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Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 97 votes)
5 stars
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4 stars
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97 reviews
April 25,2025
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This memoir is both beautifully written but also incredibly depressing. I have yet to watch the film based on this book, but many of the anecdotes will be hard to forget.
April 25,2025
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O título era-me familiar, mas não sei porquê, meteu-se-me na cabeça que era uma história de crime (talvez por causa do título) e coloquei-a imediatamente de parte, não prestando grande atenção aos comentários elogiosos que lhe ia ouvindo/lendo por aqui e por ali. Ou pelo menos, não o suficiente para me aperceber que se tratava, não de uma história de crime, mas de uma autobiografia de uma infância passada entre os EUA e a Irlanda, entre a Grande Depressão e a Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Quando me chegou pelo correio, através de uma iniciativa do Bookcrossing, que nos surpreende cada mês do ano com um livro diferente, pensei "Que chatice. Afinal vou mesmo ter que pegar neste livro, pelo menos dar-lhe o benefício da dúvida e ler umas páginas, nem que seja para desistir mais adiante".

Podem imaginar a minha alegria, quando comecei a ler, e percebi que se tratava de uma coisa completamente diferente. O livro é uma autobiografia e retrata uma vida muito dura e de grande miséria, mas o autor consegue fazê-lo de forma que, em vez de nos sentirmos permanentemente chocados, tristes ou comovidos com as vicissitudes desta(s) família(s), também nos rimos com vários episódios, contados com a candura típica de uma criança, que desempenha aqui o papel de narrador.

Um dos melhores livros que li este ano.
April 25,2025
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A parte de periodismo, no suelo leer mucha no ficción. Esta clase de textos son los que se consideran autobiográficos pero no son biografías, son memorias. Una etapa de la vida de una persona relatada por ella misma. En este caso tenemos los primeros años de vida y juventud de Francis McCourt.


Fotograma de la película de 1999

Francis era un niño nacido en Nueva York en 1930, hijo de inmigrantes irlandeses. Su padre y su madre se conocieron en esta ciudad. Malachy, el padre de Francis era un alcohólico que no tenía un trabajo estable y su madre Angela pasaba los días cuidando de Francis y sus hermanitos. En un punto de la historia, la familia McCourt debe regresar a Limerick, Irlanda y es donde se centra casi toda la historia narrada por Frank.

Leer estas memorias ha sido una especie de aprendizaje sobre una época pasada alejada de la realidad propia. Miles de irlandeses al igual que italianos y personas de muchas nacionalidades emigraron a Estados Unidos buscando un futuro a finales del siglo XIX y principios del siglo XX, como los padres de Francis. Pero no contaban con la gran depresión pondría en vilo su bienestar. En este ambiente nació Francis, un niño de una familia católica en un barrio en el que sólo se juntaba con otros irlandeses católicos. Al regresar a Irlanda es cuando inicia realmente el relato de Francis desde que tiene unos 3 años hasta su juventud.



Reseña completa: http://rapsodia-literaria.blogspot.co...
April 25,2025
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Couldn't bear it. Whiney, self-obsessed and smacked of disingenuity. Using misery, either yours (imagined) or others (purloined) to make money seems to be the height/depth of cheap shots. Someone once told me of a review of the book that they had read somewhere

'Baby born, baby died, baby born, baby died, baby born, baby died, baby born, baby died; it rained'.

Admittedy there was more to it than that, however I read it a long time ago and the gloom of the misery and rain hangs still over the whole thing in a ridiculously hyperbolic manner. The father, an irresponsible drunken wastrel I just wanted to hit about the head quite dramatically with anything I could lay my hands on and the mother, an horrendous slatterny doormat, I found massively unsympathetic . I can only think of one character who i warmed to and as i remember she was dying of something or other.

Did not enjoy this and that was not because it brought me into contact with the suffering and misery of my fellow human beings which I couldn't bear to see but because it didn't. It did not ring true and was a sounding gong or clanging cymbal, making lots of noise but very little sense.
April 25,2025
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McCourt’s classic puts the misery of the Irish squarely on the table. No bones about it, 800 years of colonization, along with an uncompromising religion, produced a terrible legacy of poverty, hunger and guilt relieved only by humour and alcohol.

This book covers Frank’s life journey out of America, where he was born and raised until age four, back to Ireland, and until he returns to the Land of the Free at the age of eighteen. The eldest in a family where younger siblings are destined to die unless they have strong survival instincts, Frank grows up early in the presence of an alcoholic and irresponsible father, Malachy, who could never hold down a job and who drank away his earnings. Changing his younger siblings diapers and looking after them when he was not quite out of diapers himself, Frank learns self-reliance and survival on the mean and cold streets of Dublin where consumption is the biggest killer. Everyone is eternally hungry, everyone is unwashed and dirty, everyone is yoked to a life of unending misery. That is my one criticism of this book—there is too much misery! The only escape is join the war effort; then one is able to send home money from the front, making proper meals possible again for the family. The war creates a two-tier society back home: those who receive telegrams with money and those who don’t. The other escape is America, the beacon that Frank yearns for, for after all, he is an American living in this shithole of his ancestors.

