Maybe you've noticed from my fancy-schmancy sidebar lists that I'm currently reading Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt? This book has been all over the bestseller and awards lists for ages, but the title sounded so depressing that I just couldn't bring myself to read it until it was in the bargain bin at Barnes and Noble and I happened to have $5.98 burning a hole in my pocket.
It should come with a warning label: "Do not read this book if you have, know, or have ever seen a child because your heart will plummet to the depths of your gut and stay there."
This is not to say Angela's Ashes is not worth reading. It's sublime and you won't be able to put it down. But dear sweet Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, could any more tragedy have befallen this poor Irish family? Och, Ai! ("Och, Ai!" is something the book's characters say a lot and after reading the phrase for, oh, the billionth time, it suddenly dawned on me: "Och, Ai, Och, Ai, Ok Ai, Ok-Ay, OK! OK! OK!" The Irish invented "OK"! Aren't you impressed? Am I the only person who did not know this bit of trivia? Ye crazy Oirish, with yer Guinness and yer fuzzy sweaters and yer smiling blue eyes!)
Now that I'm a parent, I'm finding there are millions of books and movies that could stand to sport warning labels. Motherhood is really kickin' my ass when it comes to things I can no longer stomach on TV or in literature. I remember watching Sophie's Choice pre-kids and though I found it extremely depressing and I cried, you didn't have to scrape my fried edges off the floor, you know what I mean? These days it's all I can do to get though an episode of Iron Chef (those poor baby eels!)
Will there ever come a time when I can watch something other than The View again?
Och, ai . . .
3 comments:
Hiya! Stopping by from the Super Awesome Club to say what's up. If you liked Angela's ashes, you should really read 'tis, also by frank McCourt. I'd lend you my copy, but I'm protective over my books. LOL, they never seem to find there way home.....
Cheers!
I loved that book. I read the second one too... I think it was "'Tis." So sad!
I'm finding my taste for senseless violence (aside from The 300 - I want to marry that movie) and tragedy has completely plummeted since I found out I was pregnant. I can only imagine how militant I might be when I have this baby. NO SADNESS! Sunshine and rainbows or nothin'!
Oh! And my word, are your babies cute! :)
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