Were you saddened by Frank McCourt's death today?

I was unaware he had passed. Another light extinguished. Far too many this year it seems.

He had, apparently, both meningitis and a melanoma. In his late 70’s, he was a shining example of how one can write a spectacularly original book at any age. I would have enjoyed having him as my English teacher in HS.

Edited by self due to mis-reading response

I would have liked to have had him as a teacher. I was imagining what it would be like after I mis-read your response and it would have been wonderful.

Sorry I did not read your response correctly.

I would have enjoyed having him….Don’t I wish, though.

My grandparents are probably pretty bummed.

Yes, I loved his work.. I hope all who want to understand the nature of struggle and class read Angela’s Ashes..so real it hurt.

I am sorry that we have lost him. However, I did struggle to get two-thirds of the way through Angela’s Ashes and then gave up. I found the personal history and the account of the time and place memorable and affecting, but I guess I also felt worn down by the fact that it seemed to be the same finite sequence of events repeated again and again. I wouldn’t have wanted to live it, and I didn’t want to read it either.

It was that book that sent me off to read about Cuchulain, about whom the father, Malachy McCourt, liked to ramble on when in his cups. I bought a copy in hard cover, in Lady Augusta Gregory’s magnificent rendition. How I do love the graceful, glorious prose of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries! Even children’s books written in that period were creations of literary beauty. I think something of the character of that language infuses McCourt’s style and gives it a richness far above plain prose. I wish I had been able to finish the book.

‘in ‘honor, ‘i’m ‘putting ‘apostrophes ‘in ‘front ‘of ‘all ‘that ‘i ‘say…

I was indeed saddened, I loved Angela’s Ashes, it is by far the best autobiography I have ever read. He was a brilliant author and storyteller and his work will be missed. I too would have loved to have had him as a teacher!

I am saddened. I love his books, but they were even better as audiobooks. Getting to hear McCourt sing his father’s drunken Irish songs was quite moving and amusing.

Audiobooks—now, that’s an idea. Maybe I’ll give it another try.

I just learned of Frank McCourt’s death from your question. I loved his book—and I am sad that he died. Relatively young, really.

Yes, I am a little upset. I love “Angela’s Ashes”. When I flew into Brisbane at 5am one morning, I hauled myself out of my room at 9am to go to Meyer’s where he was holding an booksigning session that day. He was a nice guy.

Asked him if he would ever come over to Singapore but he said no… :( At least I got my copy of the book autographed.

I am sorry that this world has lost yet another creative participant, even though I have not yet read that book. It is on my “books to read” list though.

I don’t find myself sad though when people I don’t know intimately, pass away. He was in his later years and died with a full life.

When celebrities pass it is often in tragic ways and that can be disturbing but it doesn’t sadden me.