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ktaylorhurley's review
3.0
Pleasant enough, but kind of tumbled into an ending that felt too convenient and yet still unfinished. I enjoyed the interactions with Alice and Frank the most, but I wish we had learned a little more about what made Mimi tick, and what was ultimately driving some of the choices she made.
shareen17's review
4.0
This book is funny, touching and engaging- perfect summer read. A woman from a publishing company is sent to L.A. to babysit an eccentric author and her even more eccentric 10-year-old son. The audiobook reader is very good. The boy has a unique voice, so I think listening to it adds to the experience.
shilohstone's review
5.0
I fell in love deeply and quickly with the characters in this book, and I cried when it ended. Please give me more!
dharma130's review against another edition
4.0
What a great well narrated book. I think I had a smile on my face the whole time listening to it.
luckyluke82's review against another edition
3.0
Absolutely adored the character Frank and want more of him! Unfortunately I did not like the narrator character and she brought the book down, and there were underdeveloped pieces of the plot.
celjla212's review against another edition
4.0
Alice is 24 years old, working in the book publishing world, and is sent to be an assistant of sorts to the famous-for-one-novel Mimi Banning. When she meets Mimi's 9 year old son Frank though, she suddenly has to become so much more. Frank lives in his own unique world to say the least. Adults either cannot deal with him or find him endearing, and children his own age just find him plain weird.
Mimi has been in hiding since the massive fame she gained with her first and only novel. Having Frank has changed her, but not necessarily for the better. She now is on a tight deadline to come out with another bestseller, and Alice must keep her household and child under her sights while Mimi tries to do just that.
I quite enjoyed this look into the lives of some truly intriguing characters. I instantly fell in love with Frank, even though many may find him annoying or struggle to understand him. It's never stated, but seems obvious to me, that Frank falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. His mother, delicate as she is, loves him but does not always have the energy or attitude necessary to keep up with him.
I loved the bond that Alice and Frank formed. It's cliche to say they both helped each other learn a lot, but it's true. Frank needed Alice to guide him socially and in some other ways, and Alice learned that things are not always so cut and dried and perhaps can be looked at from another angle by watching Frank.
One thing I didn't understand nor was it even touched on was the reason why Mimi was so rude. Alice was there to help her, after all. Maybe Mimi resented needing the help; maybe she felt she was being spied on and didn't like it; maybe she became jealous of the attention Alice was getting from Frank. These are all plausible, albeit facetious reasons that could explain Mimi's perpetual nastiness towards Alice, but it felt like something deeper was at play.
I don't know if the book could be described as hilarious or heartwarming, but I'm glad I read it, if only because I was introduced to young Frank. He's a character that will stay with me for some time and make me think of him often. I loved the author's writing style, though I didn't particularly like the flow of the individual chapters.
Give this novel a read if you love characters with a lot of heart and honesty, or if you're interested in reading a story that is true to life about a child on the autism spectrum.
Mimi has been in hiding since the massive fame she gained with her first and only novel. Having Frank has changed her, but not necessarily for the better. She now is on a tight deadline to come out with another bestseller, and Alice must keep her household and child under her sights while Mimi tries to do just that.
I quite enjoyed this look into the lives of some truly intriguing characters. I instantly fell in love with Frank, even though many may find him annoying or struggle to understand him. It's never stated, but seems obvious to me, that Frank falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. His mother, delicate as she is, loves him but does not always have the energy or attitude necessary to keep up with him.
I loved the bond that Alice and Frank formed. It's cliche to say they both helped each other learn a lot, but it's true. Frank needed Alice to guide him socially and in some other ways, and Alice learned that things are not always so cut and dried and perhaps can be looked at from another angle by watching Frank.
One thing I didn't understand nor was it even touched on was the reason why Mimi was so rude. Alice was there to help her, after all. Maybe Mimi resented needing the help; maybe she felt she was being spied on and didn't like it; maybe she became jealous of the attention Alice was getting from Frank. These are all plausible, albeit facetious reasons that could explain Mimi's perpetual nastiness towards Alice, but it felt like something deeper was at play.
