Helpful Score: 3
This is such a sweet book of aloneness, family dynamics, friendships and strong neighborhood love and guidance. I recommend this read highly for anyone who loves interesting characters and a good story to the very end!
Helpful Score: 3
Maeve Binchy writes about people in such a warm and inviting way that I at least am transported into their world, caught up in their lives and feel as if I have been minding Frankie this last year too!
While the book stands alone, it draws on the characters of her previous novels and leave enough threads out there for a dozen more books to branch off this tree she planted and nurtures so well.
This is one not to be missed. If you don't love it I'll be shocked. If you want to visit a real community of people who care about one another and work to create a world outside their own concerns, you will enjoy this.
While the book stands alone, it draws on the characters of her previous novels and leave enough threads out there for a dozen more books to branch off this tree she planted and nurtures so well.
This is one not to be missed. If you don't love it I'll be shocked. If you want to visit a real community of people who care about one another and work to create a world outside their own concerns, you will enjoy this.
Helpful Score: 3
Interesting turn of events for a young pregnant woman who names an alcoholic, uneducated, poor-job prospects individual who accepts her announcement without question. How his neighborhood steps up,helping and covering for him until he learns his way makes for an interesting read. I was left with many unanswered questions, but that is why we have book club discussions.
Helpful Score: 3
Another fabulous Maeve Binchy book! She brought up characters from previous books - tied everything together - it was magic! Loved it!
Helpful Score: 2
Never a disappointment reading Maeve Binchy and Minding Frankie is no exception! Terrific.
Helpful Score: 1
A fun rambling story where everyone knows everyone, people have a way of coming together, and things have a way of working.
Helpful Score: 1
Maeve Binchy has been a favourite author of mine for decades now and I never thought I would say this, but this book was a disappointment. Many/most of the characters are from other books, so there is the cozy sense of meeting old friends, but it also made me feel that there was not much new here. It is a perfectly adequate book, enjoyable but without much meat. This is a lukewarm review for a lukewarm book. Her many fans will enjoy it but I think many of those same fans will feel as I did, that I just expected and wanted more.
Helpful Score: 1
Okay, I admit, I've been a Maeve Binchy fan since Tara Road. Most of our favorite writers will occasionally put out a book that just isn't as good as others, but this book is not one of those books. It's easily as good as my other favorite Binchy titles.
Noel Lynch is going nowhere in a dead end job, he's still living with his parents, and he's a little too fond of alcohol, when he hears from a girl he can't even remember. She's in the local cancer ward, massively pregnant, and claiming he is the father of her baby. What does Noel do? He runs away from the situation and goes into full on denial about the possibility that he just may be the daddy, and that he just may have to take custody of the baby when the girl goes for a c-section that she knows will kill her.
What Binchy does with this story is phenomenal. She brings in some characters from many of her recent books and then proceeds to tell the story from multiple viewpoints without ever losing her way or losing the interest of the reader. She brings the characters so brilliantly to life, that you grow to care for all of them, even the nasty social worker who, haunted by her own past, yearns to take Frankie away from Noel. She serves as the flawed, sympathetic villain of the story. There are no misteps or sagging areas of this story. A truly excellent tale.
Noel Lynch is going nowhere in a dead end job, he's still living with his parents, and he's a little too fond of alcohol, when he hears from a girl he can't even remember. She's in the local cancer ward, massively pregnant, and claiming he is the father of her baby. What does Noel do? He runs away from the situation and goes into full on denial about the possibility that he just may be the daddy, and that he just may have to take custody of the baby when the girl goes for a c-section that she knows will kill her.
What Binchy does with this story is phenomenal. She brings in some characters from many of her recent books and then proceeds to tell the story from multiple viewpoints without ever losing her way or losing the interest of the reader. She brings the characters so brilliantly to life, that you grow to care for all of them, even the nasty social worker who, haunted by her own past, yearns to take Frankie away from Noel. She serves as the flawed, sympathetic villain of the story. There are no misteps or sagging areas of this story. A truly excellent tale.
Helpful Score: 1
Maeve Binchy never disappoints me. She's such a great story teller, I often feel like she's sitting next to me, weaving another of her character-filled tales. This story brings a few characters from previous books but if you've never read ANY of her other books, this story can stand on its own. While a little dark in some places (doesn't she always tug at your heart?), overall it was a feel-good book. I often turn to Maeve Binchy books after I've read a book that brings me down, because hers will always make you happy in the end.