Frank’s Ireland also envelops its inhabitants with guilt. Frank’s guilt is legion:
a) Sleeping with the older and consumptive Theresa
b) Wanking in the field while the cows and sheep look on. I saw shades of Joyce here— someone always wanks in the open in a good Irish book.
c) Slapping his mother in anger over her sleeping with the landlord.
d) Smoking with his friends.
e) Drinking at age sixteen and heading down that giant path to perfidy carved out by his father.

When Malachy vanishes to England to work and send money home (he never does) the family gets evicted and is forced to live with a crippled man who lives in an attic. The new landlord offers them board in exchange for favours from Frank’s still-young mother, Angela, by night; and he expects Frank to empty his chamber pot by day. Frank detests his mother’s forced “duty.” He quits school and works at the post office delivering telegrams, and becomes a letter writer to a debt collector, counting his pennies for when he could escape this sorry place. Finally, he has to top up his savings to make his passage fare across, and he does that by robbing his employer. In this environment, I think the robbery is justified.

The strong feature in this book is not the hard luck story of a dirt-poor Irish family. There are many of those. What sticks in the mind is the way in which it is narrated: with quote-free dialogue, in the quirky vernacular of the Irish, and peppered with a myriad of humorous and tragic situations that Frank and his family find themselves in. Imagine toddlers woken up in the middle of the night by a drunken father to sing old battle songs of Ireland, or a little boy climbing on a table to reach the attic and bring down a fully loaded chamber pot smelling to the high heavens of excrement and urine, or the “excitement” that a pubescent and naked Frank experiences when he is out in the fields trying to dry his clothes. Imagine traditions where a father takes his son out to the pub for his first pint on his 16th birthday, or a rite of passage where you can’t take a girl out if you don’t smoke? Although supposed to be a memoir, this book certainly is Dickensian in its treatment.

When Frank finally arrives in America, his first night in his new home is enough to wipe out all the guilt, pain and sadness of Ireland. Instead of adding a spoiler and telling you what happens to Frank on that night of mind-bending pleasure, I will end with the last line of the book, “My God, that was a lovely night, Frank. Isn’t this a great country altogether?” And in answer, we are pointed to the one-word final chapter that follows: ’Tis. Which is ironically the title of the second book in this memoir trilogy. Frank may have learned survival in Ireland, but he certainly learned his marketing in America.
April 25,2025
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Este livro tem tudo para ser assustadoramente triste e deprimente - pobreza, fome, doenças, alcoolismo, morte, miséria e mais miséria. Mas não é.

Frank McCourt é filho de emigrantes irlandeses nos EUA, que na época da Grande Depressão se vêem obrigados a regressar ao país de origem. A Irlanda vive ainda sob o espectro da guerra da Independência com a Inglaterra, e dominada por um forte conservadorismo católico. Com um pai alcoólico que não arranja trabalho e gasta o dinheiro da assistência na bebida, a família vive na mais atroz das misérias. Através da sua perspectiva de criança e depois de adolescente, McCourt dá-nos a conhecer o período da sua vida entre os quatro e os dezanove anos, sempre em luta pela sobrevivência e acalentando o sonho de um dia voltar à América. É com grande habilidade narrativa que McCourt transforma a sua história de tragédia e miséria num relato sereno, marcado por um forte lirismo e bastante humor - a vida percepcionada pela candura e ingenuidade da infância e a irreverência da juventude. Emotivo, intenso e brilhante.

