He’s articulate, smart, creative and a great dresser. He is sometimes aloof and boorish as well, which some see as part of his charm while others find it exasperating. One thing is for sure though; he touches your heart in so many ways. He sounds like the perfect man save for one problem, he’s only nine years old. I would like to introduce you to Frank Banning, the main character in Julie Claiborne Johnson’s book Be Frank With Me. Think Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory meets F. Scott Fitzgerald; infuriating to say the least but intriguing none the less.
Solitary literary legend M.M. (Mimi) Banning has been secluded in her Bel Air mansion for years. But, after falling for a Ponzi type scheme she is all out of money. Now Mimi must write a new book for the first time in years, and to ensure the book’s timely completion, her New York publisher sends along an “assistant” to monitor her progress. Mimi reluctantly agrees with stipulations: “No Ivy leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane.” Enter Alice Whitley. Who arrives at the Banning mansion and is put to work right away as a companion for Frank. As she gets to know Frank, Alice becomes obsessed with finding out who his father is, how the good-looking, itinerate gardener fits into the picture and whether irritable Mimi will ever finish her book.
Full of intelligence and wonder, this book enters the world of an eccentric writer and her even more eccentric son and the woman who is unreservedly pulled into their memorable world. If you liked The Rosie Project, this book is for you. With similar main characters and story development both books are charming in their own way. This novel moves along effortlessly and the prose is easy to read. While not particularly literary, I am of the opinion that all books don’t have to be. More often than not, a quick page-turner is the answer. I give Be Frank With Me a 3.9/5.
