Would you like to read a true story of poverty, survival and hope? If so, I recommend the book Angelas Ashes by writer Frank McCourt, a moving account of his childhood on the squalid streets of Limerick, Ireland.

Frank McCourt was born in Brooklyn, New York to Irish parents who met and married there. His mother, Angela, became pregnant by Frank before the wedding, causing rejection by his strict Catholic family. His father, Malachy, was an alcoholic who squandered what little money he earned on beer, leaving his wife and children without food or clothing. Frank had to take care of his younger brothers, Malachy Jr., the twins Oliver and Eugene, and little Margaret, who died shortly after birth.

The McCourt family decided to return to Ireland, where they hoped to find better job opportunities and a more dignified life. However, they encountered an even harsher reality: poverty, hunger, disease and discrimination. Frank grew up in an environment of misery and violence, but also humor and adventure. Despite the difficulties, Frank never lost his curiosity about the world or his love of stories. He learned to read and write at school, where he discovered Shakespeare and other classical authors. He also became fond of movies and newspapers, which opened a window to other realities.

Frank had to work from a very young age to help his family. He held various trades: coal delivery boy, librarians assistant, postman, debt collector... his dream was to save enough money to return to America, the country where he was born and where he believed he could have a future. better. With effort and determination, Frank managed to fulfill his dream and escape the poverty that had marked him since he was a child.

Angelas Ashes is a masterpiece of autobiographical literature, which has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It is a story that will make you laugh and cry, that will inspire and move you.