Eileen H

Eileen Howard
Angela’s Ashes
Frank McCourt
Memoir
Just Right
Page 260

1.Right now in my book Frank, his brother Malachy, and his friend Billy Campbell start a soccer team. None of them can afford uniforms or equipment, so they use a sheep’s bladder stuffed with rags as a soccer ball. For their uniforms Frank goes into the trunk that his mom told him never to go into, to get his moms red dress and cut red hearts out of the dress. Frank gives the red hearts to the team, so they could be like The Red Hearts of Limerick, the soccer team from Ireland. After many practices Frank’s team challenges another team, from the wealthier part of Limerick. It was a very tight game until Frank scored the winning goal, giving the self-esteem that he desperately needed.
2.So far I really like this book. At some points it will get really hard to read because it is so gut-wrenching. But then something that winning the soccer game happens and I can’t put the book down. Also I really like the way McCourt writes. He has a way of putting in witty comments here and there that gives the book a light hearted feel in some places.
3.One theme I have noticed so far is hunger. Frank’s mother is forced to go to St. Vincent de Paul to beg for money for food because their father drinks away all the money that he earns. When they do get the food the food is unsatisfying and there is never enough for everyone. Also when Frank often says that when he grows up he will always have enough food because in his mind food is a sign of wealth and significance.
4. My favorite character is Frank’s mother, Angela. She is not afraid to ruin her reputation in order to provide for her children. For her, her children always come first no matter what, unlike Frank’s father, Malachy Sr. Even though they are often in then worst circumstances; Angela still makes sure that her children are raised as well-behaved, educated children.
5. My least favorite character is Frank’s father, Malachy Sr. He rarely acts like the parent, always putting himself first and making his family suffer because of it. He is the only one in the family, at the moment, that is able to work and he uses the money he makes to go to the pubs and drink away all that he makes. Along with always putting himself first, he doesn’t want to sacrifice his status to help out his family and gets mad at his for begging for food.
6. I think that eventually Angela will kick Malachy Sr. out of the house because he causes so much grief. Then Frank will become the man of the house and provide for the rest of the family.