Rating: 
Summary: Tuppence a Cliché
Review: Unless it's news to you that the over-privileged tend to rely on hired help to raise their children, you'll find nothing enlightening here. Gross caricatures are crammed cover to cover in this dull debut from Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus. Apparently, nothing was too corny to exclude: "Mrs. X," the neurotic and emaciated hausfrau; "Mr. X," the workaholic husband and the redheaded siren who threatens their marriage. Particularly insulting are "Elizabeth X," the W.A.S.P.Y. matriarch and the Third World refugee who was an engineer in her homeland and now must work as a nanny to support her family back home. Rolling your eyes yet? I left out Nanny's free-spirited, indomitable grandmother.
The subplot about Nanny's dalliance with a "Harvard Hottie" from the X's building seems to be the wistful result of too much pulp romance between diaper changes. The egregiously flawless "H.H." is inexplicably unattached and drawn to Nanny on sight.
Grayer, the child in Nanny's care, comes off as utterly unappealing. The reader wonders over and over why Nanny is so drawn to him. Perhaps too much effort was spent making Nanny the untarnished domestic heroine rather than developing Grayer's character. Ironic?
The one compelling attribute of The Nanny Diaries is the relationship between Nanny and Mrs. X. As Mrs. X's facade peels away, Nanny becomes more protective of her. The reader gets the distinct impression this is not for Grayer's sake, but for some compulsion to care for her charge. Hopefully, this is the aspect Miramax will exploit in the film version. They recently acquired the rights. Psst!: Jane Adams and Natasha Lyonne would be perfect.
Rating: 
Summary: less autobiographical than I expected...
Review: As a real-life nanny named Nan(cy), this book seemed to be calling out to me, and I devoured it in less than 48 hours!I have been working as a nanny in Italy, so it was nice to see that my American counterparts deal with many of the same problems I do.. growing too attached to their charges, dealing with mothers who give you little to no credit seeing as *you* have not carried a child in your womb for nine months, and having to take care of other duties that do not relate to the children in any way whatsoever. But it didn't seem like the authors gave Mrs. X any credit at all... or maybe New York mommies are really like that? The Italian ones I know aren't THAT bad! I found the ending disappointing, as it seemed like the last 20 or so pages were just thrown together to just get the book finished. Will we ever know what happens to Nan and her HH? Will Grayer succeed at St. Bernard's? Further run-ins with Mrs. X, or Ms. Chicago? Inquiring minds want to know!
Rating:
Summary: Initially compelling, ultimately unsatisfactory
Review: I awaited the publication of The Nanny Diaries with a great deal of trepidation. As a former professional nanny myself, I feared the book would cast only shame and disrepute on the profession.
I couldn't have been more wrong. Instead the book, despite being about a fascinating field, managed only to bore this reader into a profound somulence.
Rating: 
Summary: CAN'T PUT IT DOWN
Review: I think the worst thing about finding a great book to read, is the frantic search to find another one as great to replace the one just finished. I had been on that lengthy search for a time ... until finding "The Nanny Diaries". Incredible. Elegantly written, allowing the reader to feel as though they are with "Nan", the heroine of the novel, throughout her "adventures". For those who have critiqued this book on its realism, in a sense accusing the authors of using "sensationalism" to sell a book, simply by stringing together the most extreme predicaments, lighten up. Of course we understand that the authors wish to portray the most outrageous scenarios, which perhaps wouldn't happen all at once, but over the course of many years of employment. What matters is that perhaps not consciously recognized by everyone, that there is a diversity of "cultures" within a culture, and that these predicaments are plausable! It is in essence, the portrayal of a microcosm that represents the "civilized world" as a whole. Much of how we act and what we do as adults, is shaped by how we are raised and treated as children. On a whole, you're not meant to sympathize with Nan, our narrator and lead character, but with the child she takes care of, Grayer. Nan is our "doorway" into the world that "privledged" children are reared in. You sympathize with the child, possibly even sympathize with the parents on a level where you can UNDERSTAND why the act the way they do, yet not excuse it. To appreciate this novel, you can't evaluate Nan, but simply laugh with her or become exasperated and speechless, as she becomes. Understand the message, not the messanger. I've never laughed out loud, cried or have been as shocked with any other novel as I have with "The Nanny Diaries". It's very cleverly written, and I look forward to more works that these two authors produce.
Rating:
Summary: Self-esteem issues
Review: I read this whole book in one night, I absolutely could not put it down. There were times when I laughed out loud, and there were other times when I was absolutely sickened, by the behavior of the parents as much by that of Nanny. I have no doubt whatsoever that Nanny really came to love Grayer. But what a disservice she did to him by not having the guts to stand up to those terrible people masquerading as his parents, and telling them to their faces that their treatment of her based on their sense of entitlement was totally inappropriate. She just kept taking it from those people, which to me screams "no self esteem" as much as the behavior of Grayer's rotten parents. The parents' self-esteem issue simply manifested themselves in different ways, mainly by their complete lack of interest in emotionally engaging themselves in any situation in which their own interests were not the chief focus. I read the NY Times review of this book, and was delighted to hear that at least one other person thought that the writing of this book was akin to "shooting fish in a barrel." I mean, really...these people are such easy targets it's laughable. However, I still can't help feeling that this is one of the most frightening social commentaries I have read in a long time. If even half of what is in this book even remotely resembles the lives of the players in the super-privileged communities in this country, we are in for some bad times ahead.
Rating:
Summary: kublai khan give me a large break
Review: Perhaps you can crawl out from under the rest of the "novels'" you read to realize that the people who don't like this book feel that way because it is ****badly****** written, not because of the subject matter.
Rating:
Summary: Trite cliche
Review: As a former NYC nanny, I found this work embarrassing and nothing but a huge cliche. How sad to know that it took *two* authors to write such trivial one-sided characters, and such a redundant, obvious storyline.
Rating: 
Summary: I would have given a 4-star except for the language....
Review: I would have given this a 4-star but the swearing really got a bit much as the book went on (I have to admit I was a bit insulted, as a Christian, with the continuous use of the Lord's name in vain).... But the book itself, the story is great, you really feel as though you know the ins and outs by the time you finish reading it of this weird life these socialites live.... My heart broke for the little boy and I just hope that if he is a "real" little boy or girl from the authors' experiences that he or she (or they) is okay and getting the love any child deserves from their parents... I actually hope the parents who behave like the "Xes" will secretly read the book (though never admit to it!) and realize how awful their behavior is! These people have all the monetary wealth but yet miss the most precious gifts that are right in front of them, things that can't be given a "price tag". I hope they are all saving for the therapy bills when these children grow up!
Rating:
Summary: Upper East Side Misery
Review: Only read this book if you want to hear how the wealthiest 10% of America live. Having worked in the Upper East Side I can assure you that its one of the most miserable places on the earth- hence money doesnt make you happy. Snotty rich kids being raised by their nannies, socialite attititudes "Do you know who I AM??" mentality, this book reveals it all. Enter the world of doormen, service entrances ,kiss ... building supers , personal chefs, etc. After youre done with this book, you will be glad you arent a rich snob who is to busy to raise her kids right and needs a nanny and a live in maid! This might save you money the next time a powerball jackpot catches your eye - it just might not be worth it.....
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fantastic
Review: Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Literally. I found myself rearranging my schedule just so I could keep reading.
I don't know if it was the quirky and easy flow of the writing or my sheer amazement at the idea that such people exist that kept me glued to the pages, but either way, a complete delight. I could not recommend this novel more.
My only criticism is the ending. Though true to life, it does leave some loose ends.
To Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus - please, please, please write more!
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