Saving Grandma

Calvin Becker Trilogy #3

by Frank Schaeffer

This final entry in the Calvin Becker trilogy continues the story of an utterly unpredictable family -- filled with the same wit, warmth, and flashing insight that earned widespread acclaim for Portofino and Zermatt. Calvin Becker's family have survived and persisted as Bible-thumping missionaries; it's their duty to spread the Word to everyone they meet. But now, having weathered a crisis precipitated by the godless Swiss, they face an even greater spiritual challenge right in their own home: Grandma. Foulmouthed, foul-tempered, and heathen through and through, she's staying in the spare room, recuperating from a broken hip -- and making it next to impossible for the Beckers to do the Lord's work. Calvin's pious mom is determined to save Grandma's soul, even if she's doing it through gritted teeth and deadly measures. His father's spending more and more time in his room, blasting opera to drown out the old lady's voice. And Calvin wishes things would just get back to normal so they can go on vacation and he can get close to the girl he loves. But then Calvin starts to understand Grandma a little better and appreciate her a little more. After all, misery loves company.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Religion, Novels, Book Club, Christian, Modern

368 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

About the author

Frank Schaeffer is a New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen books. Frank is a survivor of both polio and an evangelical/fundamentalist childhood, an acclaimed writer who overcame severe dyslexia, a home-schooled and self-taught documentary movie director, a feature film director of four low budget Hollywood features Frank has described as “pretty terrible.” He is also an acclaimed author of both fiction and nonfiction and an artist with a loyal following of international collectors who own many of his oil paintings. Frank has been a frequent guest on the Rachel Maddow Show on NBC, has appeared on Oprah, been interviewed by Terri Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air and appeared on the Today Show, BBC News and many other media outlets. He is a much sought after speaker and has lectured at a wide range of venues from Harvard’s Kennedy School to the Hammer Museum/UCLA, Princeton University, Riverside Church Cathedral, DePaul University and the Kansas City Public Library.

Reviews

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calvin Becker is back, he is sixteen and facing the usual contradictions of adolescence. The usual with Calvin Backer is not entirely so usual because he is the son in an extremely Calvinist family. Meals are cold because long blessings preclude hot meals. Fortunately or unfortunately grandma has come to convalesce.

Grandma Becker: Grandma the un-chosen, the Heathen, the foul mouthed. Grandma the living reminder that mom married beneath her status. Grandma who for all her irascibility can form a bridge across the isolation Calvin feels surrounded by sisters, a passive aggressive mother and a brilliant but depressive father.

For all of this the suggested drama, Saving Grandma is alternately laugh aloud funny, touchingly human, humane and on occasion uncomfortably accurate. I remind you Calvin is male and sixteen. He is hormonal. Calvin also has some heroic impulses or at least a desire to be good, but he is sixteen, mostly he has desires. This Calvin is more determined to achieve some kind of independence but ultimately he acts out his love for family.

Frank Schaeffer attempts more complex plotting and as a result produces a more sophisticated story. It is also a more contrived story line and allows for less time to keep his characters from being caricatures.

As in the rest of the trilogy, Author Frank Schaeffer is drawing heavily from his real life. As always, readers should be mindful that this is fiction. Schaeffer's underlying technique is to use what he knows but to stress out family members beyond the limits of biography and then imagine how his fictional family would react. As before, the point of view is narration by the older "Calvin". This lends us a knowing wink at the failures of the still learning but maturing boy and lessens the edge of the satire at the expense of the religious intensity of the family.

I enjoyed Saving Grandma. I loved the punning title. This should not be your introduction to the Becker's world, Read Portofino first. I rate this as a life affirming, pro-family book, but only if accept the foibles along with the strengths.

[Wilkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this entry of Calvin's story as the first one to read. Overall the book was enjoyable. Stories of people who think they're mighty and holy are always interesting, especially so when it shows how they really are. Thank goodness for authors who show that we all make mistakes, despite how holy we may believe we are.

[Justin Matott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my second pass through this book.
It is a delightful bit of storytelling from a young man's point of view.
His father a pastor, their grandma is living with them and she is a cantankerous off woman, set on upsetting all of the crazy Christians in the house.
It is a very funny look at faith, family and an adolescent boy's view of the world around him.
I recommend this book and this author for those who enjoy humor, especially when it comes to faith based subjects.

[Norah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, set in Switzerland and Italy, about a family based on Christian principles, except the son has his own ideas, to hilarious effect! I am so in tune with Frank Schaeffer's attitude to Christianity, and I love his writing, will be reading more!

Keeping it until I meet someone else who would enjoy it as much as I did!!

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to put down, highly entertaining, absurd yet believable, Frank Schaeffer writes a good story. Again, the family is living in Switzerland, spreading their version of Christianity among the local pagans and others from around Europe who are sent to them. The annual vacation in Portofino, Italy may not happen.

[Trisha Owens · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just not my "cup of tea". Subject matter of a dysfunctional Missionary family was entertaining enough to encourage me to finish the book, but I just found it too extreme and unsatisfying.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

gradually giving less stars in this series since i gave 5 stars to Portofino. It got better half way through, but it became tiresome reading so much about Calvin's little thing and his precious seed sacks.

