The Temptations of St. Frank

by Anthony Bruno

In this hilarious and biting coming-of-age novel, seventeen-year-old Frank Grimaldi wants one thing more than anything else—to have sex before he graduates. Too bad his crazy teachers, insane parents, the Catholic Church, and the Mafia are all standing in the way.Imagine Catch-22 ’s Captain Yossarian in high school. Imagine Prep written by a guy. Imagine the narrator of Philip Roth’s Goodbye, Columbus as a Catholic. Imagine J.P. Donleavy’s The Beastly Beatitudes of Balthazar B. set in New Jersey in 1970. Imagine The Temptations of St. Frank .

Genres: Young Adult

294 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2009

About the author

Anthony Bruno is the author of the non-fiction books, THE ICEMAN: THE TRUE STORY OF A COLD-BLOODED KILLER and co-author of THE SEEKERS: A BOUNTY HUNTER'S STORY with Joshua Armstrong, which was nominated for an Edgar Award.

He is also the author of the crime novels SEVEN (based on the Brad Pitt-Morgan Freeman movie), BAD GUYS, BAD BLOOD, BAD LUCK, BAD BUSINESS, BAD MOON, BAD APPLE, DEVIL'S FOOD, DOUBLE ESPRESSO, and HOT FUDGE.

His coming-of-age novel, THE TEMPTATIONS OF ST. FRANK, and latest thriller, BLEEDERS, are ebook originals.

Reviews

[Gerard Van Langeveld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catholic School version of Catcher in the Rye

Took me back to my high school days. The agony of growing up. Complete with the hard lessons and heart ache. Loved it.

[Babs M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I was also in the class of 1970 so I could related to the times and the music references. I am also Catholic but attended public schools so I had a small problem with the lack of respect for the priests and teachers. Of course this also was set beginning in April 1970 and April 22 was the first "Earth Day" so the pollution by the landfill was worked into the book. Overall an enjoyable read.

[Rita Wickham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it reminded me of the struggles of youth, self-discovery, and coming of age. I'd bet Frank grows up to be a great man.

[Judith Sachs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love coming of age novels, so after "This Boys Life" and "Prep," I bought this one. Having just gobbled up "The Temptations of St. Frank," I felt I was there! Women always want to know what men are thinking, and boy, does this book ever tell the reader what's going on in a guy's head! The main character, a likeable, shy kid obsessed with girls, the Beatles, and the Newark mob, is desperate to escape his crazy parents and get away to college in Boston. I was cheering for him every step of the way through the lunacy of adolescence, not to mention the scary thriller parts of what happens when the Mob and the Church get together. The frog dissection scene is priceless, but so is everything in this wonderful novel. The setting, mood, characters, and writing are all A+!! And for $1.99 as a Kindle book, how can you miss???

[Rosemary Cantrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must be the only one who didn't really enjoy this book all that much. It was fairly well-written and some of the characters were colorful and interesting. However, the story line seemed convoluted and at times pointless.

It is primarily a coming of age story about Frank, a young man in a Catholic all boys high school. Many of his struggles rang true, but much of it just didn't draw me in. The connection of the mafia, the church, and the burning landfill failed to make me care all that much. It was contrived.

However, Frank's struggles with girls was more believable. I thought the ending sent a good message about consequences and about how to win the girl.

I think many young people would enjoy the book far more than I did. I received a free copy of the book in exchange for writing a review.