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Be Frank With Me
A sparkling talent makes her fiction debut with this infectious novel that combines the charming pluck of Eloise, the poignant psychological quirks of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the page-turning spirit of Where’d You Go, Bernadette.
Reclusive literary legend M. M. “Mimi” Banning has been holed up in her Bel Air mansion for years. But after falling prey to a Bernie Madoff-style ponzi scheme, she’s flat broke. Now Mimi must write a new book for the first time in decades, and to ensure the timely delivery of her manuscript, her New York publisher sends an assistant to monitor her progress. The prickly Mimi reluctantly complies—with a few stipulations: No Ivy-Leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane.
When Alice Whitley arrives at the Banning mansion, she’s put to work right away—as a full-time companion to Frank, the writer’s eccentric nine-year-old, a boy with the wit of Noel Coward, the wardrobe of a 1930s movie star, and very little in common with his fellow fourth-graders.
As she slowly gets to know Frank, Alice becomes consumed with finding out who Frank’s father is, how his gorgeous “piano teacher and itinerant male role model” Xander fits into the Banning family equation—and whether Mimi will ever finish that book.
Full of heart and countless “only-in-Hollywood” moments, Be Frank with Me is a captivating and unconventional story of an unusual mother and son, and the intrepid young woman who finds herself irresistibly pulled into their unforgettable world.
Reclusive literary legend M. M. “Mimi” Banning has been holed up in her Bel Air mansion for years. But after falling prey to a Bernie Madoff-style ponzi scheme, she’s flat broke. Now Mimi must write a new book for the first time in decades, and to ensure the timely delivery of her manuscript, her New York publisher sends an assistant to monitor her progress. The prickly Mimi reluctantly complies—with a few stipulations: No Ivy-Leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane.
When Alice Whitley arrives at the Banning mansion, she’s put to work right away—as a full-time companion to Frank, the writer’s eccentric nine-year-old, a boy with the wit of Noel Coward, the wardrobe of a 1930s movie star, and very little in common with his fellow fourth-graders.
As she slowly gets to know Frank, Alice becomes consumed with finding out who Frank’s father is, how his gorgeous “piano teacher and itinerant male role model” Xander fits into the Banning family equation—and whether Mimi will ever finish that book.
Full of heart and countless “only-in-Hollywood” moments, Be Frank with Me is a captivating and unconventional story of an unusual mother and son, and the intrepid young woman who finds herself irresistibly pulled into their unforgettable world.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2016
1661 people are currently reading
24546 people want to read
About the author
Julia Claiborne Johnson
2 books679 followersJulia Claiborne Johnson is the author of the bestselling Be Frank with Me, a finalist for the American Bookseller’s Association Best Debut Novel Award. She grew up on a farm in Tennessee before moving to New York City, where she worked at Mademoiselle and Glamour magazines. She now lives in Los Angeles with her comedy-writer husband and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,750 reviews
January 5, 2016
There are very few writers who are writing exactly, exactly the books I want to read. The kinds of books Marisa de los Santos writes, or Tayari Jones, or Julianna Baggott, or Lydia Netzer. The kind of books I try very hard to write. You know---the ones that make you FEEL things and yet never get treacly or manipulate the weep or sell out for the TOO happy ending that I am too pragmatic and jaded to believe in. Books where the language matters A WHOLE LOT but the point of the sentence is never just the language. Where the characters are flawed and difficult (sort of like, you know, people,) and the themes are strong, submerged threads running all through, basically requiring a second reading because on the first one, I was too engaged and desperate to know WHAT HAPPENS NEXT to get all the stacked, delicious SMART nuance. This book is like that book.
I wrote a blurb for it, and I meant every word:
BE FRANK WITH ME is that rare, hits-me-just-right book I am always hoping to find when browsing: Witty, but never cutesy. Deeply felt, but never sentimental. Peopled with deeply flawed, fully realized characters I cared about. It pulled me in so strongly that I found myself reading in that whole body way that is a rare and luminous pleasure after childhood, so immersed that the phone and the dogs and the kids had to work to pull me out. I loved every minute I spent in Julia Claiborne Johnson’s glass house with her cast of dedicated stone-throwers. This one is special---don’t miss it.
I wrote a blurb for it, and I meant every word:
BE FRANK WITH ME is that rare, hits-me-just-right book I am always hoping to find when browsing: Witty, but never cutesy. Deeply felt, but never sentimental. Peopled with deeply flawed, fully realized characters I cared about. It pulled me in so strongly that I found myself reading in that whole body way that is a rare and luminous pleasure after childhood, so immersed that the phone and the dogs and the kids had to work to pull me out. I loved every minute I spent in Julia Claiborne Johnson’s glass house with her cast of dedicated stone-throwers. This one is special---don’t miss it.
February 6, 2016
Frank is the definitive star of this story and seriously I can't remember the last time I have enjoyed a character more. Frank, is nine, going on forty in some ways, yet emotionally still a child. He is smarter that a ridiculous amount of the population and loves old movies and the dialogues of old movies of which he is expert at reciting. His style of dressing is wonderful, but very strange for a nine year old. Frank, is eccentric, he is different which means he has a hard time with his classmates at school and has no friends, except for the very few adults in his life.
Not going to rehash the plot, so lets just say that when a young twenty something Alice arrives to take charge of Frank and the house, there is a certain amount of adjustment. Delightful and funny experiences ensue. Also poignant and heartbreaking times. We meet Zander, who helps Mimi and Frank out from time to time. He is reliable unless he isn't. He has scars from his past that keep him from committing to anything and anyone fully.
This is a quirky and fun read, light at times but there is much going on beneath the apparent lightness and it is interesting the way the author reveals these things throughout the novel without ever losing her deftness of touch. This novel definitely shows it is not the amount of friends we have that count but who they are. Even loved the ending, sadness reality and a touch of hope, she leaves that up to us to decide. Everyone needs to meet Frank.
Not going to rehash the plot, so lets just say that when a young twenty something Alice arrives to take charge of Frank and the house, there is a certain amount of adjustment. Delightful and funny experiences ensue. Also poignant and heartbreaking times. We meet Zander, who helps Mimi and Frank out from time to time. He is reliable unless he isn't. He has scars from his past that keep him from committing to anything and anyone fully.
This is a quirky and fun read, light at times but there is much going on beneath the apparent lightness and it is interesting the way the author reveals these things throughout the novel without ever losing her deftness of touch. This novel definitely shows it is not the amount of friends we have that count but who they are. Even loved the ending, sadness reality and a touch of hope, she leaves that up to us to decide. Everyone needs to meet Frank.
October 27, 2017
I almost had Kelly hunting me down for some stabby stabby.
Because I didn't really like this book. I wasn't impressed with the storyline or most of the characters.
But there is Frank.
Because I didn't really like this book. I wasn't impressed with the storyline or most of the characters.
But there is Frank.
October 18, 2017
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
“I love that kid,” he said. “Get in line.”
If you would have told me a book about a quirky nine year old kid would end up being one of the best things I’ve ever read, I probably would have assumed you were smoking some wacky tobacky. But then I met Frank.
Frank comes to us via way of Alice – an assistant at a publishing house who has been assigned the potentially daunting task of being live-in help while reclusive author M.M. Banning writes her highly anticipated second novel . . . 30 years after writing her first. It’s a guarantee whatever Mimi churns out will be a bestseller, and that’s a good thing because courtesy of some swindling “investment advisor” she’s flat broke. She just needs to focus 100% of her energy on putting words on paper so someone needs to watch her son Frank.
In today’s world of labels, there are probably a ton of reviews trying to pinpoint exactly where Frank lands on the spectrum. Back in the dark ages when I was growing up, he would have simply been called “precocious” or “eccentric.” Once you spend a little time with Frank you’ll soon realize his personality and character traits are undefinable and there’s absolutely no reason to try and put a label on him.
This is one of those occasions when the book needs to do almost all of the talking so you realize what you’re missing out on by not letting Frank into your world as well . . . .
“What’s wrong with you?”
“The jury’s still out on that one,” Frank said.
Frank spends his days in top hats and tails and is “a devotee of film. Of mathematics, not so much.” You can’t touch his things – or him for that matter – but “that didn’t keep the kid from becoming an honorary citizen of my personal zip code.” He also “loved being bundled up and pressed against things; he was a big fan of tight spaces.” Humor is something that doesn’t come easily to him, so he prefers to be told “knock knock when you’re trying to make a joke” so he knows . . . .
“What else was there to say? His fingernails are dirty? He stumbled into our century through a wormhole in the space-time continuum? I’m worried he’ll julienne me in my sleep?”
Truly, what else is there to say? Let’s just give you a little taste of Frank so you can see for yourself how much you need him in your life . . . .
Like the time he decided to hitchhike home from school . . .
