I haven't read that many memoirs but I've always thought I'd like them. Part of the difficulty is finding people whose lives have been interesting enough to read about, and there's also the fact that most people would never reveal their true life stories because there are things in there they don't want anyone to know. Maybe it's different when you're approaching 70, something you did 50 years ago, however terrible, isn't such a big deal any more.

It's a very good book, but I'm not entirely sure of its truthfulness in every detail. How could someone remember things in absolute clarity from when he was three years old? I can't remember things from last week with that kind of detail...

If you don't worry too much about its truthfulness and just concentrate on the time and place depicted in the book, and the things happening to the McCourt family, it's an enlightening experience. Next time you're out of milk because you forgot to buy any and you're thinking that's the worst thing that could have happened, maybe you'll get a flashback to Ireland in the 1930's and your troubles aqcuire some much needed relativity.

The sex scenes were suspicious. They read way too much as wish fulfillment rather than reality, especially the "coming to/in America" scene.