Title: The Nanny Diaries
Authors: Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: February 6, 2007
Pages: 306
My Edition: Paperback
Reading Level: Adult
Where I got it: YWCA Book sale
Summary from Barnes & Noble:
Wanted: One young woman to take care of four-year-old boy. Must be cheerful, enthusiastic and selfless—bordering on masochistic. Must relish sixteen-hour shifts with a deliberately nap-deprived preschooler. Must love getting thrown up on, literally and figuratively, by everyone in his family. Must enjoy the delicious anticipation of ridiculously erratic pay. Mostly, must love being treated like fungus found growing out of employers Hermès bag. Those who take it personally need not apply.
Who wouldn’t want this job? Struggling to graduate from NYU and afford her microscopic studio apartment, Nanny takes a position caring for the only son of the wealthy X family. She rapidly learns the insane amount of juggling involved to ensure that a Park Avenue wife who doesn’t work, cook, clean, or raise her own child has a smooth day.
When the Xs marriage begins to disintegrate, Nanny ends up involved way beyond the bounds of human decency or good taste. Her tenure with the X family becomes a nearly impossible mission to maintain 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.
Review:
Nanny Diaries was the funny but horrible account of a college girl at NYU who takes on the job as a nanny for a Park Avenue family. Once you read about how she lands the nanny job, you will go on to find out about all the terrible things she goes through for just ten bucks an hour and not even paid on time. I never understand why rich families hire nannies when the mother doesn't work and just plans events and complains all day long. Basically, that describes Mrs. X. The writing was so good, and I really started to hate her after fifty pages. She was so rude and mean, and never paid attention to her son unless it was convenient for her. By the middle of the book, Mr. X starts cheating on his wife which leads to a lot of trouble for the family.
I really liked the relationship between the son, Grayer and Nanny. I thought Grayer was a little bit of a brat at times, but it was only because of his parents. Other than that, he was a little sweetie who really cared for Nanny. I loved the nickname Nanny gave him, Grover...so cute. Also, I really liked Nanny and Harvard Hottie aka H.H. together because they sounded perfect for each other. I also loved the ending! Nanny finds the nanny cam and rants on and on about everything she had to go through. I thought it was pretty funny, but it was pretty sad that she had to leave Grayer. He really cared for her, and they went through so much together.
Even though I did like a lot of things about the book, there were some things I didn't like. One thing I didn't like about Nanny Diaries were the names; I didn't like that the main character's name was Nanny or that she worked for the family called 'X'. I thought they were just unoriginal and kind of boring. Plus, at times the story did get a tad boring and a little repetitive. Other than that I enjoyed it a lot, and I'm excited to read the sequel, Nanny Returns, which takes place 12 years later.
There also is a movie based off the book. I watched it last year, and from what I remember it's a little different. I thought it was good, but like the book it was boring at times. I really liked the actors in the movie for Nanny and Grayer also. If you read the book I recommend watching the movie, and if you haven't read the book I recommend you do!
