'Tis

Frank McCourt

Like many who read the superb 'Angela's Ashes', I was left wanting to know what happened next. This is the answer. It takes us from young Frankie's arrival in the States in the early 50s up to the 80s and is a quick and engrossing read, told in the author's relaxed, easy style.

It lacks the emotional depth and intensity of 'Angela's Ashes', being much more anecdotal, perhaps because the experiences of childhood - especially a childhood like McCourt's - are imprinted more firmly than those of later life. There's a rich cast of characters and lots of humorous stuff from his days as a longshoreman, GI and high school teacher, plus his clumsy and self-conscious encounters with members of the opposite sex. He has a keen eye for all sorts of scenarios, and a fine ear for dialogue. He also has a great affinity for the underdog, but the shadow of the demon booze is never far away, ditto his inner anguish over the desire to settle down vs the attractions of a bohemian lifestyle.

''Tis' won't win a Pulitzer, unlike its illustrious predecessor, but it'll help pass that rainy afternoon or long-distance journey.