22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You won't be disappointed, November 3, 2000
By A Customer
I had the pleasure of attending a book signing by Malachy McCourt recently. He is a true storyteller, and the only thing better than reading his new book Singing My Him Song, was listening to him read it.
For those who enjoyed A Monk Swimming, you will love this latest account of his life. A more reflective and introspective Malachy is revealed, without losing any of the humor or cheekiness of his first book. The best book I've read in a long time.
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31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Totally Unexpected, December 12, 2000
Not only was I prepared not to like this book, I knew with certainty it would dwell near the bottom of the books I had read this year. The Brothers McCourt had produced a quartet of books, and I was sure this was just a volume to ride the Frank McCourt wave for all it was worth. I was wrong, I was wrong huge, Orca huge! (A nod to Kevin Spacey). Of the 4 books offered thus far, this is easily the better of the 2 from Mr. Malachy McCourt, and second only to, "Angela's Ashes". Judging by the ranking of the book, and the comparatively few reviews, perhaps I was not alone in my error.
This second work from this Author starts and is unremarkable. His life at the beginning of the narration is afflicted with every complaint a reader would expect. When the end of the book arrives you have shared a long, painful, and brutally honest assessment of a life by the man who lived it. I don't know that I have read an autobiographical work that is more personal, pointed, and candid. This man transforms himself from bitter, angry, and sick, whose solace is found in a variety of chemicals, to a man who comes to terms with his life, and changes its course. The book is not a fairy tale. The man at the end is one you would likely be as fond of, as the younger version would have repelled you.
There are some remarkable stories within this man's life. A Daughter who is handicapped, the system that she enters that would be the delight of The Marquis De Sade, and a then young reporter, who helped change the system, and is a household name today. Mr. McCourt takes a trip cross country, and tends to a mouse that has found a spot to hitchhike its way to The West Coast in a small hole in the auto. There is the encounter that he and his wife have with one of the more notorious murderers of the 20th Century prior to his crimes. And there are dozens more.
This book has a great deal of the wit this man is known for, however to describe this work as humorous or funny would be way off the mark. This was a man who was angry, who marched when it was unpopular to do so, he even had the tapes of one of his radio programs confiscated by The Secret Service, after The Saturday Night Massacre of Nixon fame.
To say Mr. McCourt has lived a full life would illicit from him a quip about the wildest form of understatement. He is unique, a one time original. How else do you describe a man who tried to divert the minds of passengers in the midst of skimming the Atlantic Ocean because a door was insecure, by asking if the other passengers would like to meet his Mother? The most normal of questions except when uttered by Mr. McCourt, who when the passengers agreed, produced the ashes of his deceased Mother, whose remains he was bringing back to Ireland to bury. Bad taste...if you find yourself on a plane that may or may not make its destination, hope there is a man or woman aboard who has a sense of humor, who thinks of his fellow passengers.
A wonderful book that deserves much more attention.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A sequel that's better than the original, December 7, 2000
Malachy McCourt has written an occasionally captivating look at the last forty years of his life that is replete with self reflection, without wallowing in self pity. Furthermore he shows that he can convey his tale in a terse, lyrical prose that shines more brightly than virtually anything he wrote in "A Monk Swimming". The passages that describe his careers as actor and radio talk show host and his involvement in the successful effort to close Staten Island's Willowbrook mental institution are among this tome's finest moments. Although "Singing My Him Song" is not the literary classic that "Angela's Ashes" is deservedly so, it should be read by McCourties - diehard fans of the McCourts - and by others who enjoy reading tales well told.
(EDITORIAL NOTE 8/20/2009 - Now that his brother Frank is gone, Malachy is now the McCourt family's resident expert of comic storytelling. If I had any doubts about that - and I can assure that I never have - they were dispelled during an emotional, funny, and yes, even, irreverent, eulogy which Malachy delivered during a memorial mass held for Frank early last evening - exactly one month after Frank passed away (on the occasion of what would have been Frank's 79th birthday) - at a Franciscan-run Roman Catholic Church on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It was indeed a most moving remembrance of my Irish-American "Dad", delivered by his oldest brother, who will remain forever in my heart, my favorite Irish-American "Uncle".).
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