Rating: 
Summary: As a former Nanny, I can relate
Review: This book was an interesting, candid and richly detailed read. The authors eloquently immersed me inside the posh NY apartment, setting the stage for Mr. and Mrs. X, their son Grayer and Nanny, an NYU student working on her child-development degree. I felt catapulted inside this vacuous, sad, absurd and tragically comic, socialite family. The book evoked plenty of emotion. I felt empathy for level-headed Nanny, who put Grayer's well being ahead of her smoldering rage toward his self-absorbed parents. My heart went out to vulnerable, lovable Grayer; and his life that spilled over with activities, but was hauntingly dry of parental love or concern. I wanted to throw these vacuous-vampire parents off of their terrace, and into Mrs. X's collection of Prada heels. Her expensive stationery--complete with a font usually reserved for the snootiest of wedding invitations--was hilarious--with Mrs. X's outlandish, prissy notes to Nanny, "I'd prefer if Grayer didn't eat so many carbohydrates". The book was punctuated with loads of hilarious one liners and hysterical stories. I laughed out loud many times. As a former Nanny myself, and I can testify to the truth in these pages. My "X's" roped me in from Iowa when I was 22. The $... a week salary eroded the first day, when I was informed that my share of the car insurance and electricity would be taken out of my paycheck. I was in charge of a baby, a toddler and all of the laundry, meal planning, shopping, cooking, errand running, and cleaning of their 15-room house. These parents saw their children for an hour a day. The baby thought I was her mother, "Oh here you hold her," the mother would say, as she returned the baby to me. "She just likes you so much better." I was chastized for making Betty Crocker Au Gratin potatoes, and sternly told that any future cheese potatoes would result from grating and slicing--not from opening a box. I lasted 4 months. This book was such a delight; a sad delight. I wonder what happened to Grayer and how he is doing today. I imagine that every anecdote and experience in this book is an authentic experience from a NYC nanny, compilated into this smart, hysterical, wonderfully descriptive and thought-provoking book. "The Nanny Dairies" was such a treat and I hope the authors make a fortune and write a sequel. Wouldn't a movie based on this book be wonderful! Angela
Rating: 
Summary: From a Male Perspective
Review: This male reviewer is glad to report that ND grew on him! ND is indeed a fast reading tale, so I was well into it before any interest was generated. As the story progressed, I actually came to care what would happen to "Nanny" and hoped she would find happiness- or at least a better job. Since ND has dual authorship, one wonders if the pickup in interest was due to an alternate and more talented narrator. The bottom line is that ND is catty, chatty, breezy and fun. One could almost read it in a single sitting. The adjective funny does not apply because these people (i.e. Nanny's employers) are the antithesis of that. They are rich, pampered elitist, sad and pathetic. Money will never buy these folks happiness. It would help for readers to remember that there are people who live like the characters portrayed. ND is a glimpse into their world, a snapshot of a way we will never be. This reviewer is a native New Yorker who enjoyed an upper middle class upbringing. However the inhabitants of ND are UPPER upper class. In Manhattan, it's entirely possible to live only a block or two from Nanny's employers and never cross their path, to have absolutely no knowledge of their world. My bedroom would be their broom closet. The worlds are veritable planets apart and ND portrays their special milieu unfavorably. In fact, it makes it appear downright unappetizing. ND remains a positive tale because Nanny always keeps her values, her head on straight and sense of self. Will there be a sequel? Let's pray there be not! In today's economy lots of young highly educated women such as Nanny may be forced into remaining nannies. This reviewer hopes that Nanny gets her PHD and a good job to go with it -far away from Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Rating: 
Summary: A Tragic Tale
Review: I want to start by saying that this book was well written and I flew through it. Having said that, I can't say that I really enjoyed the book...at all! I felt so misled by the comments that this book was light and funny. I found the subject matter to be so tragic that I repeatedly found myself near tears. I read a section to my husband and even he said he didn't want to hear anymore, it was just too sad. I'm sure the fact that we have a 1-year old little boy slanted our view quite a bit. We couldn't quite keep thoughts of our son out of our minds when hearing about the horrible treatment and lack of love the little boy in the book gets from his parents. The Nanny's loving care for him is the only bright light in this book.
Although I thought of quitting several times I read to the finish, hoping the authors would at least leave me with some sense of hope at the end. Nope, sorry to say I felt just as bad after the last page as I did most of the way through. Maybe I'm just way too sensitive, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.
Rating:
Summary: .... and I NEVER cry........
