A Monk Swimming - Malachy McCourt

Malachy McCourt, younger brother to Frank, has had his life portrayed in parts by the bestselling biographies "Angela's Ashes" and "Tis". In this book, he takes the opportunity to tell his own story (or jump on the bandwagon of success that his brother has created, depending on your point of view), of emigration to New York after escaping a poverty stricken background in 1950s Limerick. Admittedly, I came to this book as a result of reading brother Frank?s work, viewing it as something of a continuation, rather than a book in its own right. Given that the words "international bestseller" are emblazoned in red letters across the book ...

Having just put the book down after a frantic two days trying to find time to read, I felt I had to rush to the aid of Malachy and defend an excellently written book. Malachy by his own admission is a bit of a charmer, a bit of a ladies man and more than partial to the odd drink – Hence the title. Malachy’s story begins as with his brother’s sequel to Angela’s Ashes with Malachy’s arrival in New York. This however is where the similarities with his brother Frank end. Malachy is his own man and struggling to find his way in the world. Armed only with a sharp wit and the Irish charm Malachy manages to charm his way in to jobs, and ...

The title is the best thing about this book. Written by Frank McCourt’s little brother, it lacks all the charm of the elder McCourt’s offering. Not only is it not as well written but it is truly implausible. As it is an auto-biography, I felt insulted that the author expected me to take in all he was telling me as a lot of his stories are so obviously fantastical. This book has none of the beauty of Angel’s Ashes and yet more of the squalor but this time the squalor is self-fabricated and well deserved. ...