“I know it’s wrong to indulge in criminal activities, but I do like those black-and-white-striped suits and matching caps that convicts wear. They’d make excellent pajamas. Do they let you keep them once your time is served?”
“Convicts wear orange jumpsuits that zip up the front now. The cut is not slimming, and a redhead like you should steer clear of head-to-to orange,” I say.
“I will never hitchhike again.”
Or when the principal decided that Frank’s attire was a distraction that needed to be changed . . .
“Surely no one can want me to go out in public in a shirt meant to be worn as underwear.”
“Lots of kids wear T-shirts out in public and think nothing of it.”
“Lots of kids chase me around the playground, too, but that doesn’t make it right.”
Or when he returned to school after Christmas break with a whole new outlook . . . .
“Where are you going?” Frank asked.
“I’m walking you to class,” I said.
“That won’t be necessary,” he said. “This time I’m prepared for the worst.”
“You’re really brave, Frank,” I said. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you,” he said. “It’s easier to be brave when you’re carrying a knife.”
“Get back in the car.”
Of all the gin joints in all the world, I’m so glad Frank walked into mine . . .
“You need to fill the house up with more like him. You need to fill up the world.”
Words cannot express how thankful I am that I follow Margitte. Her review is the reason I ever even heard of this little slice of perfect.
“I love that kid,” he said. “Get in line.”
If you would have told me a book about a quirky nine year old kid would end up being one of the best things I’ve ever read, I probably would have assumed you were smoking some wacky tobacky. But then I met Frank.
Frank comes to us via way of Alice – an assistant at a publishing house who has been assigned the potentially daunting task of being live-in help while reclusive author M.M. Banning writes her highly anticipated second novel . . . 30 years after writing her first. It’s a guarantee whatever Mimi churns out will be a bestseller, and that’s a good thing because courtesy of some swindling “investment advisor” she’s flat broke. She just needs to focus 100% of her energy on putting words on paper so someone needs to watch her son Frank.
In today’s world of labels, there are probably a ton of reviews trying to pinpoint exactly where Frank lands on the spectrum. Back in the dark ages when I was growing up, he would have simply been called “precocious” or “eccentric.” Once you spend a little time with Frank you’ll soon realize his personality and character traits are undefinable and there’s absolutely no reason to try and put a label on him.
This is one of those occasions when the book needs to do almost all of the talking so you realize what you’re missing out on by not letting Frank into your world as well . . . .
“What’s wrong with you?”
“The jury’s still out on that one,” Frank said.
Frank spends his days in top hats and tails and is “a devotee of film. Of mathematics, not so much.” You can’t touch his things – or him for that matter – but “that didn’t keep the kid from becoming an honorary citizen of my personal zip code.” He also “loved being bundled up and pressed against things; he was a big fan of tight spaces.” Humor is something that doesn’t come easily to him, so he prefers to be told “knock knock when you’re trying to make a joke” so he knows . . . .
“What else was there to say? His fingernails are dirty? He stumbled into our century through a wormhole in the space-time continuum? I’m worried he’ll julienne me in my sleep?”
Truly, what else is there to say? Let’s just give you a little taste of Frank so you can see for yourself how much you need him in your life . . . .
Like the time he decided to hitchhike home from school . . .
“I know it’s wrong to indulge in criminal activities, but I do like those black-and-white-striped suits and matching caps that convicts wear. They’d make excellent pajamas. Do they let you keep them once your time is served?”
“Convicts wear orange jumpsuits that zip up the front now. The cut is not slimming, and a redhead like you should steer clear of head-to-to orange,” I say.
“I will never hitchhike again.”
Or when the principal decided that Frank’s attire was a distraction that needed to be changed . . .
“Surely no one can want me to go out in public in a shirt meant to be worn as underwear.”
“Lots of kids wear T-shirts out in public and think nothing of it.”
“Lots of kids chase me around the playground, too, but that doesn’t make it right.”
Or when he returned to school after Christmas break with a whole new outlook . . . .
“Where are you going?” Frank asked.
“I’m walking you to class,” I said.
“That won’t be necessary,” he said. “This time I’m prepared for the worst.”
“You’re really brave, Frank,” I said. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thank you,” he said. “It’s easier to be brave when you’re carrying a knife.”
“Get back in the car.”
Of all the gin joints in all the world, I’m so glad Frank walked into mine . . .
“You need to fill the house up with more like him. You need to fill up the world.”
Words cannot express how thankful I am that I follow Margitte. Her review is the reason I ever even heard of this little slice of perfect.
September 3, 2024
New York literary agent Isaac Vargas's star client is M. M. Banning (Mimi), a middle-aged writer who wrote her only novel, titled 'Pitched', when she was nineteen.
The book, about a gifted young baseball player who loses his mind and dies, won a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, and became a cult favorite. The book still has thousands of rabid fans, who swarm Banning if she shows her face in public.
Thus Mimi has become something of a recluse, holed up in her expensive Los Angeles home.
One day Mimi calls Vargas to say she's writing a new book. It seems Mimi has been bilked out of her fortune by a crooked investment advisor and is about to lose her house and the copyright to Pitched. To recoup her finances, Banning has to pen a second novel. Mimi makes two demands of Vargas: a huge advance and an assistant, chosen by Vargas and paid for by the publisher.
Vargas decides to send his editorial assistant, a twenty-four year old accountant, computer whiz, and artist named Alice Whitley to Los Angeles.
Alice expects to help Banning shepherd her book to completion. Instead, Alice becomes the defacto guardian of Banning's nine-year-old son Frank, a gifted boy on the autism spectrum.
Frank has special needs, but they're more in line with the foibles of an eccentric wunderkind than a child who struggles with schoolwork.
Alice quickly learns the two rules of Frank. Rule one: No touching Frank's things. Rule two: No touching Frank. For any 'touching' to occur, Frank has to give prior permission. Rule breaking can result in Frank screaming; throwing things; banging his head on a table or wall; lying on the floor and going stiff; or other inappropriate behavior.
Frank's idiosyncrasies also extend to his wardrobe, recreational preferences, and conversations. Frank dresses as 'characters', and depending on his mood might be outfitted in a cravat and smoking jacket; zoot suit; deerstalker hat and caped overcoat; yachting blazer and captain's hat; cutaway coat, morning pants, spats, and top hat; pinstripe suit, wingtips, and monocle; or other unusual attire purchased from online catalogues.
For fun, Frank enjoys movies, especially vintage black and white ones. Some of his favorites are White Heat; My Man Godfrey; Sunset Boulevard; Casablanca; It's a Wonderful Life; Titanic; and more.
Frank also likes to talk, and seems to know arcane facts about almost everything. For example, when Alice takes Frank out in the car, he tells her, "Isadora Duncan met an untimely end in France on September fourteenth, 1927, when her scarf got entangled in the wheels of the convertible she rode in." And when the subject is bombs, Frank observes, "The Enola Gay, the airplane that dropped the first atom bomb, was built in Omaha in 1945."
Mimi dearly loves her young son, but - while she's writing her book - puts him almost exclusively in Alice's hands. Thus, while Mimi holes up in her office, Alice drives Frank to school and picks him up; prepares his meals; takes him to museums; plays with him; watches movies with him; supervises his bath time and bedtime; and so on.
Frank functions pretty well at home, but his manner of dress and behavior make him a target at school, where kids tease and taunt him. Alice has to deal with this on top of everything else, and it's taxing.
The one time Mimi is obligated to take her son to school she wears "the type of outfit you'd expect Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly to wear to cocktails: a little black dress, big black sunglasses, gloves, and pearls."
Together, Frank and Mimi "were the only pair on the playground dressed like they were going for drinks at the Algonquin after a funeral."
Despite everything (or maybe because of it), Alice forges a close bond with Frank and he cares for her as well.
The other important person in Frank's life is Xander, a quixotic piano teacher and handyman who periodically comes and goes from the Banning home.
Frank loves Xander, but the man's irresponsibility is a problem.
As the story unfolds we learn of tragic incidents in the lives of some characters, which explains their subsequent behavior and makes them more sympathetic. Frank is an absolute joy, and one hopes he retains his quirkiness while becoming a successful adult.
I was a little disappointed with the ending but this is a very good book, highly recommended.
I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
April 13, 2016
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars
What drew me to this book initially was the title. I loved all of the different meanings you could draw from it, the idea of a quirky boy ... and the cover is teal - a colour that I'm drawn to, what can I say.
Unfortunately the honeymoon ended there. Be Frank With Me had all the makings for a great read for me but then it didn't deliver and I struggled to get engaged with the plot and its characters. Sadly, I found myself skimming through some of the chapters in the second half. The premise was great, Frank's quirkiness was intriguing but the plot didn't have enough purpose.
