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Summary: A "how-NOT-to" for parents
Review: It's funny, sad, and I couldn't put it down! In one ridiculous scene after another, Mrs. X demands more and more from Nan and doesn't even realize she's being demanding. You wait and hope for a showdown between Nan and Mrs. X. You wait and hope for Mr. and Mrs. X to give their son the love and attention he longs for.If nothing else, The Nanny Diaries inspired me to spend more quality time with my kids. All parents should read this -- especially those with nannies! Julia Roberts' reading comes to life in the dialog. She gives all characters their own voice, from the innocent children to the hired help and the haughty rich.
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Summary: Can you relate?
Review: I used to be a Mother's helper and as such could relate to some of these experiences (even went to Nantucket with the family,) which is probably why I kept reading! The ending was a bit of a hard landing but this is nice light summer reading; makes me very grateful for the work I do now. Also a good exercise in asking yourself, how much s--- would I put up with in a job?!
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Summary: Good beach read
Review: I very much enjoyed this book. Some of the events that were described were shocking at times, and I often questioned "Nanny's" judgement, but I kept reading to find out the ending. Gives me some perspective on the rich!
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Summary: Worst Ending Ever
Review: The voice of the narrator in the books-on-tape version was a little annoying at times. (According to my husband, the lady's voice made the book unlistenable. "Oh my god! How can you listen to her, she is so annoying!!!") This book was really funny, educational and interesting. I had no idea that being a nanny for the very rich could be so humiliating and leave you feeling so absolutely powerless. I felt so bad for poor Grayer. The story had so many oh-my-god-you-are-kidding-me-how-could-anyone-do-that-to-another-person moments. Mrs. X was so condescending, unhappy and insecure and the only affection she ever showed Grayer was the unwanted contact that she had "spatula-ing" him off of her. So, so sad. The outrageous behavior of some of the children becomes all too sadly understandable when the description of their parents is revealed. This book is all about what happens when Love and Respect for other human beings is taken out of the equation. But be forewarned, if you read this book, there is no closure. You are not left cheering for Nanny and saying "way to go, girlfriend, you did it!" You just feel so sad for poor Grayer, and you feel sorrow for his world, where really the only person who showed him any love and decency was his dear Nanny. I finished the novel feeling bereft of the love and affection he so wanted from his Mom & Dad and just so so sad in general. There is no justice in this novel.
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Summary: It make you think about your own attitude
Review: I bought the book thinking that it was going to be funny. I definetely did not find it funny, although I liked it a lot. I agree with some of the other reviews here that the authors may have put together all the bad experiences they had or knew into just one person: Mrs.X, but that's part of the game, it is a novel after all, and I think they wanted to pass out how selfcentered some people becomes and how family sometimes becomes just a comodity in our modern society. Why do you want to have kids if you do not want to share any of your time with them?
What I like about the book is that every situtaion they describe makes me think about my own attitude towards my daughter and the people around us, although I do not consider myself mean as the X family, makes me want to be better than I am and more cautious and apreciative in my relations with others, specially profesionally speaking.
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Summary: Wonderful
Review: I picked up this book to read on my flight to England. It was so amazing that I didn't want to stop reading it. It was extremley funny and well-written. Highly recommended.
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Summary: I absolutely loved the book!
Review: The book was very entertaining...I could not guess how it was going to end until the last minute (which I enjoyed). The descriptions in the book were awesome. Alot of humor and laugh out loud situations. I recommend this to anyone who loves kids and loves reading!
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Summary: Captivating...
Review: I picked up this book because the description looked interesting. Within the first chapter, I couldn't put the book down. The requests of Mrs. X did seem a little outrageous, but believable of a society woman (I've lived in Malibu, CA and have seen some of them in action). The relationship between Nanny and Grayer was heartwarming and really drew me in. The absence of Mr. X and then the revelation of his affair made me hate a fictional man. This book made me laugh, gasp and even cry at times. I found myself rooting for Nanny to "grow a backbone" and stand up to Mrs. X and tell her where to put all of her requests, but at the same time realizing that her love for Grayer was just too strong and hoping that she would just deal with it all and stay for the kid who seemed to have no other love and role models in his life. To me, this book evokes all the emotions needed by a good story and is a great and easy read.
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Summary: Scooby Doo and the Nanny Diaries
Review: A little historical background: For those American-raised, I think we are all familiar with the popular cartoon Scooby Doo. The plot structure goes something like this: (1) Crazy antics and shenanigans abound. (2) Scooby-Doo and The Gang unmask the villain. (3) As he gets taken away by the authorities, the villain shakes his fist at the Gang and mumbles "Those darn kids!". I didn't realize this until (much, much) later in life, but this basic plot structure repeats in every single episode of Scooby Doo. Every. Single. One. Fast forward to The Nanny Diaries. I am about midpoint in the book when I realize the following keeps repeating: (1) Nanny is placed in awkward situations by the various people she has chosen to be in her life. (2) Nanny allows said people to take complete advantage of her. (3) Nanny goes home and ceaselessly complains to family and friends about her woeful situation. This happens in every single chapter. Every. Single. One. As a child, I loved Scooby Doo. There's something subconsciously comforting about the predictability of it all. But what might have worked for Scooby Doo, doesn't work for The Nanny Diaries. By the 8th iteration of the same theme, it got old, very very old. Because of these limitations, The Nanny Diaries quickly became a frustrating reading experience. Plot weaknesses aside (and that's a VERY large aside), The Nanny Diaries does have its merits. McLaughlin and Kraus offer a peek (however shallow) at the exclusive world of Upper East Side Manhattanites. One gets a voyeuristic kick from this airing of dirty laundry of a population who go to great lengths to avoid having their dirty laundry aired. Also, as I am currently writing this review roughly 30 blocks south of Mrs. X's fictional apartment, I can attest to the authenticity of the authors' depiction of place and time. It is obvious, these two are insiders, they speak from experience. I'm sure that this book will remain a must-read for care-givers and nannies, but for the rest of the population, you have been warned. I wouldn't discourage anyone intent on reading the book (I don't regret it)... but don't be surprised if you find yourself pining for the simpler days of Scooby Doo.
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Summary: Wonderfully written, entertaining and frustrating book
Review: This tale of bad noveau riche trophy mothers and infinitely caring nannies is a wonderfully written, entertaining and (as I'll shortly relate) occasionally frustrating book. The actress who reads the books on cd version is superb. Sometimes you'll howl with laughter and sometimes you'll just be thankful for your own family. To make it hang together, the authors (as they admit in a preface) have taken events that occurred with many different employers and to with many different nannies and woven them into two protagonists. The result is that from to time I would scream at the dashboard, "Quit. Walk out." or when the car keys were thrown at her, "thrown them back, hard!" On the other hand this allows the authors to make their real point--if the nanny is a non-white immigrant with little education and has no immediate relatives for emotional and financial support, then she can't quit, and must put up with everything. And, there is the hidden horror: wht wil the children of such indifferent, emotionally sterile parents be like as parents, themselves. Thanks mom and dad, I only hope I was able to give my children a fraction of the love, you gave me.
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