Minding Frankie In-depth With the Book Club

**************** SPOILER ALERT****************** 

If you haven't yet read Minding Frankie, don't read the following.  The story is discussed in great depth here as a summary of our book club meeting.

Tonight we discussed Minding Frankie as a book club. We were mixed in our feelings about the novel, as one didn't really care for it, another couple of individuals liked but didn't love the book and one loved it. Reading is like that and it is difficult to find a genre, let alone a book that everyone loves in the end.

We discussed the characters and how Maeve Binchy carries some forward from one book to the next with the focus changing from one family to another with each novel. In some ways, we found that a bit distracting as we weren't familiar with the other characters, though I have to admit Ms. Binchy does a good job of tying things together. One character, in particular, who really didn't have a role in the Minding Frankie except for a few brief paragraphs about her funeral, was Father Tim's mother. I realize it is difficult to build a story around every one of the individuals but for some "supporting cast" it just isn't plausible. Apparently Father Tim is in another novel and I wondered if, perhaps, this storyline was developed there. Another member had read the novel in question but didn't think Father Tim played a major role in it either. He's more of a supporting character.

Noel's past and what led him to alcoholism is a mystery to us. Perhaps some depression came into play? But that is a matter of opinion as we are never told much about his past, except that he had been a bit of a recluse and didn't care much about anything. Until Frankie came along, that is. At that point, Noel discovered life.

What do the very young and the very mature have to offer to each other? There are several instances where the young turn to the older generation, such as in the care of Frankie and how to handle things like teething. There are also instances when the younger generation contribute to the elder generations. Muttie was a beloved older man, married and diagnosed with cancer. The whole community that offered support to Noel in raising Frankie, also came to offer support to Muttie. He would be taken out to one of his favourite locales, a bar, to have a gentleman's night out, though his escort was not a drinker but did it because he knew the social aspect of the gathering would keep Muttie's spirits high. Meals were brought in, and favours given, all in support of this dear man.

One of the other members of the book club said, " This novel shows the young needing the older generation more, I think. I really liked that everyone kind of rallied together to help raise Frankie and mostly that all of them really seem to care about each other."

There is a true sense of family in this community as they support one another during crisis and good times alike. This is truly admirable and is one of my favourite things about this story.  It evidences that one does not have to be related by blood to be like family.

In discussion about relationships, we analyzed Lisa's relationship with Anton and each one of were in agreement that it was a bad relationship from the start. Some felt that Anton was a user and were dismayed that Lisa couldn't see this. Case in point: Lisa put endless hours into promotions and graphic design for Anton's restaurant but Anton never offered to pay her for her time. Lisa justified this by saying she always looked at it like she was doing it for the two of them. That she was helping to build their future together. Why did Lisa not recognize this relationship for what it was? One of the members said, " I think that there are lots of people who want to feel loved so much that they can ignore almost anything and that Lisa was one of them." P.S., how did Lisa continue to have means to live on when she quit her job to work with Anton?

Anton, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to Lisa's needs and unconcerned about the direction their relationship was headed. Anton says to Lisa, “I’m not the villain here, you know,” and she responds, “I know. That’s why I’m angry. I got it so wrong . . . ” (page 314) What does she mean? Lisa is finally seeing the light and we all cheer that she has. It's about time!! It was said, "Anton never tried to hide what he was, Lisa was just really good at not seeing it for the longest time.

None of us liked Moira. Sure we could understand the basis for her behaviour and concerns. She had a terrible upbringing which she thought could have been better had someone intervened on behalf of the children. She brings this prejudice forward, with a bias predetermined. We understand that, but we just couldn't like this character. "Obviously because of her upbringing, Moira doesn't want any child to suffer neglect and she's worried that will happen to Frankie because of Noel's disease. That being said, it still doesn't change the fact that I spent most of the book wanting to shake her," said one of the ladies in the group. To note, neither Emily nor Karen had ideal childhoods, but each had overcome the obstacles associated with their past and had moved forward to make better lives for themselves. Noel's ability to overcome the obstacles he had, as far as we know, put upon himself, is a ray of hope in this novel. Alcoholism is not an easy disease to overcome. It takes daily effort, but Noel proves that one can overcome and make a better life with the right support, desire and hard work.