The story is told from Alice's point of view and this was a problem for me for a few reasons. First, she has the personality of lukewarm oatmeal. Sure, she's a fish out of water when it comes to taking care of the ultra quirky Frank but on her own she's rather bland. She has a sweet relationship with Frank but that's about it. She's involved in a sudden romance that really could have been omitted for all that it added to the plot. I think that if part of the book was told from Frank or even Mimi's eyes I would have been more engaged and been given a deeper understanding of where these characters came from.
Frank is the gem of this book and the reason I kept reading. He's smarter than 99.7% of the population and is filled with various obscure facts (but how he learns these facts is unknown since he doesn't visit libraries or go online). He imparts this knowledge to unsuspecting people (whether they want to know the fact or not) and is a connoisseur of old films. Plus he's a snazzy, off-beat dresser preferring a suit, top hat and monocle (and sometimes pith helmet and racing goggles) to jeans and a T-shirt like other boys his age. These quirks lead to Frank being ostracized by his peers leaving him to be quite a lonely child.
Frank brings some levity to the book but at the same time it made me sad to see just how lonely and misunderstood he was by others. He lives in a very small world with Alice and his mother, Mimi being his epicentre. Mother Mimi is a force to be reckoned with and is portrayed as a mean-spirited, nasty recluse and while there are moments of maternal love towards Frank her nasty attitude towards Alice didn't feel warranted and Mimi was pretty much left a mystery to the reader. Honestly, I felt bad for Frank - this uber quirky kid who has a mother who appears to care about her son one minute then hides away from him for hours/days on end to finish her book. It just didn't make sense. She was abrasive and unlikeable except for those rare moments of mothering.
I know that there are many other readers who have sung this book's praises but Be Frank With Me just wasn't for me. It had a good premise but underneath it all it suffered from a thin plot, rather blaw, one dimensional characters (with the exception of Frank) and no real evolution in the characters' relationships or personalities. By the end of the book I was left wondering what the point of the whole book was supposed to be. I think Be Frank With Me was supposed to have a light-hearted, even funny, feel to it but overall I just felt sad for Frank. He's a unique, quirky child who seems to have a lot of people around him but still feels very much alone in the world.
What drew me to this book initially was the title. I loved all of the different meanings you could draw from it, the idea of a quirky boy ... and the cover is teal - a colour that I'm drawn to, what can I say.
Unfortunately the honeymoon ended there. Be Frank With Me had all the makings for a great read for me but then it didn't deliver and I struggled to get engaged with the plot and its characters. Sadly, I found myself skimming through some of the chapters in the second half. The premise was great, Frank's quirkiness was intriguing but the plot didn't have enough purpose.
The story is told from Alice's point of view and this was a problem for me for a few reasons. First, she has the personality of lukewarm oatmeal. Sure, she's a fish out of water when it comes to taking care of the ultra quirky Frank but on her own she's rather bland. She has a sweet relationship with Frank but that's about it. She's involved in a sudden romance that really could have been omitted for all that it added to the plot. I think that if part of the book was told from Frank or even Mimi's eyes I would have been more engaged and been given a deeper understanding of where these characters came from.
Frank is the gem of this book and the reason I kept reading. He's smarter than 99.7% of the population and is filled with various obscure facts (but how he learns these facts is unknown since he doesn't visit libraries or go online). He imparts this knowledge to unsuspecting people (whether they want to know the fact or not) and is a connoisseur of old films. Plus he's a snazzy, off-beat dresser preferring a suit, top hat and monocle (and sometimes pith helmet and racing goggles) to jeans and a T-shirt like other boys his age. These quirks lead to Frank being ostracized by his peers leaving him to be quite a lonely child.
Frank brings some levity to the book but at the same time it made me sad to see just how lonely and misunderstood he was by others. He lives in a very small world with Alice and his mother, Mimi being his epicentre. Mother Mimi is a force to be reckoned with and is portrayed as a mean-spirited, nasty recluse and while there are moments of maternal love towards Frank her nasty attitude towards Alice didn't feel warranted and Mimi was pretty much left a mystery to the reader. Honestly, I felt bad for Frank - this uber quirky kid who has a mother who appears to care about her son one minute then hides away from him for hours/days on end to finish her book. It just didn't make sense. She was abrasive and unlikeable except for those rare moments of mothering.
I know that there are many other readers who have sung this book's praises but Be Frank With Me just wasn't for me. It had a good premise but underneath it all it suffered from a thin plot, rather blaw, one dimensional characters (with the exception of Frank) and no real evolution in the characters' relationships or personalities. By the end of the book I was left wondering what the point of the whole book was supposed to be. I think Be Frank With Me was supposed to have a light-hearted, even funny, feel to it but overall I just felt sad for Frank. He's a unique, quirky child who seems to have a lot of people around him but still feels very much alone in the world.
October 13, 2017
To meet nine-year-old Frank, is to meet Sheldon Cooper, of The Big Bang Theory-fame, as a boy. Frank is 99.9% brighter than most people, captured in a sort of Asperger's mind, with a flat-toned voice and an absent sense of humor by circumstances, or, default. Reactions are best when programmed. Knock! Knock!, as a prerequisite to any joke, means he is suppose to laugh. Otherwise he doesn't get it. His best friends are characters in 1930 movies, which he emulate in his wardrobe, and a dictionary. He can play piano and hoards everything he lays his hands on. A curious mind, a lonely isolated little boy in a glass palace in the Hollywood hills.
His literary genius and reclusinve mom, as eccentric as her little boy, is pressured to publish a new novel to save them from financial ruin. Her literary agent sends someone to assist her in which ever way needed to complete her novel. "Mimi Banning" is not keen on the idea, but complies, only if her stipulations are followed: No Ivy Leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane.
Sane is actually the important key. Alice Whitley will soon find out why it is so crucial, when she arrives from New York in Los Angeles to fullfill the role of assistant to the famous writer. She becomes the full-time companion to the little boy.
When I read that this book could be compared to Where Did You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple, I knew I would like to read it. And it was indeed a wonderful, captivating, outrageous, funny, heartwarming, and endearing tale. There's something about The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion in it as well.
A WONDERFUL READ. RECOMMENDED!
His literary genius and reclusinve mom, as eccentric as her little boy, is pressured to publish a new novel to save them from financial ruin. Her literary agent sends someone to assist her in which ever way needed to complete her novel. "Mimi Banning" is not keen on the idea, but complies, only if her stipulations are followed: No Ivy Leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane.
Sane is actually the important key. Alice Whitley will soon find out why it is so crucial, when she arrives from New York in Los Angeles to fullfill the role of assistant to the famous writer. She becomes the full-time companion to the little boy.
When I read that this book could be compared to Where Did You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple, I knew I would like to read it. And it was indeed a wonderful, captivating, outrageous, funny, heartwarming, and endearing tale. There's something about The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion in it as well.
A WONDERFUL READ. RECOMMENDED!
March 18, 2018
First, there is nothing wrong with the writing of this story. This is actually a fairly solid debut novel. I am significantly below the average rating But (and I might as well be screaming), every. character. drove. me. crazy. I FORCED myself to finish the story in the hopes that it would get better. I am left feeling fairly "blah" about the whole thing.
August 25, 2015
Be Frank with me by Julia Claibourne Johnson is a 2016 Willam Morrow publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
With the wealthy and secluded Bel Air as a backdrop, the relationship between a reclusive “one hit wonder” author and her delightful, but complicated son, Frank , sets the stage for this offbeat, put poignant story.
Think along the lines of Harper Lee or J.D. Salinger and you have M.M. Banning, or Mimi, to her close friends. After writing one book that instantly became a literary classic, Mimi fled the public eye and became a notorious recluse, with the reputation of being a bit odd or eccentric. She has lived quite nicely off the royalties of her classic masterpiece all these years without ever having to pen another novel… until now.
A victim of a ponzi style scheme, Mimi is now broke, and must produce a novel.. like yesterday! So, her publisher sends over an assistant, a fresh faced young lady named Alice, to help with various task, so Mimi can focus on her book. But, Alice soon discovers most of her time is taken up with caring for Mimi's nine year old son, Frank.
Frank, is an exceptional boy, brilliant, and also has some form of autism. While not actually named, one gets the idea he could have Asperger's syndrome. He's a real handful, and is full of knowledge of movie trivia, music and all sorts of random information. He dresses in 1930's clothing which puts him at odds with his classmates, making his life away from home a virtual nightmare.
Enter in another odd duck character, Xander, a family friend who is a musician and the only male presence, it would seem, in Frank's life. This prompts Alice to become rather fixated on discovering who Frank's father is.
While Alice could not possibly have been prepared on how to deal with Mimi and her moods, she is really taken aback by Frank. They all three get off to a rather awkward start as Mimi and Frank make it abundantly clear they really don't want Alice intruding upon them and their carefully constructed and private world.
But before all is said and done, a bond will form between Mimi, Frank, Alice and Xander that will make for one very zany, whimsical, but very touching story.
