Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining enough, but disappointing
Review: Malachy McCourt certainly has a way with words, but I'm afraid his adventrues are not all that riveting, and the few tantalising glimpses that we have into other aspects of his life are not fully developed (for instance, who is Diana, to whom the book is dedicated with such love?)."Angela's Ashes", by big brother Frank, is far superior.
Rating: 
Summary: A Master Yarn From A Master McCourt Raconteur
Review: If you count yourself amongst the god-fearing bible-toting scripture-quoting anti-indulgence affiliates of the almighty moral majority, this probably ain't your book, baby. THIS IS NOT ANGELA'S ASHES (which is a very different creature from the gods of literature). But holy schlitz, this man has lead a life! There are oh so few of us who will walk away from this world having seen as much of it as Mr. McCourt has. And those of us who will are blessed if we can write about it like Malachy has done. Perhaps his stories are hyperboles, perhaps they aren't, but who cares? He is an unapologetic Irishman bearing poetry and a past, and he couldn't have done a better job of serving it up to the rest of us. If you like this book, check out Donleavy, Farrell, and Miller. Malachy, if you are out there, I know that you are a changed man from the one you once were, but thank you. Thanks for the wondrous tales, the beautiful language, and the life.
Rating: 
Summary: Dealing with the Past: A Less Romantic View
Review: In "A Monk Swimming," Malachy McCourt recounts stories of his less-than-mature response to his awful childhood. His brother Frank, on the other hand, gives us a more refined, crafted, and artistic story. Both versions are worth reading. It's interesting to see how two related people emerged so differently from the same circumstances. I like that Malachy McCourt gives no excuses for his behavior. He's a pretty objective recorder of his exploits; he doesn't pretty them up. He admits he drank too much, abandoned his wife and kids, and searched for some peace (unsuccessfully) through sex. He doesn't glorify himself; at the end, I was left with sadness. He closes with a description of his father and the pain of that relationship. This final chapter is the explanation (though not an excuse) for the rest of the exploits in the book. Frank McCourt is the philosopher while Malachy is the bad kid who has no qualms about telling it like it is. When I read Malachy's version of McCourt history, I thought, 'Ok, poverty is not some romantic world where everyone ends up spouting gorgeous poetry and coming to terms with their past.' Malachy has humor, audacity, and a flare for hyperbole - all these the qualities of a good Irish storyteller. These are stories I could imagine hearing while sitting a bar - stories that are enlarged and enhanced upon each telling. Malachy clearly captures a time and place and a character (himself). Some might not like who he is, but he provides a vivid picture of who he is. He captures, by recounting his escapades, his own tortured response to his childhood.
Rating: 
Summary: What a life!
Review: I really enjoyed this story, a wickedly funny account of an outrageous life. What a life this guy led! My only disappointment is that at the end he didn't tell us how he (apparently) turned his life around. The negative reviews I read here must have been written by abstemious, uptight people with no sense of humor.
Rating:
Summary: THE WORDS, THE LANGUAGE, AND ABSOLUTELY NO MORE!
Review: I can hear the author, and I love his use of language. The story is strictly an opportunity to sing words - no purpose, no redemption, no character or plot development - no reason for being except to create marvellous, magnificent crescendos and rolling chords of words.
Rating: 
Summary: Unbearably pretentious and superficial
Review: Like many others, I hoped this book would offer me another satisfying glimpse into the McCourt family. However, my husband and I, both obsessive readers, could not stand reading beyond the first 25 pages. The writing style was cute, but the narrative totally lacked substance.
Rating:
Summary: Big Disappointment!
Review: Desperate for more of the McCourt family stories, I decided to read this book by Frank's brother. What a disappointment. The ability to colorfully tell a story is there (possibly a family trait), but there was little to cherish in this story. My expectation that this would be a character who would rise above his impoverished beginnings were shattered by his squandering of opportunities. My hope was that the character would at some point take stock of his life and decide it was time to take responsibility for it. I assume things became better, but I have no intention of reading any more by this author.
Rating:
Summary: No body likes a drunk
Review: I read to the end of this book hoping for justification in having done so. Malachy wants sympathy from his readers for having grown old without a father but this whore-monging, egotistical sop will get none from me. I'm sure his children are so proud. (The one star is for the good writing skills.)
Rating:
Summary: No body likes a drunk
Review: I read through to the end hoping to reach justification for having done so. Malachy is a sad, wretched man and now I have his filth filling my head. I currently seek a Malachy McCourt lobotamy. He wants sympathy from his readers for not having had a father growing up but there will be none from me for this whore-monging, egotisitical sop. I'm sure his children are so proud. (The gracious one star is for his good writing skills.)
Rating:
Summary: Truly disappointing
Review: I am a hopelessly addicted bookworm and there are very few books that I actually regret buying or reading but this would have to be one of them. The size of this man's ego is simply astounding and I read through to the very last page hoping (and truly believing) that he would wake up to himself and admit he wasn't "God's gift to the world". It is definitely one of the most disappointing autobiographies I have read - perhaps it would have been better if he had asked someone else (a little less biased!) to write his story for him.
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