Monk Swimming: A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: The random musings of an obvious opportunist.
Review: Mr. McCort's book is little more than an ethnically- embarrassing effort to promote alchohol and acquiescence to carnal pleasure. His self-absorbed and rambling tale is distasteful and promulgates an already "healthy" and largely erroneous image of an Irish male. I resent his incursion into the literary spotlight and must say that his book lacks the character that it could have demonstrated if he was willing to examine his life experiences in a frank and honestly introspective manner. It appears to me that Malachy McCort gave no consideration to anything beyond the potential revenue offered by the publisher. He...in keeping with the rest of his life...wasted an opportunity to create a legacy that was worthy of notice.

Rating:
Summary: Pathetic......really pitiful
Review: Boy was this a waste of money. The book finished without further direction or conclusion...as though McCourt had to drop pen and head out to get faceless again. In the words of Ross Perot; "drunken tales of moral emptiness". Reading this book was more depressing that amusing. I would give this an inverted rating if I could.

Rating:
Summary: This book reminds the reader of the joy of being alive
Review: Malachy's memoirs remind us all just how great life is. By allowing us into his personal hell, Malachy lets us see how our own lives mean so very much. I love this book.

Rating:
Summary: Riding Frank's Coattails
Review: A weak, feeble collection of tired barroom tales told to capitalize on Frank McCourt's success. Don't Bother

Rating:
Summary: A fine book
Review: Yes, so what if Malachy McCourt is somewhat riding the coatails of his brother Frank? This is a fine book never the less. If you have read 'Angela's Ashes' you can't help to at first compare the two. But in several ways, there are no comparisons. It has a lot of similarities but a lot of differences. To those readers who are curious about this title, they should definately pick it up. My reccomendation would be to actually read this one before 'Angela's Ashes' so and unfair comparison would not be made. 'A Monk Swimming' has a lot of very funny bits. It would be a shame if any reader dismisses this book.

Rating:
Summary: Angela's Ashes-Malachy's Misadventures
Review: I read this book for two reasons: Frank McCourt's book and Malachy's appearance on an NPR talk show. Unfortunately, Malachy's vibrance and humor doesn't translate from radio interviews to his first book. However, this book was fairly enjoyable because it picks up where Frank left off. The voice of Malachy is distinctive.He lives brazenly while Frank follows a more traditional immigrant route. Essentially, it's the continuation of the McCourt story told through a different family member's perspective. Families (especially Irish ones) wouldn't be what they are without the characters.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, I get it, and this book is an Abomination
Review: At some point in this book, probably half-way, I realized "Yes, this IS all there is." So, is this book a joke, another middle finger from Malachy to the rest of us because his Dad was a bum, etc.? I think so. How else can you explain it? A joke. Unless, of course, you're stimulated by repetitious sexual self-aggrandizement or wish your to fortify your opinion that the Irish are a putrid race. Thank God we're all not like Malachy, "dipping the wick" into any unlucky woman who walks into our spheres of forceful inebriated influence. Just because a man is clever with the language and has 3 tall tales to tell over and over ad nauseum does not justify publishing this tripe. I am a sucker. ZERO STARS.

Rating:
Summary: A gripping story of a man trying to understand his own life
Review: If you want to know how ordinary people can live extraordinary lives than this book is for you. Malachy McCourt, now a reflective old man, shares his adventures - such as gold smuggling in India and getting"smashed" with the rich and famous - in a sort of boozehounds Forrest Gump. His story is nostalgic and wild, but the truth is that his life has been governed and destroyed by alcohol. You don't know whether to love or hate Malachy and you are not sure whether he wrote this book to come to grips with his pain or to entertain. Regardless, his life is compelling enough to be a book.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely hysterical
Review: One of the best reading books in years. Funny and truthful I couldn't put it down. I laughed so hard people on the airplane (where I was reading) thought I was nuts!

Rating:
Summary: A Monk Swimming - Through Life
Review: Malachy McCourt is the Anit-Monk; at least the anti-Catholic that was the religion of his upbringing. This is a book about someone who has lived life. No, it may not make anyone's top 100 literary list (or rate a Pulitzer prize like Frank McCourt's "Angela's Ashes"), but the anecdotes of this young man's experience in America contrasted with his Limerick lane youth make for a well-spent Sunday afternoon read.