Frank steals the show, it goes without saying. He is the star hands down, and everyone else kind of pales in comparison. While each character has an impact on Frank in one way or another, and each is drawn quite distinctly, all of them revolve around Frank and his rich fantasy life that spills over into reality, with mixed results.
Compared in part to “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time”, “Eloise”, and “Where'd You go, Bernadette?” due to the elements each presented, such as autism, agoraphobia, brilliant, and precocious children. But, to me Frank, as charming and fragile as he can be, was also a rather sad figure. To say his life is unconventional is an understatement of epic proportions. I wondered at how his life will ultimately develop over time, if he will ever live a more structured life or if he will still find Alice to be a special and important part of his life someday.
While the focus of course is on Frank, let's not forget Alice. She is the narrator of the story and at the end of the day, she is one who will carry the memories of her time with Mimi and Frank inside her heart, she is the one who was perhaps the most impacted by all their shared experiences, and the one who learned the most about herself, walking away with as a different person that when she first arrived.
I wasn't sure how to rate this one, really. I've been stuck on this review for several days thinking it over. I had a little trouble with what I felt was kind of an abrupt conclusion, wishing perhaps for a little hint of how things would be in the future for these characters. But, I suppose it ended on a more realistic note, with things playing out in real time. Still, I may find myself at some time in the future thinking of Alice or Frank, wondering how things are going for them and what adventures they have got up to.
Overall 4 stars
With the wealthy and secluded Bel Air as a backdrop, the relationship between a reclusive “one hit wonder” author and her delightful, but complicated son, Frank , sets the stage for this offbeat, put poignant story.
Think along the lines of Harper Lee or J.D. Salinger and you have M.M. Banning, or Mimi, to her close friends. After writing one book that instantly became a literary classic, Mimi fled the public eye and became a notorious recluse, with the reputation of being a bit odd or eccentric. She has lived quite nicely off the royalties of her classic masterpiece all these years without ever having to pen another novel… until now.
A victim of a ponzi style scheme, Mimi is now broke, and must produce a novel.. like yesterday! So, her publisher sends over an assistant, a fresh faced young lady named Alice, to help with various task, so Mimi can focus on her book. But, Alice soon discovers most of her time is taken up with caring for Mimi's nine year old son, Frank.
Frank, is an exceptional boy, brilliant, and also has some form of autism. While not actually named, one gets the idea he could have Asperger's syndrome. He's a real handful, and is full of knowledge of movie trivia, music and all sorts of random information. He dresses in 1930's clothing which puts him at odds with his classmates, making his life away from home a virtual nightmare.
Enter in another odd duck character, Xander, a family friend who is a musician and the only male presence, it would seem, in Frank's life. This prompts Alice to become rather fixated on discovering who Frank's father is.
While Alice could not possibly have been prepared on how to deal with Mimi and her moods, she is really taken aback by Frank. They all three get off to a rather awkward start as Mimi and Frank make it abundantly clear they really don't want Alice intruding upon them and their carefully constructed and private world.
But before all is said and done, a bond will form between Mimi, Frank, Alice and Xander that will make for one very zany, whimsical, but very touching story.
Frank steals the show, it goes without saying. He is the star hands down, and everyone else kind of pales in comparison. While each character has an impact on Frank in one way or another, and each is drawn quite distinctly, all of them revolve around Frank and his rich fantasy life that spills over into reality, with mixed results.
Compared in part to “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time”, “Eloise”, and “Where'd You go, Bernadette?” due to the elements each presented, such as autism, agoraphobia, brilliant, and precocious children. But, to me Frank, as charming and fragile as he can be, was also a rather sad figure. To say his life is unconventional is an understatement of epic proportions. I wondered at how his life will ultimately develop over time, if he will ever live a more structured life or if he will still find Alice to be a special and important part of his life someday.
While the focus of course is on Frank, let's not forget Alice. She is the narrator of the story and at the end of the day, she is one who will carry the memories of her time with Mimi and Frank inside her heart, she is the one who was perhaps the most impacted by all their shared experiences, and the one who learned the most about herself, walking away with as a different person that when she first arrived.
I wasn't sure how to rate this one, really. I've been stuck on this review for several days thinking it over. I had a little trouble with what I felt was kind of an abrupt conclusion, wishing perhaps for a little hint of how things would be in the future for these characters. But, I suppose it ended on a more realistic note, with things playing out in real time. Still, I may find myself at some time in the future thinking of Alice or Frank, wondering how things are going for them and what adventures they have got up to.
Overall 4 stars
February 16, 2016
“’Frank will be okay, Alice,’ Mr. Vargas said. ‘He’s an odd duck, but brilliant children often are. It may take him a while, but someday he’ll figure out how to live in the world of ordinary mortals.’”
Be Frank With Me is the first novel by American author, Julia Claiborne Johnson. When reclusive author, M.M.Banning (aka Mimi Gillespie) contacts Isaac Vargas, her New York publisher, to ask for help with a new book, he is prepared to bend over backwards to assist. Years ago, her first (and only) book was such a popular bestseller that she went into hiding in California; now, a drastic change in financial circumstances means Mimi needs a publishing success.
Which is why accountancy graduate, Alice Whitely finds herself on Mimi’s Bel Air doorstep, her brief being to do whatever is necessary to allow Mimi to finish her book. When she meets nine-year-old Frank, she is at once fascinated, curious and, quite soon, wondering just what she has let herself in for. Because Frank is different: his encyclopaedic knowledge of the film industry and his movie-character wardrobe ensure that he stands apart, wherever he goes.
Johnson gives her reader a cast of characters who, for all their flaws, are truly appealing: despite his quirks (or perhaps because of them), Frank is instantly likeable; Mimi is prickly and rude, but her obvious love for Frank overrides that in spades; Alice misses the point occasionally, but her heart is in the right place, as is Xander’s, even if reliability is not his forte.
While there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, there are also quite a few to choke the reader up, and Johnson explores some age-old issues: how overwhelming guilt can affect the one who bears it; and why society sets such a high value on conformity. And while the plot involves broken glass, explosions and fire, as well as a bit of detective work, there is a heart-warming happy ending. This is a stunning debut novel: poignant, thought-provoking and, above all, very funny.
With thanks to GoodReads for this Giveaway copy to read and review.
Be Frank With Me is the first novel by American author, Julia Claiborne Johnson. When reclusive author, M.M.Banning (aka Mimi Gillespie) contacts Isaac Vargas, her New York publisher, to ask for help with a new book, he is prepared to bend over backwards to assist. Years ago, her first (and only) book was such a popular bestseller that she went into hiding in California; now, a drastic change in financial circumstances means Mimi needs a publishing success.
Which is why accountancy graduate, Alice Whitely finds herself on Mimi’s Bel Air doorstep, her brief being to do whatever is necessary to allow Mimi to finish her book. When she meets nine-year-old Frank, she is at once fascinated, curious and, quite soon, wondering just what she has let herself in for. Because Frank is different: his encyclopaedic knowledge of the film industry and his movie-character wardrobe ensure that he stands apart, wherever he goes.
Johnson gives her reader a cast of characters who, for all their flaws, are truly appealing: despite his quirks (or perhaps because of them), Frank is instantly likeable; Mimi is prickly and rude, but her obvious love for Frank overrides that in spades; Alice misses the point occasionally, but her heart is in the right place, as is Xander’s, even if reliability is not his forte.
While there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, there are also quite a few to choke the reader up, and Johnson explores some age-old issues: how overwhelming guilt can affect the one who bears it; and why society sets such a high value on conformity. And while the plot involves broken glass, explosions and fire, as well as a bit of detective work, there is a heart-warming happy ending. This is a stunning debut novel: poignant, thought-provoking and, above all, very funny.
With thanks to GoodReads for this Giveaway copy to read and review.
March 16, 2016
Good grief, this book was just adorable from start to finish. Frank is one one of the sweetest characters that is so perfectly formed that you just want to give this sweet little boy a hug when you get done with this book. I found myself giggling through some of Frank's antics and well up when he just couldn't fit in with his peers. I can't imagine the research that went into forming all of Frank's numerous thoughts about actors, movies, and all the fun facts that he had gathered over the years that seemed to consume him. The supporting characters were just as fascinating especially Frank's eccentric mother.
The only criticism with this one is the ending felt unresolved and wasn't wrapped up very tidy- it just left me dangling. I am wondering if that is because the author plans a sequel. If so, I can't wait to read it because I already miss Frank.
The only criticism with this one is the ending felt unresolved and wasn't wrapped up very tidy- it just left me dangling. I am wondering if that is because the author plans a sequel. If so, I can't wait to read it because I already miss Frank.
November 7, 2018
I loved the beginning. I loved Frank. One of the best child characters I have ever read. I loved some of the humour.
