Thursday, July 3, 2008

"The Nanny Diaries" Weaves a Wonderful Story.. Very Believable!

SYNOPIS from B&N.com:

Based on the real-life experiences, the inside story on the real lives of the rich and privileged from the women who know all the secrets - the nannies.

The Nanny Diaries deftly skewers the manner in which America's over-privileged raises les petites - as if grooming them for a Best of Show competition. A poignant satire, it punctures the glamor of Manhattan's upper class to tackle head-on the truer state of backstairs Park Avenue.

Struggling to graduate from NYU and afford her microscopic apartment, Nanny takes a job caring for the only son of the wealthy X family. She rapidly learns the insane amount of juggling involved in ensuring that a Park Avenue wife who doesn't work, cook, clean, or raise her own child has a smooth day.

When the X's marriage begins to disintegrate, Nanny's nearly impossible mission becomes maintaining the mental health of their four-year-old, her own integrity, and most importantly, her sense of humor. Over nine tense months Mrs X and Nanny perform the age old dance of decorum and power as they test the limits of modern-day servitude.


I bought the book after watching the movie, which I loved. This is sometimes a mistake. However, The Nanny Diaries hits 'outstanding' either way-- in the book or movie. I suggest you do both, does not really matter the order. But since this review is on the book itself, lets go with the book first, okay? ;)

It took me a while to pick it out of my TBR pile, simply because I wanted to read romances, not chick lit for the longest time. But when I grabbed it Wednesday morning, I had it almost finished by the time I turned in that same night (Only missed finishing it by about 40 pages, but I was so tired from work that day that I finally just left it at that and finished it early this morning.) But from page one, I was hooked, and quickly reeled in, only being let go at the very end.

Knowing the way money and power can get to a person *thought yes, I know, not all people* it's not surprising that Mrs. X and her friends act the way they do. And it was not hard to imagine the same things that happened in the book to happen in some rich family's town house in New York. Emma and Nicola provide an amazing story that weaves both previous experiences and a touch of fiction together flawlessly, leaving you believe you are still reading a 'fiction' book and not an almost autobiography. The story combines chick lit, a touch of romance, a heavy does of love (As in the love that Grayer and Nanny have for each other.) and more than sprinkle of reality-- the perfect recipe for a perfectly witty book. The must read book for any woman to read, just right for an easy and fun beach read!

5/5 stars. The Nanny Diaries is the best 'chick lit' type book that I have ever read, sure to become a great 'classic' for women to read at the beach, at home, with friends, or even for a book club. (Well, you know what I mean!) Don't miss this book-- and the movie is very good too.***If slightly different during some parts from the book***

Until next time... Read plenty, laugh often, love unconditionally, and live each day to it's fullest!

~TBQ~

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