Ease Reading-Find Your Next Favorite Book

Hot Search

A Monk Swimming

malachy mccourt

... Show More
Slapped with a libel suit after an appearance on a talk show,Malachy McCourt crows, "If they could only see me now in the slums of Limerick, a big shot, sued for a million. Bejesus, isn't America a great and wonderful country" His older brother Frank's Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Angela's Ashes, took its somber tone from the bleak atmosphere of those slums, while Malachy's boisterous recollections are fueled by his zestful appreciation for the opportunities and oddities of his native land. He and Frank were born in Brooklyn, moved with their parents to Ireland as children, then returned to the States as adults. This book covers the decade 1952-63, when Malachy roistered across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, but spent most of his time in New York City. There his ready wit and quick tongue won him an acting job with the Irish Players, a semiregular stint on the Tonight show hosted by Jack Paar, and friendships with some well-heeled, well-born types who shared his fondness for saloon life and bankrolled him in an East Side saloon that may have been the first singles bar. He chronicles those events--and many others--with back-slapping bonhomie. Although McCourt acknowledges the personal demons that pursued him from his poverty-stricken childhood and destroyed his first marriage, this is on the whole an exuberant autobiography that pays tribute to the joys of a freewheeling life.

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1998

This edition

Format
290 pages, Paperback
Published
June 2, 1999 by Hyperion
ISBN
9780786884148
ASIN
0786884142
Language
English

More editions

About the author

Profile Image for malachy mccourt

malachy mccourt

... Show More
Malachy Gerard McCourt was an American-Irish actor, writer and politician. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Limerick, McCourt appeared in several films and soap operas, including The Molly Maguires, Brewster's Millions (1985), and Another World. He also wrote three memoirs, describing his life in Ireland and in the United States. McCourt was the 2006 Green Party candidate for governor of New York, losing to the Democratic candidate Eliot Spitzer. He was the younger brother of author Frank McCourt.

Readers also enjoyed

Community Reviews

Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
25(25%)
4 stars
36(36%)
3 stars
39(39%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
rimrima
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
... Show More
McCourt's use of the English language with an Irish kick is super fun to read and his stories are oh so entertaining. I have a feeling this will be on my "top 5" list of 2024.

This was really a fun read!
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
asian_weeb
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
... Show More
Tragic is the word that comes to mind after reading this memoir. Malachy died this March at age 92. After reading about his drinking and illegal smuggling escapades I can’t believe he lived that long. Honestly, it makes you wonder. Life is definitely not fair.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
ElemenTalia
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
... Show More
Un irlandés en Nueva York
Malachy McCourt
“Comer es una hazaña y emborracharse, una victoria”
––Brendan Behan
“La vieja máxima sigue funcionando: antes del café tienes un borracho;
después del café, tienes un borracho bien despierto”
––Malachy McCourt
Malachy es un irlandés rebelde que, a la edad de veinte años, y con la ayuda de Frank su hermano, viajó a los estados unidos escapando de una pobreza irlandesa que le calaba hasta los huesos a la familia McCourt. Después de servir en el ejército, Malachy consigue lugares de mala muerte para vivir, a veces solo, otras con compañeros que resultan más un peligro para él y los demás. Además tiene un loco amor por la bebida, lo que lo lleva a pasear entre tugurios, bares y pubs del Nueva York undergrounds. McCourt tiene una habilidad especial para la palabrería y una más para el alcohol, así que terminó trabajando en un bar por las noches, siendo el barman y amenizador.
Malachy; encantador, mujeriego, alcohólico, irlandés, pasea por las calles en busca de bebidas, whiskey con “e” y mujeres, cuando, un sencillo día, se topa con una puesta en escena en un pequeño teatro que lo seduce y enamora. “Esto es lo que quiero” se dice, así que sin más, pide empleo como actor extra en aquella obra e increíblemente se lo dan. Así que durante el día estudia actuación, trabaja en el teatro y por las noches atiende el pub en el que es barman. La suerte le sonríe y su carrera de actor comienza a despegar e, incluso, tiene la oportunidad de abrir junto a dos socios un bar propio, el Malachy´s. Solo hay un ligero problema, la bebida en un irlandés furioso y todos los problemas que conlleva.
El libro trata sobre las memorias de McCourt. Sus odiseas entre botellas, mujeres, problemas y peleas. Su descubrimiento actoral, su taberna, sus viajes. Su esposa y matrimonio fallido. Los dolores espirituales que Malachy carga a diario y esos demonios de la bebida que no lo sueltan en ningún momento. El ritmo biográfico se siente ligero y con muchos tintes de cinismo y sarcasmo, sentimientos que se deben desarrollar si se quiere sobresalir en un mundo como el nuestro. Por momentos es como leer a Bukowski con guiños a Salinger pero con mucha más bebida y descontrol.
Quiero pensar que McCourt tocó fondo y, después de que su libro se volviera un Best Seller, se dedicara únicamente a escribir, pero a viejo lobo no se le ven los colmillos y lo más probable es que, en sus siguientes novelas, los demonios de la bebida debieron dictar muchos párrafos. Así que, por qué no acompañarlo leyendo y bebiendo, a la salud del autor y diciendo: “Buenas noches, Malachy, donde quiera que estés.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
hichoru
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
... Show More
one grows to like McCourt for his honesty and to sympathize with him for the struggle he wages with a mind that he describes as "leaping about like a caged and vicious rodent" whenever he wakes up after a night of drink.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
SirZexxxx
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
... Show More
Owad’s Micro-Review #104

This memoir by Frank McCourt’s younger brother is the literary equivalent of sharing a Guinness or ten with a loquacious, life-loving Irishman. Actor, bar owner, smuggler, raconteur—McCourt wears many hats. After escaping the grinding poverty of Limerick as a child, he comes of age in 1950s New York and lives life at full speed, becoming the man everyone wants to drink with, a regular guest on The Tonight Show, a terrible husband and father. He’s a big name dropper and (one suspects) embellisher of tales. At times the storytelling inches toward bloviation, but there’s always a chuckle or an outright belly laugh to keep you reading to the end. The book is a whole lot of fun.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
SinisterSushi
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
... Show More
Ladies and Gentleman, Give a round of applause for Maclachy McCourt. There are times when reading this that you think you are in some Grenwich Village bar listening to the rants and raves of MM.
The book is brutally honest with all the wit and dark of this Irishman.
He doesn't attempt to portray himself as a hero, but likable...that is so easy.
No tip toeing through the tulips here and like the majority of this kinsmen, he is vocal about the Brits, ("What does the Queen do with her old clothes?" "She wears them!") as well as the role of the RC church (nope, I am not going there). Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. A lot easier and as much fun as visiting the Village.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Natsuki_JP
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
... Show More
Unabashed Joy.
While it can stand alone as an Autobiography, this delightful novel adds even more detail to his brother Frank's 'Angela's Ashes'.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Smeasmy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
... Show More
Reading stories of Malachy McCourt's life as a drunk, womaniser, brawler and even gold smuggler was deeply unpleasant. The book was not funny and far from a celebration. If you liked anything by his brother Frank McCourt, you probably won't like this. Disappointing.
0 0 Reply
Leave a Review
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.