Review: I really liked this book. I loved the characters (the ones that were lovable) and HATED the ones we were supposed to hate. The relationship between Nanny and Grayer was GREAT . It just warmed my cockles to see how a boy so starved for affection was so loved by this woman. The little kisses on the head and the sweat nickanames, just great. I wish I had a nanny like this growing up.
I have read where poeple who reviewed the book suggested that Nan get a back bone ..... but if she did this book would have been like 10 pages b'c when she finally, remotely stood up for herself over her graduation she immediately got fired (AFTER the vacation ofcourse)
It was cleverly written and very whitty but I find it hard to call it comedic. I am NOT an overly sensitive nitwit who says "this is NOT funny and you should be ashamed" ,just looking for a reason to be offended BUT this novel as a whole was NOT funny. I just am loathed to think that poor children are treated this way , neglected so grossly . I am just glad that there are Nannies out here like this one who give the children a "soft place to fall"...(to quote Dr. Phil). But that probably doesn't last long with women like Mrs X. due to a raging case of jealousy and self centeredness. It is a great book to show us regular folk what is behind some of the closed doors of the filthy rich. I have to admit the end was so sad that it made me cry .... and I NEVER cry......
Rating:
Summary: An easy read, entertaining but sad at the same time...
Review: This is a good book. It is not the best written book there is, but it is an easy read and gives a very eye-opening look into the lives of some very wealthy New Yorkers. I found myself wondering how much of it is based on reality, because you hope that much of it is fiction as your heart breaks for little Grayer.
Rating:
Summary: Fun book.
Review: This book details the life and times of a young nanny in high-society New York City. The story has appeal for many different readers, those with children, those without, and those who have ever been a nanny or a babysitter. The relationships between the various characters speak volumes about our society, all while providing a very entertaining story. While I loved this book, I was slightly disappointed with the ending, which does not provide much resolution. It left me wondering what happens to the characters, which was somewhat unsatisfying.
Rating:
Summary: A 4.3 on a scale of 1 to 5-Great Social Satire
Review: My mother, my two sisters and I all read in this one sitting. It is a fast, fun and furious look at the world of rich parents in New York City and the people in their employ.It is satire-but all great satire is based on truth, and given my knowledge of this world, there is a lot of truth in this book.
In many ways, this book is an extended New Yorker cartoon. A young, smart woman tries to make her way in the city. She becomes a Nanny to fund her education and her lifestyle (not very extravagant). Her job ends up draining her time, her idealism (or whatever was left of it) and ultimately her emotions. She basically becomes a full time slave to her witchlike employer. While parts of this book are laugh out loud funny, other parts are poignant and sad. She takes care of a small child who is neglected by his parents. She sees a marriage filled with material possessions and devoid of love. She realizes that her employers are not unique in their set.
I would have given this book five stars but I felt that there should have been more of a plot. Still it is great satire.
I would recommend this book for those who enjoy such contemporary takes on society as "Bridget Jones Diary" and "I Don't Know How She Does It." I wouldn't recommend this book to those individuals who need more from a book than clever caricatures of rich people in the early years of the 21st century.
Rating:
Summary: A Guilty Pleasure
Review: Definitely not rocket science but every now and then you need a book that is just plain entertaining and fun without taxing your brain too much. This is definitely one of those books. The story moves quickly, the characters are entertaining, the heroine is sympathetic and the resolution is satisfactory.You can read it in a day or two and then get back to the real world. Pure pop culture fun.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it, loved it, loved it
Review: I didn't it to end and am anxiously awaiting another installment of high society living in NYC! (Is there another installment??) The book is funny with just the right amount of (okay, so it's a tiny amount) suspense. I have the nanny, and every other character (especially Grayson), pictured in my head and can't want to see what she can screw up next! Keep 'em coming!
Rating:
Summary: From One Nanny to Another
Review: I had walked past this book at least 100 times at Borders, before deciding that I would give in and induldge myself in a read. I have been a nanny for two years now and wasn't sure at the time of purchase if this book could actually tell me something I didn't already know. Working for a wealthy family-one a lot more personable than the X's, I found that I could actually relate to the authors' realistic portrayl of the whole interviewing process and the awkward intro's. I couldn't part with this book because I couldn't wait for the day that Nan would give the X's a piece of her mind. Even though the beggining hooked me in, I closed the book for the last time a bit dissapointed that Nan, other than the videotape, never gave the X's what they deserved- THEIR walking papers. The Nanny didn't end up being my glamourized heroine after all. I guess it is a realistic book(I have yet to face off with my own boss), but I was just hoping to live vicariously through Nanny.
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