Helpful Score: 1
Okay, I admit, I've been a Maeve Binchy fan since Tara Road. Most of our favorite writers will occasionally put out a book that just isn't as good as others, but this book is not one of those books. It's easily as good as my other favorite Binchy titles.
Noel Lynch is going nowhere in a dead end job, he's still living with his parents, and he's a little too fond of alcohol, when he hears from a girl he can't even remember. She's in the local cancer ward, massively pregnant, and claiming he is the father of her baby. What does Noel do? He runs away from the situation and goes into full on denial about the possibility that he just may be the daddy, and that he just may have to take custody of the baby when the girl goes for a c-section that she knows will kill her.
What Binchy does with this story is phenomenal. She brings in some characters from many of her recent books and then proceeds to tell the story from multiple viewpoints without ever losing her way or losing the interest of the reader. She brings the characters so brilliantly to life, that you grow to care for all of them, even the nasty social worker who, haunted by her own past, yearns to take Frankie away from Noel. She serves as the flawed, sympathetic villain of the story. There are no misteps or sagging areas of this story. A truly excellent tale.
Noel Lynch is going nowhere in a dead end job, he's still living with his parents, and he's a little too fond of alcohol, when he hears from a girl he can't even remember. She's in the local cancer ward, massively pregnant, and claiming he is the father of her baby. What does Noel do? He runs away from the situation and goes into full on denial about the possibility that he just may be the daddy, and that he just may have to take custody of the baby when the girl goes for a c-section that she knows will kill her.
What Binchy does with this story is phenomenal. She brings in some characters from many of her recent books and then proceeds to tell the story from multiple viewpoints without ever losing her way or losing the interest of the reader. She brings the characters so brilliantly to life, that you grow to care for all of them, even the nasty social worker who, haunted by her own past, yearns to take Frankie away from Noel. She serves as the flawed, sympathetic villain of the story. There are no misteps or sagging areas of this story. A truly excellent tale.
Okay, I admit, I've been a Maeve Binchy fan since Tara Road. Most of our favorite writers will occasionally put out a book that just isn't as good as others, but this book is not one of those books. It's easily as good as my other favorite Binchy titles.
Noel Lynch is going nowhere in a dead end job, he's still living with his parents, and he's a little too fond of alcohol, when he hears from a girl he can't even remember. She's in the local cancer ward, massively pregnant, and claiming he is the father of her baby. What does Noel do? He runs away from the situation and goes into full on denial about the possibility that he just may be the daddy, and that he just may have to take custody of the baby when the girl goes for a c-section that she knows will kill her.
What Binchy does with this story is phenomenal. She brings in some characters from many of her recent books and then proceeds to tell the story from multiple viewpoints without ever losing her way or losing the interest of the reader. She brings the characters so brilliantly to life, that you grow to care for all of them, even the nasty social worker who, haunted by her own past, yearns to take Frankie away from Noel. She serves as the flawed, sympathetic villain of the story. There are no misteps or sagging areas of this story. A truly excellent tale.
Noel Lynch is going nowhere in a dead end job, he's still living with his parents, and he's a little too fond of alcohol, when he hears from a girl he can't even remember. She's in the local cancer ward, massively pregnant, and claiming he is the father of her baby. What does Noel do? He runs away from the situation and goes into full on denial about the possibility that he just may be the daddy, and that he just may have to take custody of the baby when the girl goes for a c-section that she knows will kill her.
What Binchy does with this story is phenomenal. She brings in some characters from many of her recent books and then proceeds to tell the story from multiple viewpoints without ever losing her way or losing the interest of the reader. She brings the characters so brilliantly to life, that you grow to care for all of them, even the nasty social worker who, haunted by her own past, yearns to take Frankie away from Noel. She serves as the flawed, sympathetic villain of the story. There are no misteps or sagging areas of this story. A truly excellent tale.
Not my favorite of Maeve's books, the story is a little too pat. Maybe they all are but in this one it seems to show.
I loved this story! Any Binchy fan will totally enjoy it!
Maybe I've lost my appetite for Maeve Binchy-haven't enjoyed one of her books in awhile now. I tried my best but couldn't get through this one. I hate to not finish a book I have started, but this is the second one of hers that I have had to abandon. Found the characters unappealing, just not good. Wish I liked it more.
