Rating: 
Summary: Gratuitous fun at the wealthy's expense
Review: Aren't rich people just terrible? If you share this opinion, you will probably find this book a real guffaw. If you're curious, as I was, into what makes the wealthy tick and why their obsession with perfection makes their behaviors seem so aberrant, you might be disappointed, as I was, in this mind candy novel with its thinly drawn characters and predictable plot. The story centers on the nine-month employment of "Nanny" in the household of the "X's": absent, philandering Mr. X the very important businessman; detached, self-absorbed, socially-driven Mrs. X; and the victimized, generic, underloved 4-year-old, Grayer. Nanny, of course, is the heroine, not only beautiful, young and selfless but qualified beyond belief to be the uber-Mom's replacement. Grayer, who initially rejects her, is quickly won over by her charms, even though he continues to exhibit disturbing neurotic ticks that hint at his deep-seated feelings of abandonment. Nanny, of course, knows "he just wants to be loved, is that so wrong?" and dishes it up with spoonfuls of sugar (and plenty of spite towards the evil Mrs. X). A central theme in the book is adultery and women's sexual maneuvering. Mrs. X, we discover, was once "the other woman." The current other woman makes herself at home in the X's apartment while the family is away on vacation, even setting Nanny on task for preparing the love nest for when Mr. X can slip away "on business." But Nanny herself can be faulted for wanting to climb a social ladder too. She falls for a Harvard student living in the X's building, who, we learn, is perfect beyond reproach and "a good catch," as Mrs. X put it. One of the things contributing to the lightweight nature of the book is the lack of descriptive language and detail. The authors take a lot of shortcuts in identifying fashion, objects, etc... by designer label, as if that would paint a picture in everyone's mind. I felt like I had to go out and buy a copy of Town and Country for a reference. As the book winds down to its predictable unhappy ending: the X's becoming monstrous, Grayer losing Nanny, and Nanny having a go at mild revenge, I felt rather sad for all involved, and kind of depressed by the book's viewpoint that everything's black and white when it comes to the served and the subservient. All people, regardless of station in life, have an internal struggle that gets exhibited in what they do and what they say. The novel, Rebecca, which "The Nanny Diaries" sometimes reminded me of, delves deep into the psychology behind the mask of wealth. This book goes nowhere into this territory, merely pointing a manicured finger at stereotypes and sticking out a tongue. A nanny's diary from the standpoint of an older woman, or perhaps even one of the "third world" domestics, who were among the most believable characters in the book, might have been more interesting. As it was, this book will probably appeal mostly to other 20-something white girls who secretly dream of snaring a Harvard student or a Mr. X themselves someday.
Rating: 
Summary: Surreal Life
Review: Setting: NEW YORK CITY
Characters: RICH, SELF ABSORBED PARENTS, A CHILD, A NANNY
Right away, you know you're in for a tale that is stereotypically neurotic New York. This is a well-crafted story that rings very true, a chapter in the life of a young college girl looking into the the surrealistic life of the rich. Your heart will go out to the "Grove", Nanny's young charge, who seems desperately lonely and unloved. A heartbreaking but gripping story that will keep you turning the pages to see what outrageous absurdity will come next. Great read!
Rating: 
Summary: Depressing, waste of time
Review: I thought this book was awful. It was hyped as a comedic look at the lives of nannies in NY and their upper class bosses. I really found nothing funny about the story of Nanny and Mrs and Mr X, or the other nannies and their creepy bosses. The parents are terrible and have absolutely no redeeming qualities. The situations get worse and worse and Nanny gets more unlikeable as the story progresses. Mrs X acts like a complete monster and Nanny never stands up for herself, no matter how much Mrs X devalues her and her life. It just wasn't funny, and it's scary to think of how many "parents" there are who are just like the Xes.
Rating:
Summary: When Bad Books Happen to Good Readers
Review: The success of this book only goes to show how gullible we are sometimes... I'll cut to the chase. This book is terrible. Poorly written. Questionably edited. Unfunny. When I finished it, I was only disappointed at first. But then I became a little upset. I felt like I had just been tricked out of twenty-five bucks. When something like this book "happens" to innocent readers, we need to sit back and ask ourselves who pulled the wool over our eyes. Did these girls have connections? I would venture to say yes. And what does that mean to you, the potential reader? It means if you buy this book, you have been duped by some extraordinarily deceitful marketing. As a whole, this book is pointless. What may have been a decent magazine article has been overdeveloped into a tiresome, repetitive novel. The main characters are as colorless as their strangely generic names (Nanny, Mr and Mrs X). And the plot is neither intriguing nor engaging. Countless bland scenes and dull dialogue add up to a page-filler more than a page turner. A few witty remarks are scattered throughout the book, but nothing I would call "laugh-out-loud." The only real chuckle I got out of the whole experience was when I re-read the back cover. One of the reviewers said she couldn't put it down...Huh? Someone must have doused this book with superglue before giving it to her. I really struggled to finish this book. Bottom line: Reads like a get-rich scheme by a couple of burnt-out nannies hoping to make as much money as the employers they obviously despised.