For example;
I loved the message that I took from this story, which is that tolerance is A Very Good Thing. My daughter, while not as flamboyant as Frank, didn't want to dress like other girls. & even through bullying she stuck with it.
It is that the storyline was a bit too pat for me. Too many things just happened to work out. Still a good escapist read.
For example;
"If you asked me why a chicken would want to cross the road in Los Angeles, I would say it was because that chicken loved pancakes so much he wanted to be one.
I loved the message that I took from this story, which is that tolerance is A Very Good Thing. My daughter, while not as flamboyant as Frank, didn't want to dress like other girls. & even through bullying she stuck with it.
It is that the storyline was a bit too pat for me. Too many things just happened to work out. Still a good escapist read.
September 10, 2017
All the stars go to sweet, adorable, unconventional Frank.
The behavior, routines, fixations, hypersensitivity, and social processing of Frank's character all point to Aspergers or some form of high-functioning autism, although it is never actually spelled out in the novel. The absence of labels allows for showing versus telling during his character building which I loved. Through an adult's POV, we get to follow Frank around and for real fall in love with this little guy. It was interesting to meet the other characters in this book as well but Frank took the cake! Be Frank With Me was a genuinely interesting and entertaining read that I enjoyed very much and I would highly recommend the audio version. Check it out!
My favorite quote:
“Energy spent on worrying about a future you can’t control is energy wasted. It doesn’t do anybody one bit of good.”
The behavior, routines, fixations, hypersensitivity, and social processing of Frank's character all point to Aspergers or some form of high-functioning autism, although it is never actually spelled out in the novel. The absence of labels allows for showing versus telling during his character building which I loved. Through an adult's POV, we get to follow Frank around and for real fall in love with this little guy. It was interesting to meet the other characters in this book as well but Frank took the cake! Be Frank With Me was a genuinely interesting and entertaining read that I enjoyed very much and I would highly recommend the audio version. Check it out!
My favorite quote:
“Energy spent on worrying about a future you can’t control is energy wasted. It doesn’t do anybody one bit of good.”
April 27, 2019
Julia Claiborne Johnson has created an original collection of eccentric, clever characters who wander aimlessly through 287 pages. This was a mostly enjoyable read which became a bit of slog as it became clear that nothing was going to happen.
March 6, 2016
On the surface, Be Frank with Me greets us as a fairly light, quirky novel about the reclusive authoress Mimi Banning, her eccentric nine year old son Frank, their elusive handyman and piano teacher Xander, and Alice. She is employed to edit Mimi's new book, provide support as a general "Girl Friday" and attend to Frank. Alice is the steady narrator, the "sane" individual requested by Mimi for what proves to be an adventurous and unusually challenging period with this motley crew of characters which the publisher, Isaac Vargas, has set up.
Mimi needs to make money because she has been swindled out of the fortune made from the classic Pulitzer Prize winning novel she wrote over twenty years ago to ensure that her son will be provided for. She is terse, emotional, possessive of Frank and generally rude to Alice who does her best to accommodate this picky household. Frank is charming, a genius without social skills who dresses in costumes of characters from old movies and who is a fount of information for almost any topic. But he also has tantrums, rigid rules about his belongings, being touched and is a misfit at school. Xander is a drop-in friend, who shows up irregularly, touching base with the mother and son who have become quasi-family.
Under the humour there is pathos. Everyone, except for Frank and Alice, is hampered by unresolved grief and self-blame, stalled in the past and unable to truly move forward with their lives. Alice becomes the unintended irritant in their stalled lives, caught in the chaos which Frank creates as easily as breathing, but who energizes and facilitates change.
I personally appreciated this story because of my previous years working in Special Education, and recognized the kind of different brain that Frank employs to interpret his world. The author Johnson clearly understands some of the helpful techniques for these complex and interesting kids, as well as the need for intuition, flexibility and environments which stretch to help the Franks of the world (even with a lower IQ) to flourish within our education and social support systems. Alice was an outsider, but quickly understood how to nurture and motivate as well as absolutely enjoy the best of Frank.
This novel is also about accepting each other for who we are, for what we can give, for how we perceive - to share our truth, freely.
"I'll get the Band-Aids from your purse," Frank said. ... "For once, it's a good thing you were wearing shorts, Alice," he said. "Because if you'd had on long pants, they'd be torn to pieces. That would have been bad. Pants don't heal the way skin does."
A terrific book, enjoyable on many levels.
Mimi needs to make money because she has been swindled out of the fortune made from the classic Pulitzer Prize winning novel she wrote over twenty years ago to ensure that her son will be provided for. She is terse, emotional, possessive of Frank and generally rude to Alice who does her best to accommodate this picky household. Frank is charming, a genius without social skills who dresses in costumes of characters from old movies and who is a fount of information for almost any topic. But he also has tantrums, rigid rules about his belongings, being touched and is a misfit at school. Xander is a drop-in friend, who shows up irregularly, touching base with the mother and son who have become quasi-family.
Under the humour there is pathos. Everyone, except for Frank and Alice, is hampered by unresolved grief and self-blame, stalled in the past and unable to truly move forward with their lives. Alice becomes the unintended irritant in their stalled lives, caught in the chaos which Frank creates as easily as breathing, but who energizes and facilitates change.
I personally appreciated this story because of my previous years working in Special Education, and recognized the kind of different brain that Frank employs to interpret his world. The author Johnson clearly understands some of the helpful techniques for these complex and interesting kids, as well as the need for intuition, flexibility and environments which stretch to help the Franks of the world (even with a lower IQ) to flourish within our education and social support systems. Alice was an outsider, but quickly understood how to nurture and motivate as well as absolutely enjoy the best of Frank.
This novel is also about accepting each other for who we are, for what we can give, for how we perceive - to share our truth, freely.
"I'll get the Band-Aids from your purse," Frank said. ... "For once, it's a good thing you were wearing shorts, Alice," he said. "Because if you'd had on long pants, they'd be torn to pieces. That would have been bad. Pants don't heal the way skin does."
A terrific book, enjoyable on many levels.
August 24, 2017
“Be Frank With Me” is the August pick for our book club. We wanted something light, happy, and enjoyable. This novel is a romp; almost slap stick in quality of humor. It’s imaginative fiction, one that is comedic in its absurdity.
The lovely protagonist Alice works for a book editor in New York. When one their authors, who’s been holed up in LA for decades, finds herself in a whopping financial bind due to an illicit financial adviser, the lovely Alice is dispatched to said author’s home to do whatever it takes to help the author get a book written. And this is how Alice becomes unwittingly drawn into the peculiar world of author M.M Banning and her nine-year-old son Frank. Author Julia Johnson writes Frank as charming, interesting and eccentric. She provides clues to Frank’s dark sides: monotone voice, no eye contact, sudden fits of rage; snooping; violent behavior. Johnson spends most ink on Frank garnishing the reader’s love for the quirky fellow. Frank knows all those facts that are fun fact to know and forget. He has a passion for early Hollywood movies. The facts one learns while reading the novel are impressive.
MM Banning aka Mimi is a difficult artist at best. She is rude to Alice and makes the job difficult for Alice to accomplish. Frank is the reader’s joy. That boy gets into many shenanigans while being adorable and funny. Of course, he’s funny to read about; doubt it would be funny to live with.
All in all, this is a perfect summer read if you enjoy comedic romps. Living with Frank is full of high-spirited exploits. It’s a silly read that’s could be just what you need to take your mind off of the bad realities of the world.
The lovely protagonist Alice works for a book editor in New York. When one their authors, who’s been holed up in LA for decades, finds herself in a whopping financial bind due to an illicit financial adviser, the lovely Alice is dispatched to said author’s home to do whatever it takes to help the author get a book written. And this is how Alice becomes unwittingly drawn into the peculiar world of author M.M Banning and her nine-year-old son Frank. Author Julia Johnson writes Frank as charming, interesting and eccentric. She provides clues to Frank’s dark sides: monotone voice, no eye contact, sudden fits of rage; snooping; violent behavior. Johnson spends most ink on Frank garnishing the reader’s love for the quirky fellow. Frank knows all those facts that are fun fact to know and forget. He has a passion for early Hollywood movies. The facts one learns while reading the novel are impressive.
MM Banning aka Mimi is a difficult artist at best. She is rude to Alice and makes the job difficult for Alice to accomplish. Frank is the reader’s joy. That boy gets into many shenanigans while being adorable and funny. Of course, he’s funny to read about; doubt it would be funny to live with.
All in all, this is a perfect summer read if you enjoy comedic romps. Living with Frank is full of high-spirited exploits. It’s a silly read that’s could be just what you need to take your mind off of the bad realities of the world.
