Rating: 
Summary: A lout on the loose
Review: If we accept the philosophical precept that, "The unexamined life is not worth living", then Malachy McCourt's odd tale of his drunken, self-absorbed adventures makes it abundantly clear that the unexamined life is not worth writing about, either. Nor is it worth reading about.If the book had to stand (and be published) on its own merits, rather than as the work of the brother of Frank McCourt, I don't believe it would have made it past a first reading by any publishing house. Malachy spends almost all of the book in describing how often he drank himself into an alchoholic stupor, and how often he practiced indiscriminant sex with women he'd never met before (nore does he ever intend to see them again). He shares all this with the air of one to whom drunken lechery is a natural entitlement and about which no reflection is ever necessary. He expresses himself on the level of a 13 year old hooligan who is proud of taking every opportunity to bad mouth anyone who is not as poor as he was as a child. While continuously reviling those who are better off than he is, he pretends to be the friend of the "downtrodden" everywhere, clearly a pretension of his "poor boy" routine. I don't argue with his right to have and express his opinions, no matter how shallow or ill informed those opinions may be. My real argument is with "literary critics" and other famous people who where somehow convinced to produce such misleadingly positive reviews and blurbs on the book cover. It was because of these "raves" that I read the book. I am deeply disappointed that persons in a position to influence so many potential readers take their responsibility so lightly. This book is a complete waste of time.
Rating: 
Summary: Sure an' it's not half the book of his big brother
Review: Clearly brother Malachy cashed in on Frank's success with Andela's Ashes and 'Tis. And good luck to him I say. Sadly, he doesn't seem to have made any attempt to outdo Frank, he has just thrown together a few personal memoirs from a ten year spell in The States, and hoped that people would pay good money for it. They did... and so did I. It's sad to see somebody who clearly has a talent for storytelling, lowering the bar on the standard of literature and literacy. Malachy McCourt would have searched long and hard for a publisher for this book, if it were not for his connections. To call it a bestseller may be strictly true in terms of customers shelling out hard-earned cash. But a certain standard is expected from a best-seller, and A Monk Swimming seldom attains that standard. On the positive side, some of Malachy's escapades are amusing. Though, just like Frank, his penchant for a drop of the hard stuff is difficult to comprehend when both he and Frank detested this habit in their father. From the perspective of someone who lives on the other side of the Big Pond, the drinking habits of the brothers McCourt is not one that makes us gasp in surprise. The Irish as a nation seem to have the ability to out-drink even the Scots (I'm NOT English, by the way... I can hear the Celtic Clans baying for my blood already!). Note, I did say 'as a nation'. Malachy was clearly making up for the many respectable teetotalers and responsible drinkers from the Emerald Isle. If you read between the lines of A Monk Swimming, the picture of Malachy McCourt's life is fairly clear. Big drink - big noise - big hangover - big drink - big noise - big hangover... He's not the only person in the world to suffer this affliction, but he's one of the few who's written a purportedly light-hearted book about it.
Rating:
Summary: This mpnk dorwned
Review: A Monk Swimming has to be one of the worst books I have ever read. I am convinced that it was published because of the author's brother's literary success. Page after page of name dropping isn't a memoir.
Rating:
Summary: A delightful tale from this "Angela's Ashes" younger brother
Review: Although his spelling is atrocious (He says 'sez' a lot), Mr. McCourt depicts his adventures colorfully. He describes a life full of highs and lows, bouts with depression and alcoholism, love and heartbreak. His voyages make a truly wonderful story. In fact, I am in love with him. Is he still alive?
Rating:
Summary: Malachy speaks his mind, without writing Frank's fine prose
Review: I've resisted writing a review of "A Monk Swimming" for a long time, since I am fond of Malachy McCourt, respectful of his right to speak his mind, even when his political views strongly differ from mine. If necessary, I would defend his right to state such views. However, I believe I owe those who buy books from ... [A]mazon.com the benefit of my opinion regarding the quality of his writing. Without a doubt, "A Monk Swimming" is the most poorly written book from the brothers McCourt. It is replete with funny, though haphazardly written, tales of his early adulthood in New York City, graced occasionally by lyrical prose almost as beautifully written as Frank's in "Angela's Ashes". Malachy's writing is at its best when he looks back on his dismal Limerick childhood. Some may find offensive Malachy's repeated usage of scatological terminology. Personally, I don't find that as objectionable, as the fact that I had to read through poorly written, often wooden, prose before discovering brief moments of finely wrought lyrical prose. Anyone wishing to read a fine book written by Malachy McCourt should read instead "Singing My Him Song". Although it is not the literary classic which "Angela's Ashes" is, "Singing My Him Song" features more introspective well written prose than can be found in either "A Monk Swimming" or "Tis". Unless you are really interested in reading about Malachy's early adulthood in New York City, I recommend skipping "A Monk Swimming" and buying instead "Singing My Him Song".
