. Cover to cover.
It was awful.
Don't ever read this book; I'm begging you.
Even worse? I read the sequel, 'Tis: A Memoir
'. Cover to cover.
It was even worse.
The books were written in a strange, riveting style. They were hard to put down. But the content was vile. Absolutely vile. While reading the first book, I found myself constantly disgruntled with my husband. I didn't understand why at first, but it dawned on me that I was furious at the husband in the book and my poor husband was receiving the overflow of my emotions. Sorry, babe.
Frank McCourt, the author, shared every wretched detail. Every dirty thought. He exposed every sin, in his life and in the lives of others. It finally dawned on me last night....it was his confession. He expresses so much anger toward the Catholic church and yet, the books hold such a longing to return to a state of grace. If only. But he says his sins are too many and any priest would refuse him. He couldn't bring himself to confess to a priest. But the books serve as his confession. Now I just hurt for him. It's haunting me today. Though he admits that his sins are so many, it is said as though his sins are too many for the church to forgive him. It is not said as though his sins are so many and he feels true remorse for sinning against God. There is no sorrow in his actions. The confession of others' sins seems to be more of a justification in this strange, sideways conversation with God. If only he knew. Repentance. So simple. So powerful. To believe Christ did all that was necessary. To humbly accept that perfect gift.
5 comments:
I started to read it a few months ago, but I was definitely not in any sort of "place" for that sort of reading. So should I pick it up again when David comes home or return it to the thrift store from whence it came? I'm thinking the former. :-)
No! No! No! The Latter! The Latter! Go read a happy book!
Wow. You are really adamant that nobody read this book, and that just makes me want to read it all the more to see WHY you don't want me to read it.
But fine. A happy book. Speaking of which, did you read Water For Elephants? The main story is a bit dark, but the ending caught me so by surprise, I laughed out loud. :-)
Okay, definately NOT reading this book. Dark books make me angry at the world, God, and poor Clay. I am like that, if I read something with heavy emotional content or something dark I take it out on Clay!
So, I don't read it. Usually.
I have heard several people tell me the same thing about the book.
Sad. Thanks for the warning. Psst! I don't think 100 Years of Solitude is worth the time. Others think differently though. Just finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and that was an excellent read. I'm reading Their Eyes Were Watching God now. Did you ever get through East of Eden?
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