Frank is forced to get a job. He ends up having a few different jobs working for different men in the city. Frank becomes the sole provider for the family but he doesnt mind because he feels a real sense of pride in feeding his family. However, it still turns out not to be enough and the family gets evicted from where they are staying.

After getting kicked out of their home they begin to stay at their cousins house and Angela begins to sleep with one of the family members. Frank hates that his mother does this and also feels guilty for having masturbated after the priest said it was bad.

Frank then finds somewhat of a girlfriend named Theresa and begins to have sex with her. However, Theresa ends up dying of consumption and Frank is very upset and plans to go to America. He eventually saves enough money and goes to New York and meets a few people there and begins to live a new life. Although Frank is sad that he doesn't get to be with his family he has high expectations in New York. The book ends leaving you with the assumption that another book will be written.

-Joshua Livingston P5