Title: A hardy start, but loses drive towards the end
Review: I was at first disgusted by Malachy McCourt's attempt to live off his brother Frank's success as a writer, but when I actually picked up A Monk Swimming, I was impressed by his originality and divorce from imitation. The first half or so of the book consists of some dubiously and some exceedingly funny tales told in creative, innovative language. Somewhere along the way, however, the book descends into a ultimate sameness, page after page: the drunkeness and sex escapades of the author. At the same time, Malachy runs out of ways to make English interesting. In the end, although a reformation is hinted at, none is ever really told, and the book is concluded with stories of Malachy's father, Malachy, which really don't fit the previous theme.
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