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Angela's Ashes: A Memoir Audiobook

Angelas Ashes: A Memoir Audiobook, by Frank McCourt Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Frank McCourt Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 10.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 7.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: October 1997 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780743518901

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

25

Longest Chapter Length:

58:17 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

03 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

36:21 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

7

Other Audiobooks Written by Frank McCourt: > View All...

Synopsis

Angela's Ashes is a memoir written by Frank McCourt. The author also narrates this unabridged audio version. Pulitzer Prize winner for Autobiography, Angela's Ashes tells a saga spanning an ocean. Though some think of this book as sorrowful, many who have heard McCourt tell his story can hear the joy he felt over the smallest victory of finding a meal and can understand the sense of humor that he developed in order to bear these blows of life. This is thought of as a classic in memoir literature, and was adapted for a film. Living in poverty as a child, McCourt reveals those days into his adult years in the cities of Limerick, Ireland and Brooklyn, New York. He struggled with his father's alcoholism and with his mother's rescuing nature, which preserved their family unit for a time.

He was born in the thirties in New York to Irish immigrants, and later returned with them to the desolate slumhouses of Limerick, Ireland. The name Angela is his mother's, and she scrounged with what little money she had left over from his father's alcohol binges. His dad didn't work much in the first place. Though sometimes Frank had to wear soles on his shoe from rubber of a tire, and though sometimes he had to beg for pork head for holiday meals, and though he had to look for his dad in pubs, he is still able to tell us these stories with hope, grace, and humanity.

Frank McCourt was a teacher for years, and originally got himself into college without a high school degree by talking his way into New York University and promising to maintain an average grade of a B+. He died from cancer in 2009.

"This book is among my favorites and a definite must-read. I could see myself re-reading it several times. It is written from the perspective of a small child but is in no way simplistic--descriptions are wonderfully nuanced and enlightening, even as the character speaks in his childlike voice. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain insight into what poverty is truly like, as what you take away from it rings true in all countries and epochs."

— Stephanielle (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “A splendid memoir, both funny and forgiving.” 

    — People
  • “It is only the best storyteller who can so beguile his readers that he leaves them wanting more when he’s done. With Angela’s Ashes, McCourt proves himself one of the very best.”

    — Newsweek
  • “The reader of this stunning memoir can only hope that Mr. McCourt will set down the story of his subsequent adventures in America in another book. Angela’s Ashes is so good it deserves a sequel.” 

    — New York Times
  • “A spellbinding memoir of childhood that swerves flawlessly between aching sadness and desperate humor...A work of lasting beauty.” 

    — Philadelphia Inquirer

Awards

  • Pulitzer Prize winner
  • A #1 New York Times bestseller
  • A USA Today bestseller
  • 1996 National Book Critics Circle Award Winner for Biography/Autobiography
  • Winner of the 1996 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Biography
  • An American Bookseller Association Book of the Year in 1997
  • Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
  • A New York Times Best Book for Nonfiction in 1996
  • An ALA Notable Book Nonfiction Finalist
  • Nominated for the Barnes & Noble Discover Award
  • Oprah Pick for Best Memoirs of a Generation

Angela's Ashes Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.542857142857143 out of 54.542857142857143 out of 54.542857142857143 out of 54.542857142857143 out of 54.542857142857143 out of 5 (4.54)
5 Stars: 23
4 Stars: 9
3 Stars: 2
2 Stars: 1
1 Stars: 0
Narration: 4.333333333333333 out of 54.333333333333333 out of 54.333333333333333 out of 54.333333333333333 out of 54.333333333333333 out of 5 (4.33)
5 Stars: 2
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 1
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 (4.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 1
3 Stars: 1
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    — 4/9/2023
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Story Rating: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I am disappointed with the narration. I thought letting my students listen to the book in an Irish accent would give better context, but it lacks expression. "

    — KLDNKIDS, 9/8/2021
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Edward Aragon, 7/24/2019
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is my all time favorite book. It made me laugh and cry and parts of it reminded me so much of my own family. The humor in it is not for everyone but, in my opinion, the humor (though mostly a depressing humor) was the best part of the book. Loved it. "

    — Pepper, 2/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Amazing book..I love the way he wrote it from a boys point of view ..so descriptive and clever "

    — Janet, 1/28/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " read again. absolutly beautiful and heartbreaking. "

    — Julie, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A very quick read as well as amazing. Held my interest from front to back. A very detailed image of life growing up in Ireland/America with a family controlled by the "consumption" and the everyday life of it. "

    — Cory, 1/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " "Loved both audio and read, sad, poignant, humorous, story thru boy's eyes, poverty in Ireland, '40s etc., audio great- read by author" "

    — Becca, 1/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " If Frank McCourt can survive the crushing poverty and near death experiences of his childhood, this is a testament to anyone in dire circumstances that there is hope. "

    — Elise, 1/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A superb book. I enjoyed it so much I also borrowed for the library the book on tape, read by Frankie McCourt and accompanied by wonderful Irish music. Loved THAT even more! "

    — Joyce, 12/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Great story of enduring and overcoming poverty. "

    — Kari, 11/21/2013

About Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt (1930–2009) was born in Brooklyn, New York, grew up in Limerick, Ireland, and returned to America in 1949. He taught in New York City high schools for thirty years. His first book, Angela’s Ashes, won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. He won the prestigious Ellis Island Family Heritage Award and the John Dewey Award for Excellence in Education in 2006.