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Death Need Not Be Fatal
- Narrated by: Malachy McCourt
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Art & Literature
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Publisher's Summary
Before he runs out of time, Irish bon vivant Malachy McCourt shares his views on death - sometimes hilarious and often poignant - and on what will or won't happen after his last breath is drawn.
During the course of his life, Malachy McCourt practically invented the singles bar and was a pioneer in talk radio, a soap opera star, a best-selling author, a gold smuggler, a political activist, and a candidate for governor of the state of New York.
It seems that the only two things he hasn't done are stick his head into a lion's mouth and die. Since he is allergic to cats, he decided to write about the great hereafter and answer the question on most minds: What's so great about it anyhow?
In Death Need Not Be Fatal, McCourt also trains a sober eye on the tragedies that have shaped his life: the deaths of his sister and twin brothers; the real story behind Angela's famous ashes; and a poignant account of the death of the man who left his mother, brothers, and him to nearly die in squalor. McCourt writes with deep emotion of the staggering losses of all three of his brothers, Frank, Mike, and Alphie. In his inimitable way, McCourt takes the grim reaper by the lapels and shakes the truth out of him.
As he rides the final blocks on his Rascal scooter, he looks, too, at the prospect of his own demise with emotional clarity and insight. In this beautifully rendered memoir, McCourt shows us how to live life to its fullest, how to grow old without acting old, and how to die without regret.
Critic Reviews
"The audiobook is like sitting at the dinner table listening to a beloved uncle talk about his life." (AudioFile)
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What listeners say about Death Need Not Be Fatal
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Lili
- 06-19-17
What a life lived and shared!
Any additional comments?
This perhaps is not my favorite memoir. There is a great deal of sadness, loss, brutal poverty, and generally the harm humans do to each other and themselves. But, the perspective on life this man has, the obstacles he has overcome, the success he has achieved and the celebrity he has endured; all make for a most memorable read. He narrates the book himself, with a sly Irish accent, and an abundance of wit and humor. Sometimes he even breaks into song!
He is the brother of the famous Frank McCourt whose book I have not read, perhaps being writers is built into their DNA, I don't know. But I do know I will remember this book, and this man, for years to come.
4 people found this helpful
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- M. Contreras
- 06-29-20
LOVED!
Excellent content on a man with a colorful life, as he reflects on his getting old and facing the next stage of his life: death. Some great stories, from a fantastic storyteller. If you’re a Frank McCourt fan, you’ll love this book by his brother, which includes stories about Frank, including his end of life experience. Highly recommend.
2 people found this helpful
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- Sarah B. Readin
- 11-24-18
Malachy McCourt is a national treasure.
If I could rate the book a bajillion stars, I would. I recommend this book to anyone planning on eventually dying.
2 people found this helpful
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- HDTwoodsman
- 12-01-20
Malachy Never Disappoints
This is the third MM book I've read. He represents all that is great about Ireland and America. He's always funny and much is learned.
1 person found this helpful
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- bj
- 08-06-18
Good
I read all of Frank's books. I then felt like I had to read Malachys and I definitely do not regret it. Great authors!!!!
1 person found this helpful
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- Toots
- 05-28-17
Wonderful listen!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, Malachy is funny and his brogue is just like my grandmothers!
What other book might you compare Death Need Not Be Fatal to and why?
it's not anything like Angela's Ashes, but he compliments Frank's story well.
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- Billy Bunter
- 03-20-22
Thoroughly enjoyable
Malachy reads his own work surprisingly falteringly at times, as if reading the words for the first time, but then again he's 85 at the time of reading and I later discover from the book he's quite unwell.
I soon adapted to his reading style and relaxed into his narration. There's a lot to like, particularly the irreverence, the straight-talking, the fun and common sense. Malachy is 90 at the time of my discovery of him via this book. I bought the book first, though I knew little of Malachy except I somehow believed him to be brash, and I wasn't wrong.
I heard this over a few days, always loathing to turn it off. Highly recommended.