One of my literary heroes passed away today (July 19 ’09 in NY, but July 20 ‘09 here in the Philippines). The best selling and Pulitzer Prize winning author succumbed to melanoma.
I read the news with a heavy heart. For me, there is no other author who has written about extreme poverty with arresting candor, joy, sadness, resiliency and hope. From Limerick, Ireland, he went to New York and worked his way to become a teacher. And a good teacher he was. He inspired many with his stories and his innovative teaching style.
And just when he thought life has completed its servings on him, he became a bestselling author. His book Angela’s Ashes became a bestseller and earned for him a Pulitzer Prize. And he thought it was over. He eventually wrote two more books – ‘Tis and Teacher Man.
Ever the optimistic, he wrote about his life with compassion and zest, so much so that while writing about extreme poverty in Angela’s Ashes, his memoir is filled with nuggets of joy and love for family.
Farewell Frank! Thank you for the stories. Thank you for the inspiration. And most of all, thank you for giving me hope to fulfill the rest of my dreams!
base, hindi ko sya kilala, sana masaya na sya sa langit, for sure naman natupad na ang misyon nya dito sa mundo.
magkano ba kuya ang mga books nya???
i love angela’s ashes!
a well-lived life by touching other people’s lives thru his writings.
ay sadness
mukhang maganda nga ung book..saw the cover pa lang..hehe
sige, try ko pong maghanap ng copy
di ko kilala si kuya frank pero nalungkot ako…
Pulitzer Prize winning author pala sya
nakoo isa syang malaking kawalan sa industriya ng literature
sana nagbigay ka ng sample ng mga
quotable quotes nya hehehe
kahit one word lang
I was saddened by his passing too. I read Angela’s Ashes, but not the other two. I will have to check them out.
may he find peace!
Frank is not familiar to me. But when I read his Irish roots, he sparks some interest in me. I am simply fond of the Irish people – their creativity and contemplative spirit. Frank must have made some difference with his passion for writing.
I see. Never too late at all to fulfill his dream of becoming one. Coelho must be laughing right that time and grace was on Frank’s side.
amp. too sad nga
malamang malulungkot din ako, kapag nawalan ako ng hinahangaang tao, lalo na’t kung nagbigay ito ng inspirasyon at aral sa’kin.
ganoon pa man, nawala man s’ya, ang aral at mga naisulat n’ya ay hindi mawawala sa mga nakabasa nito.
ika nga; hindi porket nalagutan ng hininga ang isang tao, ibig sabihin na nito ay mawawala na rin s’ya ng parang bula. Mas nagiging kilala ang tao kapag sinariwa ang mga naiambag nito sa lipunan lalo na’t sa positibong paraan n’ya ito ginawa.
group hug*
masaya na yun sa kinalalagyan n’ya ngayon. smile na tayo
Farewell Frank!
Frank, kudos to you.
Hi Mark, Dumaan lang para mangumusta at mag-backread. Kararating ko lang mula sa maraming lakad including the first distribution of pencils in Northern Samar. Congratulations on a very successful na pa-contest. Ang galing! Sana ay nagkaroon din ako ng time para sumali. Pero sunud-sunod ang mga pangyayaring medyo sumalungat sa mga balakin ko.
I’ve read Angela’s Ashes. It made me teary eyed several times. Siguro dahil minsan, nakaka-relate ako. I haven’t read though his other writings. Susubukin kong hanapin sa bookstores.
ha? patay na sya. i love angela’s ashes. ari sa shelf sa atubang ko subong… pati ang wala ko pa nabasa nga teacher man… pareho gid sang ginakaptan nya sa picture.
hmmm..may bagong libro nanaman akong babasahin
Basahan mo kapatid… Mai-inspire ka talaga…
Mark, hindi kami close ni Frank pero may his soul rest in peace. He must have been a wonderful author for his death has saddened you.