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situationnormal's review
3.0
Malachy is hilarious. Everything he writes, whether the subject is sad or not, makes you laugh out loud. However, I wasn't a huge fan of his writing style. It was kind of disconnected and sometimes I'd skip big chunks of the story before I realized what I'd done. I doubt I'll rush out to buy his other book, but we'll see. It's definitely worth reading.
rocketiza's review
3.0
Served well as a bathroom book in the chapters were OK for short self contained reads. If I had been reading more than a chapter or two per sitting I probably would have hated it.
calvinrain's review
3.0
I got this book as a gift years ago and finally decided to get it off my "to read" shelf. I had never heard of Malachy McCourt before, so I only knew it as a memoir about an impoverished Irish immigrant who moves to New York and has some success. That's a fine subject for a memoir, unfortunately Malachy McCourt is a huge asshole.
Malachy is a good storyteller. However, most of his tales involve getting drunk and awful behavior. Constantly cheating on his wife, abandoning his kids, getting in drunken fights, cheating people out of money, and general boorish behavior. There is a lot of name dropping, but I haven't heard of 95% of the people. I sense there is some embellishment of the stories, but who knows...
At one point Malachy claims he has low self-esteem, which is a laughable contradiction to his egotistical behavior. He's mad at his dad for being a drunk who runs away, but doesn't seem to understand the irony of his identical behavior. I was somewhat hoping we'd get a redemption at the end where he realizes the error of his ways. That never really seems to happen though. I'll credit Malachy for not trying to hide what a horrible person he was.
Malachy is a good storyteller. However, most of his tales involve getting drunk and awful behavior. Constantly cheating on his wife, abandoning his kids, getting in drunken fights, cheating people out of money, and general boorish behavior. There is a lot of name dropping, but I haven't heard of 95% of the people. I sense there is some embellishment of the stories, but who knows...
At one point Malachy claims he has low self-esteem, which is a laughable contradiction to his egotistical behavior. He's mad at his dad for being a drunk who runs away, but doesn't seem to understand the irony of his identical behavior. I was somewhat hoping we'd get a redemption at the end where he realizes the error of his ways. That never really seems to happen though. I'll credit Malachy for not trying to hide what a horrible person he was.
bitters's review
2.0
Having read his brother Frank's series of foundational and reflective personal works, this ended up being little more than a humorous rant.
mailmac's review
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
ehertzler's review
3.0
Good...very great writer and incredible imagination, but I think I've been reading too many similar books lately.
erine277's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good of a writer as his brother, but he was good on "Oz."
bookforestsprite's review
5.0
Two thirds of this book are so hilarious I constantly laughed out loud. The other third is heart-wrenching and tear-inducing. Brilliant language. An absolute joy to read.
martialia's review
3.0
Hm. I SO wanted to LOVE this book. I love Malachy's style, wit and way with words. He's a talented writer, obviously intelligent and witty. I enjoyed some parts...when they story wasn't heavily bogged down with alcohol/drunken focus. I get the point that he was in deep as an alcoholic. I got it over and over. At first it was part of the story but after a bit it seemed to take over all his stories. Maybe that is the point. That someday he'd travel while sober. Someday he'd make a life that wasn't drowned in his favored alcoholic beverages, or whatever he could get his hands on if that wasn't available. I'd rather read about the someday. Or at least that his memory had more to it than the drink. I do have to give him credit for opening my eyes to a couple historical atrocities that were not on my radar...and I will read his other book if it crosses my path, if for nothing more than his style with words.
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