Angela's Ashes - A Memoir by Frank Mc Court

'Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood'

and the story begins. This is the most depressing ... (I must stress on the word depressing bcos it really was) but at the same time most funniest, book I have ever read. I never thought such combination is possible but yet Frank McCourt was able to pull it brilliantly in his memoir. Most of the time, I don't know whether to cry or to laugh and at the end I did both (which made me looked pretty ridiculous). It helps when hubby is away in a far away country like Spain therefore no one can witness my pathetic display of emotion (which he is sooo used to :)

(at 10 years old) 'Priests and Masters told us that Confirmation means you are a true soldier of the Church and that entitles you to die and be a martyr in case we're invaded by enemies of the Church. More dying. I want to tell them I wont be able to die for the Faith because I'm already booked to die for Ireland'

The story is from the perspective of a very young boy as young as 2 years old till he was about 18 years of age. Emotion is very, very raw and honest. I love the simplicity and pureness of this boy and his brothers, both in their actions and thoughts. We all have been there before. Being kids. So that's why I guess, this book really strike a chord at me. And on top of it all, these kids were really, really poor in the merciless cold and wet climate of Ireland. So they were constantly hungry and stayed hungry. Which was very sad. Whilst I constantly in battle to force my boys to eat!!!

'The next Saturday there's no telegram (from Dad)nor the Saturday after nor any Saturday forever. Mam begs again at the St Vincent de Paul Society ... and smiles when (other people) have their bit of a joke about Dad having a tart in Piccadilly. Michael (4 year old brother) wants to know what a tart is and she tells him it's something you have with tea.' note: to laugh or cry?

'We have no money for a proper ball (to play soccer) so one of the boys brings a sheep's bladder stuffed with rags'.

Food was very scarce for them. So they were very appreciative of any little that come their way (usually in a form of bread crumb and even cooking grease that stuck on the newspaper!!)

Most of the time I found myself flipping to the back page to see the author's picture - trying to make the sense of it all especially when the accounts become too horrific for a boy to endure ... but he did and survived to tell it all.

I'm sooo glad I found this book. It showed and proved the power of human spirit and we are after all only human. It is indeed a gem. 5 stars from me. I learned that there is a continuation of this memoir called 'Tis, hope I can find it.

and I'm very grateful and thankful for every bite of food, I have.

p/s did I tell you that this book is also the winner of the pulitzer prize? Awesome isnt it?