Rating: 
Summary: ONE MONK SWIMMING
Review: Do not compare this book to ANGELA'S ASHES, as it is told from a different perspective. This book is incredibly funny! Some of his true stories will make you laugh until you choke! The list of celebrities he comes in contact with in the story will surprise you! I hate to read, but have read this book twice! Enjoy and pass it along!
Rating:
Summary: No Monk Ever Swam So Well Before!
Review: This is an absolutely delightful book. No, I don't approve of many of the things Malachy McCourt did, but then, neither does he. But he is honest enough to tell it the way it happened, and he has the wit to make it, for the most part, very enjoyable. Yes, there were times when I wanted to say to him "Oh, Malachy, MUST you repeat your father's mistakes?" But of course he can't go back and change what he has already done. It seems to me that a lot of reviewers have called this a bad book because they don't approve of the author. That is a silly thing to do. Richard Wagner, so I'm told, was a really rotten sort of person, even to the end of his days, but much of his music is very beautiful. I enjoy Wagner's beautiful music and I enjoy Malachy McCourt's beautiful prose, and I would feel free to do so even if Malachy had not gotten his act together (but I'm glad he finally did, as I learned from the sequel, "Singing My Him Song.")
Rating:
Summary: Blessed Art Thou, A Monk Swimming...
Review: If you're interested in the lives of the McCourt family, read this book after reading Angela's Ashes and Tis. This book will tell you how another of the brothers handled his early adult years in America. Though Malachy doesn't describe his childhood in anywhere near the detail Frank does in Angela's Ashes, it's interesting to read a different point of view of a story already told. It's also interesting to compare the effects of the same events on two brothers and see the different paths they chose and their different outlooks on life. After concluding this book, read Singing My Him Song to get the remainder of the story. In fact, the two books really should have been combined into one, as they simply tell the beginning and ending of a single story. Judging by the other reviews posted here by readers, I'd guess that this isn't the book to read if you feel you have a right to pass moral judgements on others, and let your moral judgements affect your opinions of a work of literature. If, however, you can appreciate a good story for what it is (a good story), then you'll enjoy this book. Malachy McCourt is a good story teller (regardless of whether you believe all his tales!).
Rating:
Summary: Radio's Greatest Talk-Show Host Tells All
Review: In 1967, when WMCA was a top 40 station, I heard on someone else's radio an editorial by station owner Peter Strauss, and, impressed by Strauss's intelligence and decency, became a loyal listener to WMCA. So after WMCA changed its format to become a talk station, I was fortunate enough to become acquainted with the greatest talk show host in the history of radio, Malachy McCourt. So of course, when I heard on WPLN that Malachy was going to be at the Davis-Kidd bookstore in Nashville, I made it a point to be there with my copy of "A Monk Swimming" for him to sign. And having learned that Frank McCourt was Malachy's brother, I bought and read "Angela's Ashes" too. Later, I bought and read Frank's second book, " 'Tis." The three books complement each other. All three are delightful, and I am very much looking forward to reading Malachy's second book, "Singing My Him Song." Malachy tells it like it was, including the things he is now ashamed of (and I learned that he has much to be ashamed of), but I prefer to judge him on the intelligent, decent, witty person he has become, rather than the dysfunctional husband and father that he once was. No, I don't condone the bad things he has done, but I celebrate his eventual triumph over the unfortunate parts of his heritage. Malachy's varied career as gold smuggler, bar owner, talk show host, actor, etc. did not make him as polished a wordsmith as his english-teacher brother, but "A Monk Swimming" is a fascinating and delightful complement to his brother's books, as they are to "A Monk Swimming." Read and enjoy them all!
Rating:
Summary: A Drunkalogue From An Expert Practicioner Thereof
Review: Anyone who has ever attended a 12 step meeting will recognize A MONK SWIMMING for what it is, a typical "drunkalogue." McCourt regales the reader with tales of binges and betrayals intermixed with a healthy dose of name dropping. He talks of illegal acts (gold smuggling) as if they were something to be proud of. He seems to think that he's cute. I happen to think that he's not. His brother, Frank, has written a very good book. Malachy should leave the writing to the writer in the family and stick to his day job.
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