Singing My Him Song

Rating:
Summary: You won't be disappointed
Review: I had the pleasure of attending a book signing by Malachy McCourt recently. He is a true storyteller, and the only thing better than reading his new book Singing My Him Song, was listening to him read it.

For those who enjoyed A Monk Swimming, you will love this latest account of his life. A more reflective and introspective Malachy is revealed, without losing any of the humor or cheekiness of his first book. The best book I've read in a long time.

Rating:
Summary: Totally Unexpected¿
Review: Not only was I prepared not to like this book, I knew with certainty it would dwell near the bottom of the books I had read this year. The Brothers McCourt had produced a quartet of books, and I was sure this was just a volume to ride the Frank McCourt wave for all it was worth. I was wrong, I was wrong huge, Orca huge! (A nod to Kevin Spacey). Of the 4 books offered thus far, this is easily the better of the 2 from Mr. Malachy McCourt, and second only to, "Angela's Ashes". Judging by the ranking of the book, and the comparatively few reviews, perhaps I was not alone in my error.

This second work from this Author starts and is unremarkable. His life at the beginning of the narration is afflicted with every complaint a reader would expect. When the end of the book arrives you have shared a long, painful, and brutally honest assessment of a life by the man who lived it. I don't know that I have read an autobiographical work that is more personal, pointed, and candid. This man transforms himself from bitter, angry, and sick, whose solace is found in a variety of chemicals, to a man who comes to terms with his life, and changes its course. The book is not a fairy tale. The man at the end is one you would likely be as fond of, as the younger version would have repelled you.

There are some remarkable stories within this man's life. A Daughter who is handicapped, the system that she enters that would be the delight of The Marquis De Sade, and a then young reporter, who helped change the system, and is a household name today. Mr. McCourt takes a trip cross country, and tends to a mouse that has found a spot to hitchhike its way to The West Coast in a small hole in the auto. There is the encounter that he and his wife have with one of the more notorious murderers of the 20th Century prior to his crimes. And there are dozens more.

This book has a great deal of the wit this man is known for, however to describe this work as humorous or funny would be way off the mark. This was a man who was angry, who marched when it was unpopular to do so, he even had the tapes of one of his radio programs confiscated by The Secret Service, after The Saturday Night Massacre of Nixon fame.

To say Mr. McCourt has lived a full life would illicit from him a quip about the wildest form of understatement. He is unique, a one time original. How else do you describe a man who tried to divert the minds of passengers in the midst of skimming the Atlantic Ocean because a door was insecure, by asking if the other passengers would like to meet his Mother? The most normal of questions except when uttered by Mr. McCourt, who when the passengers agreed, produced the ashes of his deceased Mother, whose remains he was bringing back to Ireland to bury. Bad taste...if you find yourself on a plane that may or may not make its destination, hope there is a man or woman aboard who has a sense of humor, who thinks of his fellow passengers.

A wonderful book that deserves much more attention.

Rating:
Summary: Don't get me wrong, it's well written and all....
Review: Perhaps it's just me, but I'm really beginning to feel like the McCourt family is just cashing in after Frank McCourt's two very successful novels. Of course, I'm not saying that Malachy McCourt is a bad writer, or that he has nothing positive to offer to the literary world, but this memoir left me with mixed feelings.

No doubt, Malachy has a witty sense of humor and an interesting way of perceiving the negative side to life, but on the other hand, the structure of this book rubbed me the wrong way. You're led to believe that his stepdaughter, Nina, had a great life in an institution, yet 100 pages later, you're reading about molested and neglected children in the home she was placed in. Meanwhile, he's gone on to talk about everything else twenty years later before coming back to discussing Nina.

I also ended the book with a feeling of "What was this book's purpose?" Many people experience tough lives while many people do not, but I felt the book lacked a significant climax, besides his health problems, which are nothing particularly unusual for people nowadays.

However, I'd be VERY interested to see what kind of fictional work that McCourt could turn out with his sense of humor. Maybe we'll see some soon.

Rating:
Summary: insightful and humorous
Review: This second memoir by Malachy McCourt was well written and charming. His way with words and sarcasm often made me chuckle. It was fulfilling to read about the changes he was finally able to make in his life. Althought brash at times, the book is an honest and heartwarming account of an extremely unique life.