June 8, 2016
M. M. "Mimi" Banning has published only one book in her lifetime but it was a tremendous success and made her wealthy and famous. Now, after having been cheated by an unscrupulous investment counselor, she needs to write a second book to support herself and her nine-year-old son, Frank. Her publisher, Isaac Vargas, sends his employee, Alice Whitley, to LA to help out--cook meals, clean and keep watch over Frank so that Mimi can lock herself away to write. Of course, he also wants Alice to keep an eye on the progress of the book and report back.
Frank is very different--extremely smart, inquisitive and very lonely. He loves old movies and dresses up in character costumes, which sets him apart from his classmates who dress in t-shirts and jeans. Facts are his armor, his protective force field against the jabs and ridicule of his classmates, who don't seem to appreciate the difference between being weird and being one-in-a-million.
Alice has a hard time at first adjusting to all the 'house rules' and coping with Mimi and Frank's eccentric habits. And who is the handsome handy-man, Xander, who shows up when he feels like it? Could he be Frank's father?
This story is heart-warming, funny and poignant with utterly unforgettable characters. Anyone who has ever loved a misfit, or been one themselves, will certainly be able to empathize with those who deal with and love Frank.
Frank is very different--extremely smart, inquisitive and very lonely. He loves old movies and dresses up in character costumes, which sets him apart from his classmates who dress in t-shirts and jeans. Facts are his armor, his protective force field against the jabs and ridicule of his classmates, who don't seem to appreciate the difference between being weird and being one-in-a-million.
Alice has a hard time at first adjusting to all the 'house rules' and coping with Mimi and Frank's eccentric habits. And who is the handsome handy-man, Xander, who shows up when he feels like it? Could he be Frank's father?
This story is heart-warming, funny and poignant with utterly unforgettable characters. Anyone who has ever loved a misfit, or been one themselves, will certainly be able to empathize with those who deal with and love Frank.
June 9, 2019
There’s a certain quirky charm to this book that you just can’t help falling for, even though for the early part of the book I wasn’t so enamoured by little Frank, his neurotic habits along with his equally annoying and maddening mother grated on me at first so I wasn’t expecting to be charmed by them at all. Frank is definitely a one of a kind eccentric character, a know it all child genius with a fondness for dressing up and classic old movies, his inability to fit in with kids in his age group and his accident prone antics amused me. This book was sweet but not overly so, it was a genuinely enjoyable book with some surprising tender moments. It just goes to show I have rather a soft spot for quirky and offbeat characters and he totally grew on me and I ended up loving darling little Frank by the end of the book can’t say the same about the mother though. She sucked.
June 2, 2017
I LOVE Frank & everyone else in this book. It's like a mashup of what I imagine a Harper Lee-like author is like and Bernadette from Where'd You Go, Bernadette plus every other quirky character you've ever met in the body of a 10 year old child & his mother. I'm going to need this optioned into a movie ASAPtually.
June 28, 2023
I discovered this book back in 2018. I am now bringing this debut author's book review to Goodreads.
Frank is the definitive star of this story and seriously I can’t remember the last time I have enjoyed a character more.
9 going on 40 he is eccentric but also adorable in his quirkiness.
This is a fun read that feels light at times, but still with its serious moments.
There can be a sadness reality and/or touch of hope ending for us to decide which we would prefer it to be.
Frank is the definitive star of this story and seriously I can’t remember the last time I have enjoyed a character more.
9 going on 40 he is eccentric but also adorable in his quirkiness.
This is a fun read that feels light at times, but still with its serious moments.
There can be a sadness reality and/or touch of hope ending for us to decide which we would prefer it to be.
July 13, 2017
"Be Frank with Me" by Julia Claiborne Johnson left a lot to be desired. I had a high hopes for this novel and I enjoyed the first 100 pages, but the story and premise quickly went off in a direction that didn't make a lot of sense to me. And I wasn't crazy about the writing. Very choppy. The protagonist, Alice, was quite boring. Frank was too eccentric, and don't believe a little boy would talk in such a grown-up way, eccentric or not. It just felt false and patronizing. Frank's emotionally aloof mother, Mimi, was a real pain the ass. She picks and chooses who she's nice to. She had no respect for Alice whatsoever. I did feel bad once I learned about Mimi's past, but even that wasn't enough to make me like her. It was pretty obvious that Mimi is a female version of J.D. Salinger (talented writers but craved privacy/self-isolation). Once the character, Xander was introduced, I felt annoyed. He added nothing of value or substance to the storyline. This novel could've been something special and unique, it was just okay. The ending was pretty lackluster. I kept thinking, is this it? This can't be the ending, right? Ugh. It's a mixed bag for me.
July 6, 2017
Alice, a young publishing assistant, is sent from New York City to Los Angeles to encourage one-hit wonder and Harper Lee type M.M. Banning (aka Mimi Gillespie) to produce her long-delayed second novel. But when she arrives she discovers her most pressing duty is keeping an eye on Mimi’s oddball son, nine-year-old Frank. I doubt you’ve ever met a character quite like Frank. (I appreciated how, although he is clearly on what would be termed the autistic spectrum, Johnson avoids naming his condition.) Alice narrates the whole book in the first person. She finds herself caught in a four-person battle of wits – Alice, Mimi, Frank, and “itinerant male role model” Xander – inside Mimi’s big glass-fronted fishbowl of a house. There were a couple moments when I wondered where this madcap plot could be going. In particular, we have to wait a long time to find out whether Mimi is actually going to deliver another book. But the payout is worth waiting for.
See my full review at The Bookbag.
See my full review at The Bookbag.
February 12, 2017
Laugh out Loud dialogue and one can only wish t be at the dinner table when the author and her comedic husband discuss the days events. Frank is one of the most original characters that I have read in along time-5 enthusiastic stars !!
March 27, 2016
Frank is "eccentric". If he had been portrayed as a child with an anxiety disorder or autism or something like that, in a story about a nanny who helps him navigate the world while his mother buckles down to write her novel, we might have something. But what we really have is a child who is overindulged, spoiled, to whom adults have capitulated. He strikes me as having been taught and reinforced in his eccentricities, especially the uncharming and dangerous behaviors. He is allowed to get away with everything, gets everything he wants. His misbehaviors work and he receives no interventions or consequences. He is a little tyrant with his tantrums and demands, and everyone lets him get his way every time. Moreover, he is also clearly unhappy, but that doesn't seem to move people to teach him any better, either. So, I found it difficult to like him or the adults around him. Moreover, our narrator, the nanny, is less interested in helping Frank than gossiping about his reclusive mother. Boring! Frank is supposed to be smart, but he merely has a good memory. He can't seem to actually understand anything. I can't understand how a child could be left in such a state in this day and age. Maybe in LA? But anyway, it was obvious that the story wasn't about helping this kid, because nanny Alice is just trying to survive him long enough to get some good tidbits on the mom. The mom clearly is the one who taught him to behave like a 1930s film diva. I quickly stopped caring if mom got her book done or not; I just couldn't wait to be done with this book!
Ps - no one hires an accounting major to be a kindergarten teacher. There are more than enough people with education degrees, and states typically require teachers to have licenses and degrees in their field. Just shows how the author is picking something convenient for the story instead of being believable. Much like she seemed to pick Frank's behaviors and predilections at random.
Ps - no one hires an accounting major to be a kindergarten teacher. There are more than enough people with education degrees, and states typically require teachers to have licenses and degrees in their field. Just shows how the author is picking something convenient for the story instead of being believable. Much like she seemed to pick Frank's behaviors and predilections at random.
June 4, 2016
’Frank will be okay, Alice,’ Mr. Vargas said. ‘He’s an odd duck, but brilliant children often are. It may take him a while, but someday he’ll figure out how to live in the world of ordinary mortals.’
3.5 stars. A beautiful, heartwarming story, but I have to agree with a lot of people that the real substance in Be Frank with Me lies in the characters. Frank, being at the center of the story, is quirky, amazingly intelligent and endearing, but the author also shows us the downside of being one in a million. He is ostracized at school, have problems sleeping and issues with expressing his emotions. I loved that she still portrayed him as a child, and not as an adult in a kids body, as happens quite often in books. I felt for Mimi, being a mom to such a special child definitely takes it's toll on you, and leaves you with little energy for anything else. My favorite character was Alice - I can't remember when last I "met" such a well-balanced, sensible yet sassy when needed, and quiet character, no dramatics needed. I loved that we see even her grow and get to know herself better throughout the book. A fun, yet touching, read.
The Story: Julia Claiborne Johnson’s debut novel follows Alice, an editor’s assistant, as she travels to L.A. to help a famously reclusive author, Mimi Banning, finish her long-awaited second novel. But it’s Mimi’s precocious 9-year-old son, Frank, who is the heart of this story.
October 31, 2017
4*s with many 5* Frank moments!
