Monk Swimming: A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: The demons of the McCourts
Review: The most telling page of Monks Swimming was the last page. There we are informed that Malachy McCourt is a happily married man with a loving family. Obviously something has happened since the gold smuggling, booze drinking, bed hopping and hot winding days of the 60's. What may have kept this review from being a five star is it took so long for McCourt to deal with his father and the constant hope that he held for him. It appears that McCourt had deep scars of the proverty and desertion that were masked through the care free attitude he displayed in America. Maybe once he faced this issue is when he became the happy person that the last page refers to. Notwithstanding the reasons for his behaviour the book is quite amusting in parts. His descriptions of the confessions to non-English priests and the gold laden vests are worth the price of the book..

Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: I picked up "A Monk Swimming" thinking I was going to get more on the progress of the McCourt brothers journey out of the depths of abject physical and emotional poverty. I knew Frank had made it after reading both of his books. I was so disappionted that Malachy McCort spent 290 pages telling the world what a total reprobate he was, and never got to any level of awareness. A tale of misspent youth, and life. It was interesting to note that the "About the Author" blurb indicates he is a happily married father of 5...I would have liked to know how that happened as the book certainly didn't give one any indication that he was was heading toward an epiphany that would result is such a dramatic change...I am delighted that this occured, and would have enjoyed reading how, rather than the ad nauseam of his immature antics.

Rating:
Summary: Poor choice
Review: This is a book that wouldn't be published but for his brother's book. There's no merit in following the story of a man whose sole purpose in life is his own pleasure (which he repeats over and over), glorifying in his own downfall, while knowing that he's hurting others. This is literally a man who can't understand why his wife left him, just because he stays out all night drinking and sleeping with other women. "I prove my love by getting completely pie-eyed."
On one occasion he breaks down the door of his separated wife's apartment with a chair, while his children are present, and breaks up the place. When arrested, he shows no remorse, but turns it into a funny story to tell at his favorite bar. What's wrong with that? He's Malachy, after all.

Rating:
Summary: memories
Review: To many people the stories will seem far fetched or just lies. For me, it was remembering some events from my younger years that I would not generally share with somebody. The downfall of this book is the fact that he did not end by stressing the importance of getting his life together. Alcoholism is not a admirable thing.

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money.
Review: After reading Angela's Ashes and Tis, I was really looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, from the opening page, it became clear this guy is full of hot air and has absolutely no talent as a writer. He jumps around from one tale to the next, butchering the English language, tooting his own horn. He and his publisher are just cashing in on his brother's work.

Rating:
Summary: a perfect blend of poetry and truck driver's slang
Review: I liked Angela's Ashes which described Malachy as flambouyant and frivolous. I bought A Monk Swimming out of curiosity, and I must I admit my prejudice. I was ready to slam it before even reading it, thinking that Malachy was just riding on his brother's popularity. But I was wrong. I was a little scandalized with Malachy's revelations about his sexcapades. But I must admit I fell for his literary style. I loved the way he waxed poetry to his truck driver's language. I liked his lack of linguistic inhibitions I mean, the way he freely defied the English language gurus. After reading this, I realized it's not fair to refer to Malachy simply as Frank's brother.

Rating:
Summary: A Wild Ride
Review: Few people can hope to experience the fun & wild times of Malachy McCourt, in spite of his underpriveleged up-bringing. His life would have been interesting enough, but his literary style is exciting, making it difficult to put the book down. His colorful descriptions put you right there with him. When he's drunk, you feel drunk; when he describes the filth and stench of a public restroom in India, you can see & smell it. Malachy McCourt takes you on a wild ride through his life, and makes you wonder whether you've done enough in your own life.

Rating:
Summary: STUNNING, BRILLIANT, INTELLIGENT, FRIGGING HILARIOUS
Review: mm has the touch. now that he has lived long and learned so much, he can look back and see. compare this book not to angela's ashes, but to 'tis, and you will see just how good mm's book about his crazy, stupid, fun life really is. i'm glad he was not my father, but he lived it and we're better for it. natural wit and sparkling natural intelligence make this book a must read for any millenium. since so many of us paddies died en route and so many were illiterate all of their lives, mm will just have to speak for us all. we're damn lucky.

Rating:
Summary: love it or hate it.....
Review: ....and I love it! Malachy has a gift for storytelling, using the most colourful language and a razor sharp wit. I wished I was there!

Rating:
Summary: IN THEIR FACES MALACHY!
Review: FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER GROWN UP ON "THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS" AND CARED TO RELIVE THE EXPERIENCE FOR MILLIONS TO CRITICIZE I SAY HOORAY! MOST OF US HAVE NEVER HAD TO LIVE THROUGH THAT LEVEL OF HELL. SO HOW CAN YOU JUDGE THE MAN ON HIS OWN PERSONAL DEMONS? I FOUND THE BOOK TO BE INTERESTING FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT HE WAS TELLING THE READER THAT WHILE HE MAY HAVE BEEN BOASTING ABOUT THE LIFESTYLE, IT WAS A RESULT OF HIS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS PROBLEMS. THIS BOOK IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT HE STOPPED RUNNING AND FACED THEM. IT IS AMAZING TO ME HOW FRAGILE OUR CHILDHOOD REALLY IS AND HOW IN MANY RESPECTS THAT TIME IN OUR LIVES IS THE FOUNDATION FOR WHO WE ULTIMATELY BECOME. FOR SOMEONE WHO CAME FROM THAT BACKGROUND AND ENDED UP WHERE HE IS NOW IS A FEAT THAT MOST OF US CANNOT EVEN FATHOM!