Apr 10, 2004 08:22 AM
5700 Views
(Updated Apr 10, 2004 08:23 AM)
Here where I live (Iceland) books about bad childhood has become more and more popular over the last years. Books about extreme conditions for children, who have grown up to become talented writers. Children under extreme conditions, who have had to be tough to get through life's rough hours. Those kind stories are of course not new, these Cinderella stories have been popular since people began telling stories.
And you can understand the appeal of those stories. We always love good drama, to be touched by stories about the trauma and sadness. I might even say that the humanity has a perverse tendency to want to know how bad other people have it, not to feel good about it, but to think that since they know how bad this world can be, the somehow are a bit wiser... and maybe people become wiser by reading about other peoples tragedies, who knows!
I have had my share of sad stories over my short life (so far, 19 years old) and was in the beginning not very eager to start to read this book. The previous books I had looked into which where similar to 'Angela's Ashes (books like ''A Child Called It'', ''They Cage the Animals at Night'' and so on...) I found... well, I'll think I'll make a new word do describe how I feel about them: ''emotions-porno''. Maybe a bit harsh word, but it does its job by describing them. I am reluctant to say that because I am not a female, I do not like those kinds of books, but my mother and sister can spend hours reading this kind of literature, and then talk about them.
I am sure that those kind of stories exist all over the world. I am even sure that the stories of my grandmothers' childhood would be material for a few bestsellers. The only thing you really need is a good writer.
And Frank McCourt IS a good writer and more than that. He has an extremely good sense of humor and a witty way of looking on life that appeals directly to me!
I could point out in this review how this book touched me emotionally (and it did, make no mistake about that!), but since I am sure that you, dear reader, who is reading this (probably because you are interested in this book), can read million of other reviews, pointing out how emotionally interesting this book is, I will point out that this book tells its stories, sad and true very well and witty. Frank McCourt proofs it that drama and humor is something that can well be mixed together and can appeal do a wide range of readers, which has made his books so popular
I would say that it is very likely, dear reader, that you will enjoy reading this book! But then again you might not enjoy it at all! But I liked it, and that why I am giving it 4 out of 5 stars.
(and since English is not my first language (actually my third) you must forgive bad grammar and so on)