Kelly(and the Book Boar) made a prefect comment, "I don't promise the story is great, but I dare anyone not to be smitten with Frank." It was "interesting to meet the other characters, but Frank stole the show"( Jennifer). I totally agree with Diane, who described the book as "delightful,funny, poignant, and heartbreaking" I listened to the audio version and I really enjoyed it. As Joyce said-"The narrator wonderfully portrays Frank and his shotgun monotone."
Please note, as I am sure you already have, that the above does not include even one original thought of my own. Since Kelly(and the Book Boar), Jennifer, Diane S, and Joyce were all thoughtful enough to write such wonderful reviews of this title, I wisely figured "why knock yourself out?" ; ))
Kelly(and the Book Boar) made a prefect comment, "I don't promise the story is great, but I dare anyone not to be smitten with Frank." It was "interesting to meet the other characters, but Frank stole the show"( Jennifer). I totally agree with Diane, who described the book as "delightful,funny, poignant, and heartbreaking" I listened to the audio version and I really enjoyed it. As Joyce said-"The narrator wonderfully portrays Frank and his shotgun monotone."
Please note, as I am sure you already have, that the above does not include even one original thought of my own. Since Kelly(and the Book Boar), Jennifer, Diane S, and Joyce were all thoughtful enough to write such wonderful reviews of this title, I wisely figured "why knock yourself out?" ; ))
November 28, 2016
Be Frank With Me immediately stood out with its bright teal cover and simple artwork – I enjoyed the aesthetic and it fits perfectly with the persona of Frank, too.
Be Frank With Me is told through the eyes of Alice, a young twenty-something sent to help out at the home of M. M. Branning (Mimi) whilst she knuckles down and writes a sequel to her one hit wonder novel. However, it isn’t just boring house cleaning and upkeep – Alice also has to look after Mimi’s eccentric son, Frank, who is the real star of the book.
Reading this book in the 21st century, it is obvious that Frank has some form of disability or mental health problems. Whilst I’m definitely not an expert, so cannot delve further into this, I enjoy that there is no mention of this throughout the book. Yeah, Frank sees a psychiatrist, but is there an official diagnosis? No. Frank is Frank – the energetic, curious, eccentric, highly intelligent Frank.
Frank is very similar to his Uncle Julian – I think this highlights that whilst times may change and we now feel as though we all MUST be diagnosed if we are slightly ‘different’, this has not always been the case. Yes, a diagnosis may help Frank and his family in understanding his actions and controlling his outbursts, but at the end of the day he is still a loved, happy little boy – diagnosed or undiagnosed. Just goes to show that we don’t always necessarily need a ‘label’ for our differences, flaws or issues.
Frank is such an intriguing character, that I was eager to continue reading to learn more about him. Some reviews online state that there isn’t much of a plot, and it’s pretty boring. I have to disagree. Yes, this novel isn’t full of action and drama, but the fact that it doesn’t need to be packed to the brim of energetic events shows how strong a novel it is. To some, half a page of factual information was overkill, but in my opinion, without Frank’s monotone fact recital it would be difficult to understand the speed and way in which his mind jumps from one thing to another – one of the key things that make Frank, well, Frank!
The author has managed to portray Frank in a believable manner (I feel the urge to note that I cannot call Frank’s character ‘realistic’ as I don’t know anyone with any similar attributes to compare), and also hits the nail on the head of Alice, too. Xander, on the other hand, I felt difficult to grasp. I didn’t really think he added much to the plot and found his household role difficult to understand. I do get the gut feeling he may have been added in afterwards, in order to get a couple of pages’ worth of romance in the book.
Mimi, also, was a strange one – whilst I found her character difficult to understand on paper, I feel as though she would make an excellent character should the novel ever be made into a film. I would LOVE to see this made into a high budget film FYI – J-Law would make a fab Alice!
The only negative I have to say about this book, is that I wasn’t left completely satisfied with the ending. I guess I just wanted it to end differently, although I do like that the story-line is left open – you could very easily write a sequel, as there isn’t any devastating finale or restricted cliff-hanger. I would happily read more books on Frank’s life and would love to see how he ages whilst remaining his eccentric self.
There was also a lot of loose ends that I feel need tying up – what happens when Mimi finds out Frank hasn’t been going to school? What happens with the information Alice learned in the Dream Bunker?
Overall, I found this a brilliant read – uplifting yet saddening, the book had me smiling away and on the verge of tears on numerous occasions. My review doesn’t do this book justice at all. All I can say is I highly recommend you pick it up and give it a read. 5/5 from me – and trust me, I don’t give out 5/5’s easily!
Reviewed by Jodie K at www.whisperingstories.com
Be Frank With Me is told through the eyes of Alice, a young twenty-something sent to help out at the home of M. M. Branning (Mimi) whilst she knuckles down and writes a sequel to her one hit wonder novel. However, it isn’t just boring house cleaning and upkeep – Alice also has to look after Mimi’s eccentric son, Frank, who is the real star of the book.
Reading this book in the 21st century, it is obvious that Frank has some form of disability or mental health problems. Whilst I’m definitely not an expert, so cannot delve further into this, I enjoy that there is no mention of this throughout the book. Yeah, Frank sees a psychiatrist, but is there an official diagnosis? No. Frank is Frank – the energetic, curious, eccentric, highly intelligent Frank.
Frank is very similar to his Uncle Julian – I think this highlights that whilst times may change and we now feel as though we all MUST be diagnosed if we are slightly ‘different’, this has not always been the case. Yes, a diagnosis may help Frank and his family in understanding his actions and controlling his outbursts, but at the end of the day he is still a loved, happy little boy – diagnosed or undiagnosed. Just goes to show that we don’t always necessarily need a ‘label’ for our differences, flaws or issues.
Frank is such an intriguing character, that I was eager to continue reading to learn more about him. Some reviews online state that there isn’t much of a plot, and it’s pretty boring. I have to disagree. Yes, this novel isn’t full of action and drama, but the fact that it doesn’t need to be packed to the brim of energetic events shows how strong a novel it is. To some, half a page of factual information was overkill, but in my opinion, without Frank’s monotone fact recital it would be difficult to understand the speed and way in which his mind jumps from one thing to another – one of the key things that make Frank, well, Frank!
The author has managed to portray Frank in a believable manner (I feel the urge to note that I cannot call Frank’s character ‘realistic’ as I don’t know anyone with any similar attributes to compare), and also hits the nail on the head of Alice, too. Xander, on the other hand, I felt difficult to grasp. I didn’t really think he added much to the plot and found his household role difficult to understand. I do get the gut feeling he may have been added in afterwards, in order to get a couple of pages’ worth of romance in the book.
Mimi, also, was a strange one – whilst I found her character difficult to understand on paper, I feel as though she would make an excellent character should the novel ever be made into a film. I would LOVE to see this made into a high budget film FYI – J-Law would make a fab Alice!
The only negative I have to say about this book, is that I wasn’t left completely satisfied with the ending. I guess I just wanted it to end differently, although I do like that the story-line is left open – you could very easily write a sequel, as there isn’t any devastating finale or restricted cliff-hanger. I would happily read more books on Frank’s life and would love to see how he ages whilst remaining his eccentric self.
There was also a lot of loose ends that I feel need tying up – what happens when Mimi finds out Frank hasn’t been going to school? What happens with the information Alice learned in the Dream Bunker?
Overall, I found this a brilliant read – uplifting yet saddening, the book had me smiling away and on the verge of tears on numerous occasions. My review doesn’t do this book justice at all. All I can say is I highly recommend you pick it up and give it a read. 5/5 from me – and trust me, I don’t give out 5/5’s easily!
Reviewed by Jodie K at www.whisperingstories.com
February 12, 2016
Okay, I'm just going to start this post off by saying that Julia Claiborne Johnson's debut novel, Be Frank With Me, is going to be one of my favourite reads of 2016.
Mimi Banning wrote one book twenty years ago - a brilliant book that brought her wealth and fame. But Mimi is a recluse. And now she's a broke recluse, having fallen victim to a Ponzi scheme. So, she needs to write a new novel. You see, it's not just Mimi - she has a nine year old son named Frank to support. She needs someone to watch Frank and run her household while she writes, so her long time publisher sends her twenty something Alice.
That's the basic premise. But the premise is only a vehicle for the most wonderful character I've met in a long time. Okay, all of the players in Be Frank With Me were well written - and they're all flawed in some fashion, but it's Frank that will capture your heart.
I loved him from the first page..."Before we left the house that morning, he'd shellacked his hair like a mini Rudolph Valentino, put on a wing-collared shirt, white tie and vest, a cutaway coat, morning pants and spats. Also a top hat...."
Frank chooses his outfit carefully each day, matching plans, excursions and adventures to his outfits. That's the outside of Frank. Inside is a boy with a brilliant mind, who doesn't quite see the world as everyone else does. But despite that brilliant mind, he's still a young boy who is fragile as he tries to make sense of relationships and interactions in that world.