I don't know if the book could be described as hilarious or heartwarming, but I'm glad I read it, if only because I was introduced to young Frank. He's a character that will stay with me for some time and make me think of him often. I loved the author's writing style, though I didn't particularly like the flow of the individual chapters.
Give this novel a read if you love characters with a lot of heart and honesty, or if you're interested in reading a story that is true to life about a child on the autism spectrum.
bickie's review
3.0
I completely fell in love with Frank. Nice quick, easy, engrossing read that provides good discussion material about non-conformists and whether they should be forced to conform to make others around them more comfortable or whether others should instead be encouraged to be more understanding.
tracyfeye's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
traceyelder's review
2.0
2.5 stars
Missed opportunities. The book starts promising and starts interesting plot lines, but doesn't explore any of them in depth. Loved the character of Frank, but the narrator Alice was about as dull as watching paint dry. Would've been a more impactful and interesting book told from another perspective, and/or if areas of the plot were better developed.
Missed opportunities. The book starts promising and starts interesting plot lines, but doesn't explore any of them in depth. Loved the character of Frank, but the narrator Alice was about as dull as watching paint dry. Would've been a more impactful and interesting book told from another perspective, and/or if areas of the plot were better developed.
qu33nofbookz's review against another edition
1.0
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book affected me and not in a good way.
This was more of a character study than a story. And to be frank I didn't care much for them or what was going on. Mimi Banning a famous but reclusive author with a one hit wonder is trying to write another book. To do so she calls her editor who is about to be let go from the publishing firm he works at because she hasn't written anything in years for an assistant. But really what she wants is a live-in slave for her son Frank. So Alice an assistant to the editor is sent off to help because she is good with computers, for Mimi's needs and she has a tiny bit of child care experience in the form of a teaching assistant for Frank. (This part is hard to believe since Alice got a degree in accounting and a minor in art not anything in education or child care or psychology. Yet a private school hires her to be a kindergarten assistant with zero experience then promotes her to a 3rd-grade math teacher in a pinch all before age 24? Nope not buying that in the least. A private school is not going to hire anyone without a teaching degree or any experience.)
Even before she arrives she and the editor gossip about Mimi and Frank and he implies she spy on them. From then on Alice seems to be like a gossip columnist asking and snooping around to find out all the details about Mimi and Frank. She keeps a journal about it. She is vastly inexperienced in her capability to take care of Frank, since Mimi locks herself in her room almost 24/7. She does everything but help Mimi with her book which Mimi most likely isn't actually writing.
Frank is a little tyrant who must be on the autism spectrum scale. He throws tantrums if you touch him or his things or don't do what he wants. (I don't think this kid has had the word no said to him at all). He hurts himself when upset or occasionally others. He has no concept that other people exist and have feelings other then to annoy him or do what he wants but again without any empathy. All the while he spouts off facts he has memorized about old classic movies and any time from before the 1960's. It's like he swallowed a bunch of encyclopedias and just spits up random facts at odd times. He dresses from the time period of the golden age of cinema too. He needs a lot of care and seems to be calling out for help in his own way since it is assumed Mimi spends little time with him and they don't socialize at all. He has zero social skills but yet he attends a private school where he is still a tiny terror but everyone just accepts it. (I don't. Under law they would have to report what is going on in some of the situations mentioned or the parents of other kids would do something about him since his mom and the teachers won't.) Later Alice and Frank's male role model the sometimes handyman/piano player who shows up now and again let him skip school all together because he can't handle wearing regular clothes to school. (Okay I don't know what private schools are like in LA but where I live all private schools have uniforms or a strict dress code. How is Frank still able to wear what he wears which make him a target for bullies as all the teachers and later new principal point out.)
Mimi has mental health issues of her own which she won't address and point out it runs in the family. She does have Frank going to a therapist on occasion but it doesn't seem to be doing anyone any good. She's a doormat for Frank who is a replacement for her brother who committed suicide in front of her a long time ago. But if she isn't bowing to his whims she leaves him to run wild. She knows he has issues and needs help but won't do so besides the odd psychologist visits. You can be unique and individual while getting mental help but she doesn't see it that way and both she and Frank suffer for it.
