Family.
Family is a theme that is evidently portrayed throughout my autobiography. My entire family made up my life as a child and that's why its importance shines through in this book. I believe that family, no matter how they are, make the foundation for who you are as a person. I may not have had the greatest family in the world, but they were unique. I believe I tried to make this message come across in my novel; that no matter how good or bad your family is, at the end of the day you can't change anything. Especially the fact that my novel was inspired by my mother, Angela, it initially starts off the novel giving a warm, familiar feeling.
Religion.
Religion is a prominent theme in this novel. My entire life I had been taught that god is the one with all the answers and I spent my childhood looking to him for answers. My autobiography portrays many elements of the Irish-American family and the religious practices they follow while living in Limerick, Ireland. The novel explores many aspects of the Irish religion and speaks of nuns, saints and even popes that I use to turn to as a young boy.
Freedom.
My autobiography also explores the limitations on freedom when I was young. I lived my life doing as I was told and at odd times misbehaving; but until I became an adult I did not realize how much I was restricted to do things. The people of Ireland where to afraid to do what they wanted in fear of what others would think or say. I was never able to freely tell my parents what I was going to do that day, for fear they would refuse. These limitations were not only placed within a neighborhood, they created a divide distinguishing social classes. I will always remember that day when my mother had the door slammed in her face because they wouldn't let me continue my education. I wanted to illustrate these different freedoms for different people as a way of life that I lived.