Reader Response Pages 11-90

Dear Reader,

I love the book so far!  At first it really aggravated me because the dialogue had no quotation marks around it.  When I read a story, I can hear the dialogue in my head in the person’s voice, as clear as it would have been if they were speaking.  I can add accents, pitches, or anything else that would add to the character.  Without them, I hear Frank McCourt reading what they’re saying.  He’s reading the story to me.  But I’ve gotten used to it; I actually enjoy it.  It’s a different method of listening and I enjoy it.  I know it bothered some people, have you guys gotten used to it yet?

            I felt awful after Margret’s death.  I mean, we knew she was going to die, but it still hits hard.  For some reason, the pure fact that she was a girl brought so much joy to this rather pitiful family.  Take, for example, their dad.  He was a bum.  He made me mad at some parts.  He was an awful influence on the children, and humiliating.  This was all because of his drinking.  As soon as the baby was born, he stopped.  He was sober, and the family had food.  They were happy.  Their father was happy, and he was pulling himself out of the devastating hole he had dug.  Sometimes he told Margret that, “He’ll get a job soon, so he will, and she’ll have dresses of silk and shoes with silver buckles.” (30).  But then she was wrenched away from them!  How unfair!  They didn’t deserve that at all!  But this is real life, so why should it be fair?  I wanted to reach through the book and hug Angela.  I wanted her to hug her remaining children. 

            That also goes with the deaths of Oliver and Eugene.  I had forgotten, at this point, the beginning bit where he spoiled it all, so it surprised me when they passed.  He was sick, but it seemed so small, and I honestly expected him to live.  I also didn’t think she would be so unfortunate as to lose a second child.  No, a third, poor Angela had a child who died while being born.  I don’t think she deserved it, do you?  And it broke my heart to see little Eugene wandering about, wondering where his twin was.  For example, “When he wakes in the morning he says, Ollie, Ollie, and toddles around the room…” (81).  It reminded me of the Weasley twins (sorry if you haven’t read Harry Potter yet).  They were obviously much closer to each other than the other siblings.  So it was almost as though I was expecting Eugene to pass as well.  As twins, they were almost always mentioned together, so in the mind they form into what resembles one character.  It made sense, in an awful way, for Eugene to die as well.  I’ll miss them as the book progresses. 

            A portion of my enjoyment for this book comes from the fact that I’m of Irish descent.  At one point, they mention Cork (the sergeant’s wife was from there).  I have relatives there!  My mom read this book, and so did my Nana.  Actually, my mom came home and saw it lying on the kitchen table, and she asked why I was reading it.  She said it was a good book, but terribly sad and she wouldn’t recommend it.  She said the family was just too poor.  Despite this, I’m still really enjoying it.  J

            I have mixed feelings towards the father, and I’m almost ashamed of it.  As I mentioned earlier, he’s a bum.  She wasn’t wise to marry him.  He can never find a job, and when he does, it’s for a very low pay.  And then, he drinks away all of the money! As Frank stated, his dad, “often comes home with the whiskey smell on him…” (28).  Shortly after that, the job is lost, and the family is lost and without any money.  He knows what he’s doing.  He knows very well that buying that pint will cost the family money that they don’t have.  He knows that it’s embarrassing for his wife, and the rest of his family.  He knows that he’s going to derive a reputation that lacks dignity.  Yet, he goes anyways!!  This drives me crazy!!  And on top of that, he loves them!  He loves them very very much!  He loves his wife, and he loves his sons.  He’s proud of them.  He would have made a very good father if he would just refrain from drinking.  Oh well, I can’t change it.  The book’s only just begun. I don’t think it becomes any easier for that poor family. 

Sincerely,

Emily Botelho