A Long Stone's Throw

by Alphie McCourt

This memoir of the youngest McCourt begins between the borders of Canada and the United States. Because of a technical hitch in immigration law, Alphie, in town to play a rugby match with his mates, finds himself shanghaied in no man's land. This was not the first, or the last, time Alphie will be on unsteady ground.

Alphie McCourt was born in Limerick, Ireland, where his father's departure left misery behind for the family. His loneliness only grew deeper and wider as each of his older brothers (Frank, Malachy and Michael) left for America; so in the year 1959, Alphie followed them.

Alphie's adolescence in New York was marked by aimlessness, and too much drink. Briefly returning to Ireland and study law, he returned to America only three years later, where this time he settled in California, discovering marijuana and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Returning to his immigrant roots in New York City, Alphie reencounters the beautiful Upper East Side Lynn,and marries her in 1975, in a raucous ceremony attended by both priest and rabbi. Success followed by hardship in business ventures color several of the following years. Then, one night, on Route 80 in New Jersey, drunk, full of despair and driving through the snow, Alphie has an epiphany.

Today Alphie rises in the morning, at time when he used to go to bed. With a New York City dawn still lingering, he monitors the Empire State Building, in all its moods and colors, and knows he has finally landed on firm ground. He is home.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

11 pages, Audio CD

First published October 1, 2008

Reviews

[Dav · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Long Stone's Throw • by Alfie McCourt

Emotional and memorable, as were the memoirs of his older brothers.


Alphie McCourt was the youngest of the four McCourt brothers. Alphie's tale follows that of his older brothers, as they all eventually escape their miserable childhood in Limerick and prosper in America.

It begins with an aimless life of drinking and misadventure as an adolescent and finally Alfie finds a happy home in New York. He was not a US citizen and so had some immigration problems and was stuck for a year in Canada. In the 1960s he's drafted just before the Vietnam War. He was a pacifist as well as an incompetent soldier. After his military service he worked odd jobs; waiter, bartender, guard and trys college, but ends up dropping out.

Then we get a telling of his mom's life in the 1940s. His teenage mom immigrated to the United States, got knocked up and the family insists she be married. So the charming, but ne'er-do-well drunk marries Angela and will become Alphie's father. It all goes to shit from there. Not only does his dad lose jobs regularly, drink every cent he has, but any aid/money they get he spends in the bars as well.

With no money and no prospects his mom pays her way back to Ireland. The wasting of money in bars continuous and from poverty the family sinks even lower into a slum of disease and starvation.

In 1949 Alfie is age nine. His oldest brother, Frank is 19 and travels to the United States. When Frank joins the army he has his pay sent to his mom and brothers. At long last with Frank as the breadwinner the McCourts are able to move into proper housing among the working class. They have electricity, indoor plumbing, a real bathroom and all the basic needs. The 20-year nightmare is over for the McCourts. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt chronicles, in all its gory detail, that very miserable time. The cruelty of corporal punishment in the Irish schools is portrayed and is equally disgusting.

Eventually Alfie borrows money and partners with others in running a restaurant and later a bar. He has some successful years, but eventually goes bankrupt. He's married and has a special needs kid. Finally he settles into a steady job running and renovating a huge apartment complex for a large company. He still has the wanderlust but now, white-haired and aging, he determines to stick with the steady job, a career and bring stability to his family.

[Halifax · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recorded Book. Enjoyed listening to the author read his book. His life was challenging and with interesting experiences.

[reneeNaDaCherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of Irishman Alphie McCourt the baby brother of Frank McCourt. I really enjoyed his poetic voice with a sweet tune that draws one into his life adventures.

[Christiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy as much as Frank or Malachy's books. The stories didn't feel fully explained. It is interesting to hear how the family did after the older brothers left.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, it rambles and it's mostly sad, but it's honest. It's heartfelt.

[John A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant, fumy and interesting tale of an immigrant from Limerick Ireland. He followed in his brothers, Fran & Malachy McCourt footsteps in writing his personal essay.

[Jemima · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing how siblings share the same life but have different take on how it went and how it affected them. I am glad to see how Frank's first book set the pace for the other memoirs. Bravo.

[Muriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Sometimes the description was beautiful, almost poetic. But overall, I felt there were stories that weren't quite told. Left me . . . sort of hanging & wishing author had done more with them. Kind of up an down. Really got on a roll with some parts that took place in Ireland.

[Teddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The youngest of the McCourt brothers.

First there was 'Angela's Ash's and other books by Frank McCourt. Then his brother Malachy with the book "And a Monk Swimming". Now the youngest of the McCourt brothers, Alphie has written a book.

Not many years after his brothers move to New York City from Ireland, Alphie and his mother followed. We hear about his family, this time from Alphie's perspective but much the same as what his brothers describe. Then we hear about his life.
Alphie didn't have the same luck in life as his brothers had. He went from dead-end job to the other throughout his life. He also battled alcoholism. Things looked up for awhile when he owned a restaurant, but that eventually went bankrupt.

He does share one talent...

Read my full review here:

http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2009/02...

[Becky Rhyno · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't like disrespecting someone's autobiography, after all it is their life and their view of the events within. I must say though, that this was a chore to read. Self-indulged and boring, would be words I would use to describe this book.
It's unfair,I suppose to compare this author to his brother, actually there is no comparison. Angela's Ashes is one of my favorite books, this biography was more like an incoherent string of failures and drunken screw-ups. I'm glad this one is done and there will be no grieving for A Long Stone's Throw.

[comrade mum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Angela's Ashes is one of my favourite books ever, and, while not as amazing, 'Tis and Teacher Man were solid reads. I picked this up on a whim and decided I should give the youngest McCourt a try.

Stupid idea.

Alphie's writing style is conversational, downright enjoyable at times, but story after story of failure makes for a horribly depressing book. I wanted to like him, but couldn't get past his happy acceptance of continual failure and irresponsibility.

Thoroughly disappointing.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

the third McCourt writes his memoir; this one has not much to say. He comes to NY after the older two, flounders in various jobs, eventually does very well in restaurant business, but then that falls apart. the end, basically.

[Katy Brandes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of different and interesting stories here of the youngest McCourt brother's immigration. He is an endearing character, but his experiences are presented in a somewhat disjointed manner here. I liked the anecdotes well enough but found myself wondering how quickly I could get through them.

[Cheryl Killingsworth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get thru the second chapter. DON'T BOTHER! If I could give no stars that would sum it up. If you have read any of Frank McCourt's books you had a real treat! Having tried Malachy and Alphie they are both not in their brothers' league! OMG! Horrid!

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Alphie's voice and his own McCourt story of 'from Limerick to New York'. I felt like the book ended very abruptly though, and sometimes the overuse of commas made reading the sentences difficult. But I enjoyed it thoroughly and I would love to read more by Alphie.

[Blair T]

As the Irish are wont to say, "This is shite!" Reading someone's diary can be interesting, if anything happens. This is a tedious, boring book about a lazy, unmotivated drunk. Put it down 3/4 of the way through and regret only the time spent on the first 3/4 waiting for something to happen.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote a review for this book for Library Journal.

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Angelas Ashes, Tis and Teacher Man, so I was hoping for another great read. This was okay, but not what I wanted. Interesting enough but certainly not Frank.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very similar to brother Frank's stories. Light but enjoyable.

[monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

quick read and funny/sad autobiography of Frank McCourt's youngest brother. He writes as if he's telling you a story, complete with asides and commentary.

[Margery · Rating 1 out of 5]

Complete waste of trees. Not even worth one star. The author is a failed bartender, restauranteur, alcoholic, son and now author - simply riding on the coat tails of brothers Frank and Malachy.

[Anne-Louise · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thought this might be good, as I really enjoyed his brother's works. I was also thinking it would be more about his childhood in Ireland. Big disappointment

[Louann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book on tape once you get used to his dry, slow delivery style. Very enjoyable story teller!

[Chelsea Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to 'Tis by Frank McCourt, but not as good.

[Karin A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Alphie's story and not his brothers. I enjoyed reading about his life with all his faults and being human. His ups and downs didn't deter him. He carried on.

[Cathy Nunn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Agree it was beyond boring and any time he was somewhat interesting, he stopped telling that story

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit discombobulated, but interesting.

[Mama Llama]

I enjoyed this rather rambling self-excoriation. I listened to it as an audio-book, read by the author himself, and suspect I enjoyed it more for that reason, His somewhat labored Irish accent lent a charm to an otherwise not so compelling tale.