Typical, pleasant Maeve Binchy book. She is not my favorite author, but she is dependable for a light, enjoyable read. I do sometimes feel like I need a scorecard to keep track of all her many characters...
When Noel learns that a former flame is terminally ill and pregnant with a child that she claims is his, he agrees to take care of the baby girl once she is born. A recovering alcoholic who is barely keeping his inner demons at bay, Noel is perhaps not the most promising of fathers but despite everything, he could well turn out to be Baby Frankie's best hope.
Luckily, Noel has a very close network of friends and family who are ready to help him raise Frankie. There is love-starved Lisa, who becomes his round-the-clock partner in little Frankie's care, his American cousin and pep-talker, Emily, as well as a host of eager babysitters from all around the close-knit Irish community of Jarlath Crescent, Dublin who are ready to step up and offer their services to Noel.
The unusual arrangement works out well for everyone concerned until a nosy social worker, Moira arrives. She is convinced that the best thing for Frankie is to be raised in a foster home and she has the power to make that happen. However, she has her own secrets to hide. Now the entire community of Jarlath Crescent must come together and prove to Moira that they each have something to offer in the raising of little Frankie.
I really, really enjoyed this book and found it to be extremely heartwarming and a true feel good story. I gave this book an A+! and happily put it away on my bookshelf. I will probably reread it in a couple of years time. I was very surprised to learn from her website that Maeve Binchy passed away on July 30, 2012 after a short illness. As I've probably said before, Maeve Binchy was one of my favorite authors and in my opinion, she will be sorely missed by readers all over the world. God bless you, Maeve. may your soul rest in peace.
Luckily, Noel has a very close network of friends and family who are ready to help him raise Frankie. There is love-starved Lisa, who becomes his round-the-clock partner in little Frankie's care, his American cousin and pep-talker, Emily, as well as a host of eager babysitters from all around the close-knit Irish community of Jarlath Crescent, Dublin who are ready to step up and offer their services to Noel.
The unusual arrangement works out well for everyone concerned until a nosy social worker, Moira arrives. She is convinced that the best thing for Frankie is to be raised in a foster home and she has the power to make that happen. However, she has her own secrets to hide. Now the entire community of Jarlath Crescent must come together and prove to Moira that they each have something to offer in the raising of little Frankie.
I really, really enjoyed this book and found it to be extremely heartwarming and a true feel good story. I gave this book an A+! and happily put it away on my bookshelf. I will probably reread it in a couple of years time. I was very surprised to learn from her website that Maeve Binchy passed away on July 30, 2012 after a short illness. As I've probably said before, Maeve Binchy was one of my favorite authors and in my opinion, she will be sorely missed by readers all over the world. God bless you, Maeve. may your soul rest in peace.
What an incredible story. I became involved in each and every character's life.
This was another fun and entertaining read from Maeve Binchy. It was another visit to so many wonderful characters from her other novels. This book is timeless and a classic that transcends time. I love her books and look forward to reading my next one.
A very pleasant happy read. quite enjoyable.
I am a fan of Binchy and she lives up to my expectations in this book. Thoroughly enjoyed and give it a 4 star rating.
per Amazon:When Noel learns that his terminally ill former flame is pregnant with his child, he reluctantly agrees to take care of the baby girl. Along with the help of a caring network of friends, family and neighbors But when a nosy social worker decides to get involved, she threatens to ruin their unconventional but special arrangement. It will be up to Noel to persuade her that everyone in the neighborhood has something to offer when it comes to minding Frankie.
per Amazon:When Noel learns that his terminally ill former flame is pregnant with his child, he reluctantly agrees to take care of the baby girl. Along with the help of a caring network of friends, family and neighbors But when a nosy social worker decides to get involved, she threatens to ruin their unconventional but special arrangement. It will be up to Noel to persuade her that everyone in the neighborhood has something to offer when it comes to minding Frankie.
good book
This was another fun and entertaining read from Maeve Binchy. It was another visit to so many wonderful characters from her other novels. This book is timeless and a classic that transcends time. I love her books and look forward to reading my next one.
Binchy's novel of a young Dublin man agreeing to take on the upbringing of a baby who may or may not be his own is as richly patterned as an Irish sweater -- the strands of a dozen or more lives cross and twine and appear to take off in different directions before ultimately coming back to be a part of the greater design. Picky readers might bridle at the way Everything Works Out in this little fantasy neighborhood, but it's a lovely and reassuring place to visit nonetheless.