Xander, a man who looks just like Mimi's dead brother is their sometimes handyman and Frank's piano teacher. He is a little boy in an adult's body who has a ton of mental issues of his own. He is half dependant on Mimi and Frank as they are to him. He breezes in and out of their lives whenever the mood strikes.
All in all I did not care for this book. I didn't like the characters that much and the situation they are in appalls me and nothing really happened. There was no character growth, no emotional revelations, no inner or outer turmoil/struggle to be over come, and the characters' situations didn't change much.
This book affected me and not in a good way.
This was more of a character study than a story. And to be frank I didn't care much for them or what was going on. Mimi Banning a famous but reclusive author with a one hit wonder is trying to write another book. To do so she calls her editor who is about to be let go from the publishing firm he works at because she hasn't written anything in years for an assistant. But really what she wants is a live-in slave for her son Frank. So Alice an assistant to the editor is sent off to help because she is good with computers, for Mimi's needs and she has a tiny bit of child care experience in the form of a teaching assistant for Frank. (This part is hard to believe since Alice got a degree in accounting and a minor in art not anything in education or child care or psychology. Yet a private school hires her to be a kindergarten assistant with zero experience then promotes her to a 3rd-grade math teacher in a pinch all before age 24? Nope not buying that in the least. A private school is not going to hire anyone without a teaching degree or any experience.)
Even before she arrives she and the editor gossip about Mimi and Frank and he implies she spy on them. From then on Alice seems to be like a gossip columnist asking and snooping around to find out all the details about Mimi and Frank. She keeps a journal about it. She is vastly inexperienced in her capability to take care of Frank, since Mimi locks herself in her room almost 24/7. She does everything but help Mimi with her book which Mimi most likely isn't actually writing.
Frank is a little tyrant who must be on the autism spectrum scale. He throws tantrums if you touch him or his things or don't do what he wants. (I don't think this kid has had the word no said to him at all). He hurts himself when upset or occasionally others. He has no concept that other people exist and have feelings other then to annoy him or do what he wants but again without any empathy. All the while he spouts off facts he has memorized about old classic movies and any time from before the 1960's. It's like he swallowed a bunch of encyclopedias and just spits up random facts at odd times. He dresses from the time period of the golden age of cinema too. He needs a lot of care and seems to be calling out for help in his own way since it is assumed Mimi spends little time with him and they don't socialize at all. He has zero social skills but yet he attends a private school where he is still a tiny terror but everyone just accepts it. (I don't. Under law they would have to report what is going on in some of the situations mentioned or the parents of other kids would do something about him since his mom and the teachers won't.) Later Alice and Frank's male role model the sometimes handyman/piano player who shows up now and again let him skip school all together because he can't handle wearing regular clothes to school. (Okay I don't know what private schools are like in LA but where I live all private schools have uniforms or a strict dress code. How is Frank still able to wear what he wears which make him a target for bullies as all the teachers and later new principal point out.)
Mimi has mental health issues of her own which she won't address and point out it runs in the family. She does have Frank going to a therapist on occasion but it doesn't seem to be doing anyone any good. She's a doormat for Frank who is a replacement for her brother who committed suicide in front of her a long time ago. But if she isn't bowing to his whims she leaves him to run wild. She knows he has issues and needs help but won't do so besides the odd psychologist visits. You can be unique and individual while getting mental help but she doesn't see it that way and both she and Frank suffer for it.
Xander, a man who looks just like Mimi's dead brother is their sometimes handyman and Frank's piano teacher. He is a little boy in an adult's body who has a ton of mental issues of his own. He is half dependant on Mimi and Frank as they are to him. He breezes in and out of their lives whenever the mood strikes.
All in all I did not care for this book. I didn't like the characters that much and the situation they are in appalls me and nothing really happened. There was no character growth, no emotional revelations, no inner or outer turmoil/struggle to be over come, and the characters' situations didn't change much.