[Meggin Dail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, confusing, kept me reading anyway. 📚

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was less satisfying than the other books. It seemed to be glorifying foolishness and immaturity rather than seriously tackling complicated situations.

[Bob Stains · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having spent many years in the kind of evangelical Christian world that's described here, I found this book a fun, laugh-out-loud read. And I love Calvin and Grandma.

[Mike Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stayed somewhat confused by the locale/setting of this book, unlike the previous 2 in the series. Sex really came to fore this time around too. I enjoyed this book, just not as much as the previous books. Maybe familiarity bred contempt in some way? I enjoyed getting to know the painter more but missed revelling in the setting as before.

[Aneel Trivedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Calvin Becker. I just finished "Saving Grandma" for the second (or maybe third) time, and I still can't stop laughing.

I think I like Schaeffer's work so much because of the way he uses the simple observations of a neglected 15-year old kid who can't even read or write to absolutely expose and destroy strict Calvinist doctrine. And maybe that's the best way to do it... stand back and let the hypocrisy do the work.

I root for Calvin... hard... throughout the entire book. I honestly can't think of a character in any work of fiction that I find myself pulling for more than this kid.

Portofino will always be my favorite, but Saving Grandma is a worthy sequel with a little more edge.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in the "Calvin Becker" series. After 15-year-old Calvin's foul-mouthed "unsaved" grandmother comes to live with the missionaries, family tension rises, especially as his father prepares for yet another church split. Calvin injures himself repeatedly while fantasizing about running off to Portofino to his friend/girlfriend Jennifer. And when Calvin realizes that his grandmother needs the kind of saving that is not at all religious, he steps in. Another enjoyable book, although at times it's hard to tell whether Schaeffer is weaving a coming-of-age tale or indulging in over-the-top satire.

[M.K. Waller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious story of a conservative evangelical American theologian and Presbyterian missionary to Switzerland, his interesting (to say the least) wife, and their three children. Narrated by highly hormonal and happily illiterate teen son Calvin, whose finest hour comes when he determines to save his father's foul-mouthed mother from certain death at the hands of his mother. Or not. In the trilogy based on his childhood--Portofino, Saving Grandma, and Zermatt--Schaeffer airs the laundry of his dysfunctional family in the funniest (and perhaps saddest) way possible.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved Portofino! (The first book in the series). I detested this sequel- which usually doesn't happen to me. Calvin was such an endearing boy in the first book. He was relatable and the family antics were hilarious. Now he is a grotesque teenager obsessed with killing animals and sexual fantasies. Could a character change any more? I felt like it wasn't even the same boy. So disappointing. I couldn't even finish it. Maybe made it half way through.

[Veronica Zundel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank Shaeffer has essentially written the same novel three times, and this is the third instalment, but like the others still packed enough with hilarious incident to make it worth meeting the Becker family again. This time the irascible and rude yet lovable Grandma takes centre stage, and Calvin quite inadvertently saves her life by messing with her medicine. Another enjoyable outing with the missionary family from hell.

[Ingrid · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reads like Tobias Wolfe meets Mark Twain. The voice of the protagonist sounded too young to be 15 and I had a hard time deciphering what was real and what was schoolboy fantasy, but there were laugh out loud funny moments and great discussion points. This was a book club choice for me and, as always, the discussion adds value to a book that I would not have finished without the motivation of such a conversation.

[Melissa Alford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give it 4 stars from having done exceptionally well writing from a 14-15 year old boys voice and perspective. Some laugh out loud moments throughout, which is always a winner for me. Rather painful at points as the characters just make one cringe, but this is to be part of the experience, I believe. The material is weighty, and while it may seem like a waste of time reading, I think the entire process is redeemed when thoughtfully discussing the book with a group after.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of the "Calvin Becker" trilogy -- Calvin is the son of fundamentalist American missionaries living in Switzerland in the '60s -- and both this story and and its prequel, "Portofino" (which I read years ago and just loved) are touching, very funny, and ultimately bittersweet stories.

[Ken Orton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fitting end to the trilogy of Portofino, Zermatt and Saving Grandma. The writing grew better as the story progressed and this is a great ending. In fact, the last 80 pages or so leave you with a good feeling although not necessarily because it's a good (nice) ending. I highly recommend these books.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming book with interestingly diabolical and quirky characters. Draws you into a pubescent world with a candid and oddly funny look at honesty that only comes with the self-centered-ness of teenage-hood.

Have a chuckle at the boy you used to be.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review of Portofino. A continuation of the story....but the most sexually explicit of them all.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

He's a great writer and very funny.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hysterical! Religious fanatics gone wild!

[Winn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boy, was this a disappointment. I absolutely loved the first story, Portofino; but man, I couldn't even finish this one. What is it with sequels? Rare does one seem to hit the same stride.

[Doris · Rating 1 out of 5]

This final book in his trilogy we could have done without. Same-old, same-old.

[Jeff Trueman]

Oh yes! Schaeffer REALLY understand little boys...especially MKs (missionary kids.) A terrific read totally apart from the MK aspect. Just good, insighftul fun!

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm back to being stingy with the stars: this was more of a 2 and a half, but i rounded down...

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was not nearly as good as Portofino.

[Jhyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a hilarious book!