(E por falar em miséria, tenho de referir esta edição na qual desde "cozer" a roupa a vários erros gramaticais encontrei um pouco de tudo o que me põe os cabelos em pé.)
April 25,2025
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Δεν έχει πολλά να πω για αυτό το βιβλίο, όλα όσα πρέπει να ξέρετε είναι στο οπισθόφυλλο.
Το είχα διαβάσει πρώτη φορά δανεισμένο από τη Δημοτική Βιβλιοθήκη της Ξάνθης όταν σπούδαζα εκεί και μου έμεινε στο μυαλό για χρόνια, οπότε κάποια στιγμή που το πέτυχα το αγόρασα. Και τώρα που το ξαναδιάβασα; ξανά το ίδιο συναίσθημα, να σκέφτομαι ότι είναι απίστευτο ότι ο συγγραφέας επέζησε από όλη αυτή τη φτώχια και την πείνα για να μας διηγηθεί την ιστορία του. Και θλίψη για την Άντζελα που κατάφερε να μεγαλώσει τα παιδιά της, παρότι ο τρόπος ζωής και η αδράνειά της είναι αδιανόητα για την εποχή μας (ή τη δική μου νοοτροπία εν πάση περιπτώση).
Τέλος πάντων, πραγματικά αν το πετύχετε κάπου διαβάστε το χωρίς δεύτερη σκέψη, είναι πολύ ωραίο βιβλίο.
April 25,2025
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I read his book, then I got to know him, and rarely will you find as similar a voice between the man and the writer as in this memoir. A tragic gem of a childhood story.
April 25,2025
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Let me cut to the chase and say that this is heartbreaking. My first McCourt book I was thrilled that the author himself narrated the audio and in all his Irish glory it made it so much more! I am pleased that I chose this as my introduction to this writer, as I feel I will now have a better understanding of his ambition and how his childhood made him view the world and people around him.

Heartbreakingly sad due to the horrible poverty and surroundings, I was amazed at how humorous this memoir actually was. The Irish are a hearty people and McCort is a true example of that! His style is lyrical...even with the run on thoughts and conversations that a young McCort spews. We follow his story from a young boy, with adult responsibilities to a young man setting out on his own.

This is a story of his desire for something better, which the reader knows he achieved if you are aware of this writer. This story however is only the first chapter of what I imagine was a life and outlook formed by these early years. I look forward to continuing his journey.
April 25,2025
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Angela's Ashes: a memoir of a childhood (Frank McCourt #1), Frank McCourt

Angela's Ashes: A Memoir is a 1996 memoir by the Irish-American author Frank McCourt, with various anecdotes and stories of his childhood.

The narrative is told from the point of view of Frankie as a child.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on 19 August 1930, Frank (Francis) McCourt is the oldest son of Malachy McCourt and Angela Sheehan McCourt.

Both of his parents emigrated from Ireland and married in a shotgun wedding over Angela's pregnancy with Frankie.

Angela is from Limerick, Ireland, and is fond of music, singing, and dancing.

Malachy, from Northern Ireland, is an alcoholic known for his "odd manner" and for telling the stories about Irish heroes.

Frankie is said to resemble his father, having a hang-dog face and the same "odd manner."

In Brooklyn, the McCourts live in modern tenement housing next to a park and share a floor, and an indoor lavatory, with other immigrant families.

Frankie has four younger siblings in Brooklyn: Malachy, born in 1931; twins Oliver and Eugene, born in 1932; and an infant sister, Margaret, in 1935.

The family struggles with poverty because Malachy Sr.'s efforts to find work are complicated by his alcoholism.

The family's prospects, and Angela's spirits, lift whenever he finds a new job and brings home his wages, but soon he finds himself spending all of his pay in bars, despite Angela's schemes to prevent him from doing so. He loses each job after a few weeks. ...

عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «خاکسترهای آنجلا»؛ «خاکستر آنجلا»؛ «اجاق سرد آنجلا»؛ «اشک آنجلا»؛ نویسنده: فرانک مک کورت؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز هجدهم ماه سپتامبر سال 2001میلادی

عنوان: خاکسترهای آنجلا؛ نویسنده: فرانک مک کورت؛ مترجم: پریسا محمدی نژنده؛ تهران، درفام، 1377؛ موضوع: سرگذشتنامه امریکاییهای ایرلندی تبار - آداب و رسوم مردمان ایرلند - سده 20م

عنوان: اجاق سرد آنجلا؛ نویسنده: فرانک مک کورت؛ مترجم: گلی امامی؛ تهران، فرزان روز، 1379؛ در 600ص؛ شابک 9643210529؛ چاپ سوم 1385؛ شابک 9789643210526؛ چاپ پنجم 13933؛

عنوان: اشک آنجلا؛ نویسنده: فرانک مک کورت؛ مترجم: زهرا تابشیان؛ تهران، نشر دشتستان، 1378؛ در 518ص؛ شابک 9649174877؛

عنوان: خاکستر آنجلا؛ نویسنده: فرانک مک کورت؛ مترجم: نینا پزشکیان؛ تهران، بدرقه جاویدان، 1380؛ در 618ص؛ شابک 9649345469؛

عنوان: خاکسترهای آنجلا؛ نویسنده: فرانک مک کورت؛ مترجم: منیژه شیخ جوادی (بهزاد)؛ تهران، پیکان، 1384؛ در 470 ص؛

