Monk Swimming: A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: not great, but a fun read
Review: Malachy is clearly tied to his brothers coattails. A Monk Swimming has none of the nuances or poetry of Angela's Ashes; Malachy seems to have learned nothing from his misspent life. But he tells his tales (tall and otherwise) with wit and charm.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, there were some low spots but overall a satisfying read
Review: The final chapter of the book, as well as the last two pages of epilogue were worth the doldurms in the middle of the book. The retelling and sometimes glorification of past battles with "Nancy Whiskey" I found similiar to most retrospectives. It reminded me of a adult recounting a childhood of abuse. Some fact, some fiction, a little pride, a little humiliation, and ultimately recognition of imperfect life. We should all be so honest. We should all be so free. Tog' go bog e' ("take it easy" in Irish)

Rating:
Summary: Great read warts and all
Review: Ah blow it out ye're collective arses the whole lot of ye. This book is a great read, Im sorry for all ye crowd who after reading Angela's Ashes expected Malachy to become a priest and head off to the missions to save hundreds of souls, but thats not how real life is baby. Well done MALACHY

Rating:
Summary: Tedious and irritating
Review: The sole purpose of this book is to alert us to how much of a "card" McCourt is; how no party would be complete without him; and how so many parties have centered around him. The book is unrelenting in its promotion of McCourt's ego. Parts of it, frankly, I do not believe. His behavior as described throughout is boorish. To buy this book is only to give support, however tenuous, to his belief that his behavior is in some way amusing or acceptable. Tedious and irritating in the extreme.

Rating:
Summary: Bloody Awful
Review: One star is extravagant and unwarranted praise for this terrible book. If you paid money for it, you'll kick yourself. If you read through to the end you'll want to take up self-flagellation. If you're stuck on an island with nothing but this book, may God have mercy on your soul.

Rating:
Summary: too much effort to read totally boring
Review: I wanted to read this book with as much enthusisasm and zest with which i read Angelas ashes. How disappointed I was,Maybe I should have tried to read this first,but unfortunatey i gave up reading this book. I am glad I borrowed it from the library and didnt buy it.I couldnt find anything interesting about Malachys life,i suspect this was only published due to the great success of his brothers book.for me this is a big literary disappointment.a big let down sorry Mr McCourt.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable, fast paced read, poignant at times....
Review: It is a shame that this book must always be compared to Angela's Ashes. True, AA was a masterpiece, but this is also a good book in its own right, and I do not believe Malachy McCourt was attempting to create another Angela's Ashes, just tell his own story. It answered some of my questions as to what happened to the McCourts after Angela's Ashes ended. I hope the brothers continue to write and let us know the next chapter in their lives.

Rating:
Summary: A Waste of Money
Review: Well, I must admit that I, too, was another of Malachy McCourt's "suckers"...as another person said in his review...a "victim of his latest con". What a brilliant idea...riding on his brother's coat-tails!!! And a best seller to boot!! I wonder how much of the book was fact and how much was just plain bull**it!!! I couldn't even make it through the entire book...I couldnt stand to read one more paragraph written by this arrogant, insensitive a$$... Im sorry I wasted my money and my time...

Rating:
Summary: A well written recollection of a wild life
Review: Malachy McCourt's unflinching look at his wild and crazy early years in America is a tale you don't want to miss. Had he tried to portray himself in a better light, as some reviewers would have preferred, the essence would have been lost. Instead he tells the reader all, the bad, the good and the great, which makes this book a fabulous read! I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Phwat a hoot!
Review: This guy is a scream! He came to the US and lived life to its fullest and enjoyed every minute of it.

Unfortunately he also lived what he learned, alcoholism and abandonment of his family. I only wish the book had told what he was up to today and how he redeemed himself to his children (if he did). I noticed in the credits he did credit Bill W.(originator of AA) so hopefully he has beaten down that demon of the past. This book should serve as a lesson that the example you set is what your children will learn.