Review: The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary: 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'twant 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.  Written by two former nannies, The Nanny Diaries deftly punctures the glamour of Manhattan's upper class.

Characters: Uh, I think I listened to the abridged version because Harvard Hottie never appeared.  So, I wonder how much of the story I missed. Stupid CD didn't even list the story's duration! Anyway, Nan is a fantastic nanny. Not only does she raise little Greyer who is ever so cute, but she deals with that witch Mrs. X.  Her thoughts are smart and funny, depicting the wealthy housewives in a sardonic light.  Very entertaining.  You'll want to give Mr. and Mrs. X a nice slap in the face because they are terrible, terrible parents.  I don't understand why people who care more about themselves have children.  I'm no parent, so I guess my opinion doesn't count for much, and I can expect the hate to come flooding in.

Plot: I had seen the movie before I started, so I wasn't shocked about anything, not like chick lit is very heavy on the plot.  It's realistic and fun.

Sequel: Nanny Returns takes place when Greyer is a teen and Nan is married to H. H.  I know the ratings are a bit low on goodreads for all of Emma and Nicola's books, but I still want to read them all.  The ladies are super sweet, and their books are so light and easy to read.

Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, I thought this book was pretty funny with a lovable narrator and child.  There is something special about it, thus so many have read it.

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