SOURCE: A review of A Monk Swimming, in Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 1998, p. 557.

[The following review compares Malachy McCourt's writing and storytelling to that of his brother Frank.]

Malachy [McCourt] picks up the family story—well, his part of it anyway—where older brother Frank left off in Angela's Ashes.

The McCourts lived in direst poverty in Limerick. Ireland, with their father (for whom Malachy was named) a charming but irresponsible drunk who deserted the family during WWII. In his own story, Malachy takes up matters with his arrival in New York City courtesy of Frank. After a brief stint in the army (about which he says almost nothing), Malachy becomes a longshoreman before drifting, almost inadvertently, into a dual career of raconteur-actor and minor-celebrity barkeep. And a raconteur he is; Malachy is the sort of professional Irishman who is trotted out to entertain the "quality" with his blarney-rich...