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ultimatekate's review against another edition
4.0
At first, I was a little disappointed, because the book went by so fast. He summed up 30 years of teaching in a little over 200 pages.
Then, when I thought about it, I realized how much it made sense. I've only been teaching for five years, and at times, it feels like forever, but at the same time, it's gone by so fast. I think McCourt captured that perfectly.
Also, I love his self-deprecating humor. There are many times when I feel like a fraud as a teacher, but I know that if I tried to write like McCourt, I'd come off sounding whiny. He manages to do it sounding sincere.
Then, when I thought about it, I realized how much it made sense. I've only been teaching for five years, and at times, it feels like forever, but at the same time, it's gone by so fast. I think McCourt captured that perfectly.
Also, I love his self-deprecating humor. There are many times when I feel like a fraud as a teacher, but I know that if I tried to write like McCourt, I'd come off sounding whiny. He manages to do it sounding sincere.
or10n's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I enjoyed this book much more than 'Tis, but I think Angela's Ashes is still my favorite of the three. This book was more interesting to me largely due to my own aspirations to become a teacher someday. I would like to either teach English as a second language, or creative writing, so this story really stood out to me. I kept seeing myself in Frank. I even had a similar assignment as a Junior in high school about "My Papa's Waltz"!
One moment that felt so personal to me that it almost scared me was when Frank accidentally researched history instead of literature. I am a HUGE history hobbiest, and that exact thing has happened to me, although with much lower stakes. (It happened in Dublin for me too!!)
I love a meandering book with no real direct end, and history and biography usually tend to be that way. If I had to pick a negative, I would say that this book isn't written in the most sensitive way.
This book affected me emotionally in ways that I feel compelled to attribute to the similarities between Frank and my interests. It left me feeling overall: weird but happy I read it.
One moment that felt so personal to me that it almost scared me was when Frank accidentally researched history instead of literature. I am a HUGE history hobbiest, and that exact thing has happened to me, although with much lower stakes. (It happened in Dublin for me too!!)
I love a meandering book with no real direct end, and history and biography usually tend to be that way. If I had to pick a negative, I would say that this book isn't written in the most sensitive way.
This book affected me emotionally in ways that I feel compelled to attribute to the similarities between Frank and my interests. It left me feeling overall: weird but happy I read it.
nicola501670's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
I love this author. He writes about his life. No sugar coating. But he does it so you can see just a little of yourself in him.
somanybookstoread's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is Frank McCourt at his finest. I dare say I enjoyed this one more than Angela's Ashes. In fact, because I was so impressed with this work by McCourt, I feel as though I should return to his Pulitzer prizewinner and give it another read. The teacher in me found McCourt's descriptions and observations to be astute and moving. The writer in me found his prose to be effective and well-crafted. I part listened to this book (read by the now deceased author, which was a real treat)and part read it. I definitely recommend the audiobook for anyone who enjoys to get their doses of literature that way. Quite impressive, Mr. McCourt. Thank you very much.
gingerliss's review against another edition
4.0
Although it didn't captivate me like Angela's Ashes and 'Tis did this was still a very good read. Focusing more on situations in the class rather than on McCourts life, it was both funny and touching. Most of all I found it very inspiring, as a future English Lit. student and a wannabe writer in motivated me to follow those dreams.
thebanhammer's review against another edition
4.0
What an amazing book. Frank McCourt is a powerful writer who flows from vignette to vignette, creating a beautiful work that reflects a well-lived life of a man searching for meaning in his actions. If you are an educator, you absolutely should read this book, because some things never change. If you are not an educator, you should absolutely read this book, because some things never change.
bkeving_74's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0