All in all, most of us enjoyed Minding Frankie. When asked if any of us would read another Maeve Binchy novel, only one said she had no desire to. Next on my list of Maeve Binchy novels to read is Evening Class. A good friend recommended it and I trust that she won't be off the mark on this one either.

Book Review: Minding Frankie by Maeve Binchy

from Amazon.ca

Minding Frankie
Author:  Maeve Binchy
Copyright:  2010
Publisher:  The Orion Publishing Group Ltd.
Genre:  popular fiction
ISBN 978-1-4091-1397-3
Pages:  424
Source:  borrowed from a friend

`Minding Frankie is a story about unconventional families, relationships which aren't quite what they seem, and the child at the heart of eveyone's lives...."

My thoughts (spoiler alert):
A study in human nature, Maeve Binchy`s novel Minding Frankie introduces us to a young unwed mother-to-be, Stella, who lies in a hospital bed with the due date drawing near. Stella is terminal and she is about to bring into the world a little daughter; but in doing so, she knows it will mean the end of her own life.  Desperate that her daughter, Frankie, will have a home and secure childhood (p.40), she contacts Noel to inform him that the one night they shared resulted in this pregnancy and that he is the father.  Would he raise this little girl?

Though full of self-doubt and fighting the disease of alcoholism, Noel determines he will do just that.  He changes his life, attends AA, goes back to school, moves out of his parents` home and takes little Frankie in to his life and his heart.  A myriad of characters, some from previous Binchy novels, are cast here as friends and family and caregivers for Frankie.  Little Frankie draws everyone together, like a close-knit family, as the neighborhood pitches in to help Noel care for her. 

Moira, who had a terrible childhood which created the proverbial block on her shoulder, is the social worker on the scene.  She is determined to undermine the situation, to find fault and proof that Noel is unfit as a father.  She can`t see the contributions of the community as a whole, nor accept Noel as a fit parent.

``It was all too bitty, Moira thought: a flimsy, daisy chain of people, like the cast of a musical.  If one link blew away, everything could crash to the ground....She was watching with very sharp eyes for anything to go out of step." (p. 138)

 The community sets out to prove her wrong and in doing so, finds each member thereof changed for the better. 

Noel returns to school, enlisting loved ones and friends to assist with minding Frankie.  In doing so, he knows he will better be able to create a good and stable life for him and Frankie.  At his graduation ceremony he toasts family and friends, ``I think that, as the President said earlier, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our families and friends and that we three should raise a toast to you also.  Without you all, we wouldn't have been able to do this and have this great graduation day and feast.  To the families and friends."he said. (p.380)

This speech is in recognition not only of the support he had to continue his studies but a genuine thank you to all who made it possible by caring for the little girl for whom he sacrificed so much but gained exponentially.

This is a heartwarming and, at times, tearful story of love and unconventional families.  Binchy doesn't shy away from issues such as alcoholism nor does she make light of what it takes to raise a child.  We've heard it before and Minding Frankie reminds us, it takes a village to raise a child.

Rated 4/5

About the author:
Maeve Binchy was born in County Dublin and educated at the Holy Child convent in Killiney and at University College, Dublin.  After a spell as a teacher, she joined the Irish Times.  Her first novel, Light a Penny Candle, was published in 1982, and since then she has written many bestsellers.  Maeve Binchy was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the RNA in 2010.  She is married to the writer and broadcaster Gordon Snell.

I'm joining the Book Blogger Hop with href="http://www.crazy-for-books.com">Crazy for Books.  Come along to see who is participating this week.

Q: If you were given the chance to spend one day in a fictional world (from a book), which book would it be from and what would that place be?  I am having a difficult time thinking of a fictional world other than Narnia, from Chronicles of Narnia.  I think the charm of it is the talking animals and the union of the animals with the three children to fight for their world and freedom.  


Beyond fictional worlds, should I select a real life location to visit for a day (actually one day is certainly not enough) it would be Tuscany from Under the Tuscan Sun.  The piazza, Cortona, the sprawling fields of sunflowers and the towering cypress are all visually enticing to me but certainly don't minimize the draw of the food and the more laid back look at life in general.  This view is also mentioned in the book version of Letters to Juliet. These two books, which were made into movies, have given me a yearning for Italy and things Italiana.