Angela's Ashes

by Frank McCourt. This memory of the author's childhood is absolutely enthralling. The poverty that the family suffered is unbelievable, and leaves you wondering how anyone could survive. It was interesting that when they were living in New York, the kindly neighbour Mrs. Leibowitz, who is as poor as the McCourts, manages to produce good healthy soups, whereas Angela McCourt seems incapable of cooking anything, other than potatoes. A fabulously written book, we re-live that terrible time through the eyes of the author.