Rating: Summary: T'is no Frank! Review: After being so impressed with Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, I bought Malachy's novel and soon realized good storytelling is not a genetic family trait. This book is all about how often he was drunk (everyday), how he was a horrible husband and father just like his own father, and his bragging about how many women he's slept with. There is nothing endearing about Malachy, and I found myself continuing to read believing it eventually HAD to get better, but it never did. I think Malachy took advantage of his brother's good fortune and wanted a piece, but any reader will be extremely let down. I would not recommend this book to a soul.
Rating: Summary: Disgusting Review: I don't consider myself a prude, but I found A Monk Swimming to be a disgusting, waste-of-time book about a drunk and a womanizer with no redeeming qualities. Some humor in spots, but they were overshadowed by the unpleasant escapades that he endulged in. 'Tis a shame that I write this after enjoying his brother's book.
Rating: Summary: a monk swimming Review: This particular McCort appears a shameless purveyor of a unique variety of Irish malarky, known by some as malachyarkey. And if you part with your hard earned to actually purchase the title, you may subsequently feel like adding your own sobriquet to the considerable list of innocents what have been bilked.So go on over to the nearest biblioteca and read a few pages, here and there. Soon enough you will perceive the boozy theme. And you will probably agree the drinking and drunkenness quickly wears thin. Little else happens. More drinking, and - more drinking. A dismal, repetitive, boring tale.
Rating: Summary: A Monk Swimming Review: A total delight! Malachy McCourt has a special talent with the use of words and the English language which come to the reader so refreshingly honest and always Irish. When I am laughing out loud with this book in my bed and the dog wakes up to come over to check it out, it must truly be interesting, and that it is! An Excellent write! I'm amazed Malachy survived it all! God bless him all his days! (And write some more!)
Rating: Summary: He kept the book afloat Review: I enjoyed this book and feel that it should be given consideration for being a story about Malachy McCourt, not the story of Frank McCourt's brother. I have read a few reviews that belittle the book for not being on the same level as Frank's book. Well this is true but that is because it is written by a character driven man who enjoys telling stories. His life has been transformed into a series of stories and from that this book have arisen. I found it interesting to learn about how society was forty-odd years ago. There were many diferences, yet many problems which stem from similar situations found in today's society. I liked the book and am eager to discover how Malachly's next phase of life was lived.
Rating: Summary: Lighten up and have a laugh, People! Review: Some of you "critics" are far too harsh. You should be reviewing THIS book, not M. McCourt's morals and lifestyle. And you should not be comparing this novel to Angela's Ashes. This is a humorous, bawdy, sad tale of Malachy's life after Ireland. He does not claim to be a good person; nor does he seek sympathy from the reader for his "bad" choices. He was a horrid drunk, a bad husband, and a pretty rotten father...but he told you this without ever pretending to be a saint. My only wish after reading this book was to hear how Malachy met Diana (mentioned in the dedication) and finally got his act together to find some happiness in his life.
Rating: Summary: Who cares Review: I had just finished reading "Tis" by Frank McCourt which I was already dissapointed in, but thought a quick follow up of Malachy's book would be an interesting comparison since both were written basically about the same years in their lives here in America. Why would the author think that readers would want to know about every drunken escapade in his life? Every chapter was about drinking, womanizing and name dropping. I did not find anything likable or funny about him. After reading "Tis" and "Monk Swimming", I no longer felt that pain for either author for their poverty stricken childhood. Neither one of these boys grew into nice men. The chip on the shoulder remains throughout.
Rating: Summary: drunk-a-log Review: What a disappointment. No depth. A poorly written drunk-a-log. What did he do get his 4th step published? Doesn't hold a candle to Angelas Ashes by his talented brother.
Rating: Summary: good first half, dull second half Review: I loved the first half of this book, but the second half suceeds in telling us nothing more than MM was a drunk and liked to sleep around. I liked him at first, and then (unfortunatly) saw him as nothing more than an obnoxious bore.
Rating: Summary: Good Reading Review: I just finished both of Frank Mc court's books which were wonferful. I just bought this book by his brother. I am only on the second Chapter and I love the book already. I am looking forward to reading this book and I hope it brings a great story like the last to books. Thank You
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