The dialogue in Be Frank With Me is superb - Frank's voice is wonderful and as we come to know Frank, his declarations and antics really do make sense. I loved his recollection of facts, movies and music. (And actually learned a few things as well!) But those facts serve another purpose as well..."Facts were all the protection he had. Facts were his force field." Mimi is quite prickly and at first I didn't like her. But as the novel progressed, my opinion changed. As did my views on Alice - good to bad to good. And that's what I enjoyed - no one was perfect and the ending wasn't all happy campers.
By turns, Be Frank With Me is heartbreaking, humourous and oh so very, very good. As one character says" I love that kid". Trust me - you will too.
Mimi Banning wrote one book twenty years ago - a brilliant book that brought her wealth and fame. But Mimi is a recluse. And now she's a broke recluse, having fallen victim to a Ponzi scheme. So, she needs to write a new novel. You see, it's not just Mimi - she has a nine year old son named Frank to support. She needs someone to watch Frank and run her household while she writes, so her long time publisher sends her twenty something Alice.
That's the basic premise. But the premise is only a vehicle for the most wonderful character I've met in a long time. Okay, all of the players in Be Frank With Me were well written - and they're all flawed in some fashion, but it's Frank that will capture your heart.
I loved him from the first page..."Before we left the house that morning, he'd shellacked his hair like a mini Rudolph Valentino, put on a wing-collared shirt, white tie and vest, a cutaway coat, morning pants and spats. Also a top hat...."
Frank chooses his outfit carefully each day, matching plans, excursions and adventures to his outfits. That's the outside of Frank. Inside is a boy with a brilliant mind, who doesn't quite see the world as everyone else does. But despite that brilliant mind, he's still a young boy who is fragile as he tries to make sense of relationships and interactions in that world.
The dialogue in Be Frank With Me is superb - Frank's voice is wonderful and as we come to know Frank, his declarations and antics really do make sense. I loved his recollection of facts, movies and music. (And actually learned a few things as well!) But those facts serve another purpose as well..."Facts were all the protection he had. Facts were his force field." Mimi is quite prickly and at first I didn't like her. But as the novel progressed, my opinion changed. As did my views on Alice - good to bad to good. And that's what I enjoyed - no one was perfect and the ending wasn't all happy campers.
By turns, Be Frank With Me is heartbreaking, humourous and oh so very, very good. As one character says" I love that kid". Trust me - you will too.
January 11, 2020
Were I in Hollywood strolling along and catch a glimpse of Frank, the immediate assumption would be that he's a midget actor on break during a shooting. How wrong I'd be! A ten year old, eccentric, high IQ oddball that not only dresses like characters from classic films of the 40s, but has knowledge of them akin to a film school professor. Quirky, loving and at times playful , he's more adult than child. The author contrasts this character with precision through his mother Mimi, a bitchy, high strung best selling author who writes with a typewriter and gives orders like a general. Engaging, evocative and well paced, this would be ideal for screen. I found myself laughing out loud often when Frank would spout facts, dates and names that any other child his age couldn't possibly know or relate with! Alice is thrust into the mix and what unfolds is sheer delight. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys great storytelling, humor, compassion and fun.
March 17, 2016
Thanks in advance for bearing with me here, as this book is quite difficult to review without spoilers. Also, I dislike re-hashing plots, so I'm assuming my readers have read the Goodreads blurb first for that.
I've read a review where Alice is described as an empty, cardboard figure; I can't go along with that at all, as I found her easy to identify with, although I saw her as a bit older than 24. Mimi, the one-hit wonder writer (Harper Lee figure), I found generally difficult to take as she was often abrasive (whiny) when she appeared; the few times she was cast in a more sympathetic light didn't help all that much I'm afraid. Still, that wasn't a major issue as she was off-screen a fair amount (locked in her room typing away). The other secondary character, Zander, irritated me much of the time; however, that was the general idea since Alice felt the same way. He serves the function "if something seems to good to be true ..." as he turns out to be flawed indeed.
And then there's Frank. At first I could not stand him, but he grew on me, just as he did on Alice; Johnson does such a good job of showing, not telling, how vulnerable he must be. Frank is obviously autistic in taking everything literally. living in a world of facts. In a sense, he's a great example of non-conformity; I felt his pain when later on he's forced to dress normally for school (okay, one spoiler, sorry).
Johnson's writing quality is very good, but I couldn't manage a fourth star primarily for the level of active suspension of disbelief. For instance, the clothing issue came to a head when the new school director insisted on it, or he'd have to leave. Alice asks Mimi, "Why not change schools?" to which his mother replies, "This is the end of the line; he's been through all the schools that would have him!" Ummm ... he's getting zero socialization benefit from attending (or possibly negative as he hates it), so why hadn't Mimi hired tutors for him earlier instead? Another point that occurred to me: Zander does handyman odd jobs, but I found it impossible to believe that Mimi did all the housework herself? A famous figure loaded enough to buy "the most expensive house on the market" (in Los Angeles no less!) just wouldn't scrub her own toilets, sorry. Granted, Frank is supposed to be a genius, albeit with almost no social skills, and a mother who doesn't seem to have tried much to impart many, but the dandy dressing still didn't ring true. As another reviewer observed, he never mentions websurfing much, and doesn't go to libraries nor mention reference books, so where exactly does get all those many facts from? He goes to a shrink, but there's no indication that it's helping either him or Mimi in any way - going through the motions, just because he's "weird" pretty much. I almost forgot to mention Mimi's dead brother, Julian -- she used to do his homework for him, but as he would have had to ... you know ... take the tests himself, one would think the teachers would've caught on fast, no?
Loose ends abound as we go along, practically strewn like confetti. Many are resolved near the end of story, though not quite all (for example: how Zander broke his arm at Julliard was referred to, but if explained later, I missed that). Until nearly the end I was certain that we'd need a sequel, but afterwards I changed my mind. I'd read one, but I'd prefer it focus on Alice instead. My vote would be a completely different offering by Johnson, which would interest me considerably.
Tavia Gilbert was an excellent narrator fit here, although Frank's (appropriately) robotic voice took getting used to.
I've read a review where Alice is described as an empty, cardboard figure; I can't go along with that at all, as I found her easy to identify with, although I saw her as a bit older than 24. Mimi, the one-hit wonder writer (Harper Lee figure), I found generally difficult to take as she was often abrasive (whiny) when she appeared; the few times she was cast in a more sympathetic light didn't help all that much I'm afraid. Still, that wasn't a major issue as she was off-screen a fair amount (locked in her room typing away). The other secondary character, Zander, irritated me much of the time; however, that was the general idea since Alice felt the same way. He serves the function "if something seems to good to be true ..." as he turns out to be flawed indeed.
And then there's Frank. At first I could not stand him, but he grew on me, just as he did on Alice; Johnson does such a good job of showing, not telling, how vulnerable he must be. Frank is obviously autistic in taking everything literally. living in a world of facts. In a sense, he's a great example of non-conformity; I felt his pain when later on he's forced to dress normally for school (okay, one spoiler, sorry).
Johnson's writing quality is very good, but I couldn't manage a fourth star primarily for the level of active suspension of disbelief. For instance, the clothing issue came to a head when the new school director insisted on it, or he'd have to leave. Alice asks Mimi, "Why not change schools?" to which his mother replies, "This is the end of the line; he's been through all the schools that would have him!" Ummm ... he's getting zero socialization benefit from attending (or possibly negative as he hates it), so why hadn't Mimi hired tutors for him earlier instead? Another point that occurred to me: Zander does handyman odd jobs, but I found it impossible to believe that Mimi did all the housework herself? A famous figure loaded enough to buy "the most expensive house on the market" (in Los Angeles no less!) just wouldn't scrub her own toilets, sorry. Granted, Frank is supposed to be a genius, albeit with almost no social skills, and a mother who doesn't seem to have tried much to impart many, but the dandy dressing still didn't ring true. As another reviewer observed, he never mentions websurfing much, and doesn't go to libraries nor mention reference books, so where exactly does get all those many facts from? He goes to a shrink, but there's no indication that it's helping either him or Mimi in any way - going through the motions, just because he's "weird" pretty much. I almost forgot to mention Mimi's dead brother, Julian -- she used to do his homework for him, but as he would have had to ... you know ... take the tests himself, one would think the teachers would've caught on fast, no?
Loose ends abound as we go along, practically strewn like confetti. Many are resolved near the end of story, though not quite all (for example: how Zander broke his arm at Julliard was referred to, but if explained later, I missed that). Until nearly the end I was certain that we'd need a sequel, but afterwards I changed my mind. I'd read one, but I'd prefer it focus on Alice instead. My vote would be a completely different offering by Johnson, which would interest me considerably.
Tavia Gilbert was an excellent narrator fit here, although Frank's (appropriately) robotic voice took getting used to.
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