خود نگاشت زندگینامه ای اثر «فرانک مک کورت» است؛ «خاکسترهای آنجلا»، یا «اجاق سرد آنجلا»، اتوبیوگرافی نویسنده ی ایرلندی تبار آمریکایی، که در سال 1996میلادی برای نخستین بار منتشر شده‌ است؛ رمان زندگی «فرانک مک‌ کورت» در «کودکی»، و «نوجوانی»؛ در «بروکلین نیویورک»، و «لیمریک (شهری در ایرلند)» است؛ داستان، شرح زندگی فقیرانه ی «فرانک»، پدر دائم‌ الخمرش «مالکی»، که پولی برای خانواده باقی نمی‌گذاشته، و نیز بازگویی تلاش‌های مادرش «آنجلا»، برای نجات خانواده است؛ خاکسترهای «آنجلا»، برنده ی جایزه ی «پولیتزر»، در رشته ی زندگی‌نامه در سال 1997میلادی شده؛ «فرانک مک‌کورت»، کتابک «تیز» را در سال 1999میلادی، و «آقا معلم» را در سال 2005میلادی، به عنوان دنباله ی «خاکسترهای آنجلا» به چاپ رسانده اند؛

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 11/07/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 09/06/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
April 25,2025
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Pela voz enternecedora e inocente de uma criança entramos num mundo repleto de miséria extrema, ignorância e crendice.

A acção decorre na década de 40, na Irlanda, entre a Grande Depressão e a II Guerra Mundial. Uma época penosa e conturbada.

Os relatos da fome, do frio, dos vícios que condenam vidas, das doenças e mortes prematuras, das condições paupérrimas onde sobrevivem, são de uma exposição dolorosíssima, inimagináveis. Contudo, o texto vai sendo contemporizado com algum sentido de humor, pela própria inocência da criança e com uma ternura e sinceridade emocionante.

”A comida deu-me uma volta ao estômago. Engasguei-me. Fui a correr para o pátio das traseiras e vomitei tudo. Ela veio atrás de mim.
Vejam bem o ele fez. Vomitou o pequeno-almoço da Primeira Comunhão. Vomitou o corpo e o sangue de Jesus. Agora tenho Deus no pátio das traseiras. O que é que eu hei-de fazer?”
Pág. 133

”A Avó não fala com a Mãe por causa do que eu fiz a Deus no pátio das traseiras da casa dela. A Mãe não fala com a irmã dela, a Tia Aggie, nem com o irmão, O Tio Tom. O Pai não fala com ninguém da família da Mãe e eles não falam com ele por ser do Norte e ter aquela maneira estranha de ser. Ninguém fala com a mulher do Tio Tom, a Jane, por ser de Galway e parecer uma espanhola.(…) O Tio Tom e a Jane de Galway têm filhos, mas nós não podemos falar com eles, porque os nossos pais também não falam uns com os outros.(…)
As pessoas que moram nas ruas de Limerick e que são da mesma família têm a sua maneira própria de não falarem umas com as outras, mas para isso é preciso treinar muitos anos.”
Pág. 136

”Em todas as ruas há alguém que não fala com alguém ou alguém com quem ninguém fala ou alguém que não fala com ninguém. Sabe-se sempres quem são as pessoas que não se falam pela maneira como passam umas pelas outras. As mulheres levantam o nariz, cerram os lábios e desviam a cara. Se uma delas leva xaile, pega numa ponta e atira-a para cima do ombro como que a dizer, Se te atreves a dirigir-me a palavra ou a olhar para mim, minha cabra, desfaço-te a cara.” Pág. 137

Discursos e pensamentos muito expressivos.

Curiosamente deparámo-nos com actos de compaixão e bondade de quem menos se espera, pessoas que tão pouco têm mas que não conseguem ficar indiferentes ao sofrimento alheio.

Odiei as descrições sobre o ensino, a crueldade gratuita, a presunção, a insensibilidade, o despejar informação a ser decorada, não exactamente compreendida.

Revoltei-me ainda mais com a atitude clerical que incutia e difundia um Deus mais castigador do que pacificador, com a ideia do pecado para impor um código de conduta muito rígido; a mensagem é: o acto (ou simples pensamento) pecaminoso do sexo, a fraqueza, a imperfeição do homem traduzem-se sempre no fim mais temido, o Inferno. E as pessoas viviam num permanente temor.

Não dei as 5 estrelas, porque senti que a dado momento, a narrativa se tornava repetitiva, mas em boa verdade, que mais aconteceria nas vidas deles senão a repetição de um dia após o outro tão cinzento quanto tormentoso?

Fiquei com vontade de conhecer o resto do percurso de Frank, mas fiquei com muitas reservas com as opiniões que li sobre o segundo volume e sinto-me tentada a saltar directamente para o terceiro, mas não já.
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