Monk Swimming: A Memoir

Rating:
Summary: Stories meant to be heard, not read
Review: I have no doubt that if I was in a pub with Mr. McCourt, and he started telling stories, I would be enthralled. He is the quintessential Irish storyteller. Unfortunately, his patter doesn't translate to the page very well. His stories end up sounding forced, stilted, sometimes simply obscene. What may be missing here is the knowing smile or wink (which we'd see in the pub) that tell us what he's really thinking.

Rating:
Summary: A memoir of a man whose life was driven by alcohol and women
Review: Malachy McCourt was referred to by brother Frank as the lovable, personable member of the family. It's hard to see how. A Monk Swimming is a memoir of a man who has spent his life drinking and "whoring" ..and he's proud of it. There are references to how his father hurt his family by constant drinking and absences. So what does Malachy do when his wife is pregnant? Why of course, he drinks, sleeps around and disappears from his wife when he is most needed. He then tries to reconcile with her, but fortunately she is much smarter than he. Malachy criticizes the British, the Catholic Church, his tavern partners, his in-laws finding fault with everyone except the only one who has caused his problems...himself. A Monk Swimming is not a funny book. It resembles Angela's Ashes only in that the authors share the last name. There is no warmth or love shared through his biography...only the relating of a sad and sickening individual. The book is repetitive in in ! story theme. Where ever Malachy goes he drinks beyond his expanded limits and goes to bed with whatever female is available. The use of expressions, like "fiddler's fart", are questionably humuorous the first time. Yet he employs them repeatedly to express his concern for the world and its obvious lack of concern for him. Malachy McCourt had a chance to redeem himself in the final chapters when he was reuinited with his father. But like this relationship, both attempts fail. And he also fails to realize that he has become his own worst enemy and accepted the life of the man he despises...his father. Bob Paszczyk

Rating:
Summary: He isn't his brother.
Review: This book sucks so bad that I returned it !! I was expecting something on the lines of Angela's Ashes and what I got was garbage. Malachy saw a chance to ride on brother Frank's success, and wrote a sordid memoir of a drunken failure who spends his life leeching on others. What a waste of paper and my time.

Rating:
Summary: a raucous review of a uniquely funny immigrants life
Review: One absolutely cannot compare this Mc Court's book to that of his elder brother. This book is like riding a wild roller coaster while laughing through all the twists and turns. The book was not meant to be serious or reflective as is the style of the brother Frank. Malachy Mc Court has the reader living vicariously through his out- rageous bar room behavior and curious antics.

Rating:
Summary: An embarrassment to his brother, Frank.
Review: This is a cheap way to cash in on brother Frank McCourt's success with "Angela's Ashes". Even without comparing the two books (and you can't), this book is trash. Malachy boldly writes of drinking, his sexual conquests and more drinking. I thought he had it bad in Ireland, but maybe he'd be better off there, poor. Can't believe I wasted my money on this.

Rating:
Summary: I missed something here....
Review: The back cover shows a young and feisty Malachy McCourt while the front shows a nearly invisible old man. From these and the title I expected somewhere an epiphany of sorts which never happened. Other than to make a quick buck, what were the publishers thinking? A memoir of all the drunken and forgotten evenings Mr McCourt spent left me wondering what the point was. I felt I had just finished an autobiography by Mother Theresa and followed it with one by Peter OToole. McCourt had to know there would be comparisons, especially because brother Franks book was an exceptional memoir as well as a finely crafted book. Had I bought the book I would be demanding my money back. I feel, to put it in the authors word. . . . shagged...

Rating:
Summary: A celebration of life!
Review: To be honest, I thought I wouldn't like this book. I had read all the media reviews, and I just didn't think it could compare to "Angela's Ashes", which is one of my most treasured books. However, while I was on vacation I went ahead and read it. And am I glad I did! Malachy's adventures had me laughing out loud, especially the scene with Dorothy Parker. I finished the whole book in about 36 hours, and even though it didn't end on the same note as "Ashes", I realized that I shouldn't have expected it too...after all, Malachy's uproarious ways of describing some of the most unbelievable things is totally unlike his brother's sobering narrative. I look forward to sequels from both the McCourts...and if there are any other writers in the family, I encourage them to follow in the footsteps so skillfully set by Frank and Malachy!

Rating:
Summary: Apples and Oranges Would be More Appropriate to Compare
Review: If people could come to accept this book as a discrete item rather than as a book penned by one of the McCourts, perhaps they could enjoy it fully. This book, perhaps to readers' disappointment, is not about the Limerick slums: it's about an angry young man who blows through America, a hedonist's heaven, and doesn't make excuses for his actions. And what a refrefshing read! Reading this book is like sitting across from M. McCourt at a barroom table as he spins tale upon tale, sometimes making us raise our eyebrows but nearly always making us collapse with laughter. I can almost taste the Guinness, and taste the tears of mirth and regret.

Rating:
Summary: The worst book of the year.
Review: In a documentary film about the McCourt family, Malachy lamented that in the wake of "Angela's Ashes," he was destined to be known forevermore as Frank McCourt's little brother -- an honor anyone with a normal ego would relish. But with the publication of "A Monk Swimming," Malachy has consigned himself to be known forevermore as Frank McCourt's PATHETIC little brother. His writing is cute enough to make you gag, and his story reveals him to be a thoroughly repellant character to anyone but his fellow alcoholics and casual wick-dippers. I hope he has made enough money from this dreadful book to retire without ever writing another word.

Rating:
Summary: great
Review: The best Memoir I've ever read!