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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed Frank's character. His quirkiness is hilarious and adorable, and his fashion sense is most definitely better than yours or mine (of which Frank would be appalled and disgusted that I have worn pajama pants outside). His mother was the typical recluse author and she isn't a very likeable character.
However, I felt for Frank as he would inevitably be bullied in his future schooling due to his fashion sense, incredible intelligence, and misunderstood mindset.
However, I felt for Frank as he would inevitably be bullied in his future schooling due to his fashion sense, incredible intelligence, and misunderstood mindset.
Funny, quirky and a good summer read. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Nothing too memorable, but a sweet, funny, creative story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Good plane/beach read.
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters were odd and not even always likeable but your affection for them grows as you see their devotion to one another. Frank is maddening and loveable all at once. Mimi is harsh and cold on the outside but is obviously dealing with some deep hurts from her past. Alice is the sane one trying to manage the chaos. I just finished this book and I'm wishing I could read more about Frank!
Julia Claiborne Johnson needs to write more books. She has an eloquent way of intertwining her story and making the reader feel like they are in on the jokes.
Julia Claiborne Johnson needs to write more books. She has an eloquent way of intertwining her story and making the reader feel like they are in on the jokes.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Dumb ending
I enjoyed this book. Interesting storyline and quirky characters. I would recommend it, especially for book clubs. Lots to discuss.
Frank is a quirky, eccentric kid who dresses to the nines and is font of random facts and history. He was lovely and I really loved his character. However, I really disliked all the other characters, which kept me from liking the book more. Mimi was prickly and while she had her moments and I understood where she was coming from, I would have liked to see her open up more with Alice. To me, that would have helped the plot move along and shown some character development. I liked Alice less as the story progressed and would have liked to have seen more development from her - she grew to love and understand Frank more throughout the book - though I thought she got on with him pretty well from the get-go - so to not see her grow much was a bit disappointing. I also found her naive and bland; she could have been interchanged with a million people like her.
I did love Mr. Vargas - he was lovely and without him the last half of the book would have felt especially lacking. Overall, though, just meh for me. Frank really out-shined the other points of the book (writing style, plot, etc.) and I was left with an imbalanced feeling after it was over. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did an excellent job with Frank.
I did love Mr. Vargas - he was lovely and without him the last half of the book would have felt especially lacking. Overall, though, just meh for me. Frank really out-shined the other points of the book (writing style, plot, etc.) and I was left with an imbalanced feeling after it was over. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did an excellent job with Frank.
3 1/2 stars
I have read a fair amount of books that deal with socially inept characters that border on, or has full blown Aspergers so this book fits into the same category as [b:The Rosie Project|16181775|The Rosie Project (Don Tillman, #1)|Graeme Simsion|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371651741s/16181775.jpg|22084678] and [b:600 Hours of Edward|6957731|600 Hours of Edward|Craig Lancaster|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347253750s/6957731.jpg|7194012].
This book has also been favourably compared to [b:The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time|1618|The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time|Mark Haddon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327882682s/1618.jpg|4259809] however I don’t completely agree with this comparison.
The story is told from the perspective of Alice, a publisher’s assistant who comes to aid a hugely successful but reclusive literary author M. M. Banning, with the completion her eagerly awaited 2nd book. This author, Mimi, has a son called Frank and its clear from the start that his life and needs is an all-consuming job. I think the book portrayed in a very sensitive way exactly how exhausting it must be to raise a child like Frank.
Now Frank is the star of this book and will in his own peculiar way probably steal your heart.
He is a meticulous dresser, using clothes as protective armour from a world that does not understand him. Preferring to dress like old movie stars (with top hats and monocles) rather than dressing like any normal boy in jeans and sneakers. He is also too smart for his own good and not surprisingly is a target for bullies at school.
I have to be honest but at times I found Frank a little unlikable (I do not have children so my tolerance of what I consider rude is quite low) BUT he does make up for this in other ways.
I also found Alice a little peculiar, being a 24-year-old loner with no friends. Perhaps that’s why she fit in so easily with this eccentric family. One thing I did appreciate about Alice was her level headed calm and immediate acceptance of Frank’s quirks. She never once questioned it and respected all the boundaries he set for her.
So although there may be one or two things I didn't love about this book I can absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun holiday read.
I have read a fair amount of books that deal with socially inept characters that border on, or has full blown Aspergers so this book fits into the same category as [b:The Rosie Project|16181775|The Rosie Project (Don Tillman, #1)|Graeme Simsion|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371651741s/16181775.jpg|22084678] and [b:600 Hours of Edward|6957731|600 Hours of Edward|Craig Lancaster|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347253750s/6957731.jpg|7194012].
This book has also been favourably compared to [b:The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time|1618|The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time|Mark Haddon|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327882682s/1618.jpg|4259809] however I don’t completely agree with this comparison.
The story is told from the perspective of Alice, a publisher’s assistant who comes to aid a hugely successful but reclusive literary author M. M. Banning, with the completion her eagerly awaited 2nd book. This author, Mimi, has a son called Frank and its clear from the start that his life and needs is an all-consuming job. I think the book portrayed in a very sensitive way exactly how exhausting it must be to raise a child like Frank.
Now Frank is the star of this book and will in his own peculiar way probably steal your heart.
He is a meticulous dresser, using clothes as protective armour from a world that does not understand him. Preferring to dress like old movie stars (with top hats and monocles) rather than dressing like any normal boy in jeans and sneakers. He is also too smart for his own good and not surprisingly is a target for bullies at school.
I have to be honest but at times I found Frank a little unlikable (I do not have children so my tolerance of what I consider rude is quite low) BUT he does make up for this in other ways.
I also found Alice a little peculiar, being a 24-year-old loner with no friends. Perhaps that’s why she fit in so easily with this eccentric family. One thing I did appreciate about Alice was her level headed calm and immediate acceptance of Frank’s quirks. She never once questioned it and respected all the boundaries he set for her.
So although there may be one or two things I didn't love about this book I can absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun holiday read.
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