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Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes and Teacher Man died at age 78.
He had a unique, witty, writing style.
He died of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. I remember an article by a noted dermatologist that Irish-Americans have the highest rate of skin cancer of any ethic group in the world. I remind both of my daughters of this fact not only because of their Irish-American heritage but because they are both blue-eyed redheads!
http://www.comcast.net/articles/ente....Obit.McCourt/
Angela's Ashes was an unbelievably fine book.
It was a novelization of his personal history, and masterfully written.
Most remarkable to me was the manner in which the book's narrative style evolved.
It was as if a child were retelling the earliest memories of life: the feeble charms and pathetic weaknesses of an alcoholic father, the supernatural tyranny of the Catholic church, and the constant shame and degradation of living in 18th century poverty, though it was Ireland of the 1930's.
As he travels through adolescence and becomes a young adult the introspection and spiritual powers of the narrator increase as well.
After the final sentence I remember putting the book down, heaving a great sigh and saying, "Wow!"
RIP, Frank McCourt.