Rating:
Summary: Great Beach Read
Review: Well we now know why the wealthy grow up to have so many hang-ups...This is a great read, I couldnt put it down...The whole time I read I couldnt help but feel sorry for the children who were being used as pawns by cold uncaring parents...
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful reading but not what I expected
Review: Here I thought this was a light reading satire of the overprivileged that required no thought - just plain enjoyment. That's what it probably is for many but not for me. I never knew that rich children specifically can be abused mentally. The father in this book is immoral and totally self-centered - the mother is a selfish and egotistical deluded female - and the son is a victim. The authors had a catharsis when writing this novel which I thoroughly recommend - light reading or not.
Rating:
Summary: Service and Surface
Review: Anyone who has ever taken care of children, cleaned houses, cooked or lived in service of the wealthy will have a special appreciation for The Nanny Diaries. Conversely, the book has the power to make those who live on the labor of others very uncomfortable. I've done both, and so found The Nanny Diaries to be a story alternately righteous and self-righteous, but always nail-on-the-head truthful. Though the book starts out in a satirical vein, as Nan becomes more entrenched in the lives of those she serves the story deepens and both Grayer and Mrs. X become...well, if not sympathic, at least understandable. The only completely unsympathetic character is Mr. X, who is seen most distantly. One of the subtler points of the book is about the hierarchy of families, whether they employ others to support that hierarchy or not. As the novel progresses, it becomes clear that Mrs. X lives in service to Mr. X just as much as Nan lives in service to the X family. Don't let the potential for depth spoil your reading of the book, though. It is satirical and funny. It is a quick and engrossing read. It's just not entirely fiction when viewed in the context of classism in American culture.
Rating:
Summary: A Bittersweet Tale
Review: First of all, I want to say that overall, I enjoyed this book. I often found myself responding emotionally to what I was reading. Many times, I was so angry with Grayer's parents, I wanted to scream...and I found myself upset with Nanny too, for not standing up for herself better. I must say, I felt the book ended rather abruptly. I am wondering what happened to H.H.? Did he and Nanny find love and happiness on the 11th floor? Did she ever find an apartment? A "real" job? And what about Ms. Chicago? Maybe there'll be a "Nanny's 2", with Nan and HH as the parents...
Rating:
Summary: Great book...but,
Review: I just finished the Nanny Diaries, I must say that overall Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have done a wonderful job on their first novel. The characters are well developed and your attention is captured through the entire novel. The criticism I have of the story is: (Don't read this next bit if you have not read the book yet)
The ending really frustrated me. I anxiously turned the pages waiting for Nanny to get some backbone, and when were the Xes going to get theirs! None of these issues are resolved in the book, and while I thoroughly it I can't help feeling a bit cheated at the end. I wanted to know what was going to happen with Nanny and HH and I was seriously looking forward to Mrs. X being taken down a few notches. Maybe something Enron-esq would put them in their places. I was also a bit peeved that they just kind of left us hanging where Nanny is concerned I thought that at least her living arrangements were going to sort themselves out. Not only is she still spineless, underpaid and fired, she is on the verge of homelessness. So I was disappointed in that area. (Okay, you can read again now)
I hope there is a sequel to this book; I feel there were just too many things left unresolved. And would be anxious to read more.
Rating:
Summary: The disclaimer says it all!
Review: I thought I'd read a chapter or two on a 15-hour international flight, but instead I read all the way through and still had plenty of time for a nap. There are two different classes of people, those who are pampered and priviledged and the rest of us who work for them. If you're in the latter category, you'll love this book. The Xes are upper-class parents who want the best money can buy for their 4-year-old son, and apparently the best includes hiring a nanny to raise their boy since they're clueless about how to interact with a child. And Nanny is just trying to survive her final year of college and make enough money to pay the rent, but as the Xes become more neglectful she steps in to take on more and more child-rearing duties. In the meantime, we see the dark side of the child care business from a series of play dates. The other nannies in the book are all decent, hard-working people. There's no abuse on their part. Rather, it's the rich parents, all wrapped up in their own problems ranging from divorce to drug addiction, that make life hell for their priviledged children and it's the nannies who try to protect the children. Nanny is witness to a lot of social injustice and there's little she can do. Still, this is entertainment as well as social commentary and the Xes are really over the top. Leave yourself some time to read the final chapters all at once because the ending is a zinger. And once you're done, be sure you take the time to appreciate the people who work for you.
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