There is sad news in the book world this week after the passing of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt on Sunday July 19th. As a tribute to McCourt, we thought we'd write this post about his work, and the reflections of LivingSocial members like you!
Although he was born in Brooklyn, McCourt's family moved back to Ireland where he suffered through what he called a "miserable Irish childhood" in the slums of Limerick. In his Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Angela’s Ashes, McCourt shares intimate stories about his father's alcoholism, his mother's struggle to feed her family, and the tragic deaths of his siblings. The resulting read is a delicate balance of heartbreak and humor that few authors are able to pull off.
The impact of this book can be seen amongst the LivingSocial community where Angela's Ashes is rated 5-stars, appears in nearly 45,000 collections, and has been reviewed almost 3,500 times. After buying the novel by mistake, Gina couldn’t put it down and labels it “a story of resolve and the resilience of the human spirit.” Lisa found herself "both crying and laughing," while Antonio calls it "inspiring and beautiful on so many levels." Angelene adds that "it really makes you appreciate the little things that you do have," lamenting at how often she takes those things for granted. You're not alone, Angelene, we all do!
Although Angela's Ashes was McCourt's most famous work, he did write a few other popular memoirs such as 'Tis, which details McCourt’s journey back to America where he experienced firsthand what life was like as an immigrant, went to university, became a teacher, and fell in love for the first time. Teacher Man is a story that highlights his 30-year career as a teacher in the New York public school system, and Angela and the Baby Jesus marks the author's first foray into children's literature.
No matter what your favorite book, it's safe to say that Frank McCourt's contribution to the literary world was magnificent. We found a touching tribute to him online at Newsweek and we thought we'd share it with you. When you're done reading that, be sure to rate, review, and share your thoughts about Frank McCourt and his multiple memoirs with other LivingSocialites in LivingSocial: Books.
