Review of Can I Be Frank?

Amina Yusuf · Post by **Amina Yusuf** » 25 Nov 2021, 06:30

[Following is a volunteer review of "Can I Be Frank?" by Rob Wyatt.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Father Francis, an English priest, was offered his first parish in the Diocese of Central Florida. On his arrival at Orlando International Airport, going through US Customs did not go as smoothly as he expected. He was kept waiting, accused of not having the proper papers, and interrogated by US immigration. By the time he was picked up at the airport, he was miserable, tired, and hungry. On his first day at the parish, Francis woke up with a hangover coupled with uncertainties regarding his chosen career.

Can I Be Frank?, written by Rob Wyatt, is the first book in the Father Frank series. It is a heartwarming and funny story about Father Francis Gold, a young Catholic priest, who travelled to the United States to take up a post, as the new parish priest of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Palmetto Lake, Florida. Francis, who preferred to be called Frank, was not prepared for the challenges that came with his new position. First, he nearly messed up his first midday Mass at the parish. Second, he got distracted by an attractive woman even before the commencement of Mass. Third, he felt intimidated by Gene Charmois, a major benefactor of the church who does not take no for an answer. Not long after, Father Francis had a confrontation with Gene, which set off a series of events he did not see coming.

My favorite aspect of this book was the protagonist, Father Francis. I liked the character development in the story. The characters were well-developed and relatable. I was really drawn to the story of Father Francis. He was a funny and loving character. Although he was a priest, he was seriously lagging behind putting his training into practice. I thoroughly enjoyed his sense of humor and the way he used it to downplay his doubts regarding his career. There was also a strong female presence in the story. Martha and Ginny, gave the plot a feminine appeal and a bit of romance too. The other minor characters were also interesting and made the story more entertaining and enlightening.

The plot was captivating and full of suspense. The story was laid out in an easy manner that was understandable. The author demonstrated a style of writing that was both descriptive and engrossing. He also brought his experience of being an Englishman abroad and his work in different ministries to the story. It was narrated in the first person perspective by Father Francis. Each chapter started with a verse from the Bible. The plot has some unexpected surprises that held me engaged throughout the story.

There was nothing I disliked about the book. It was a delight to read from the beginning to the end of the story. It was a well-written story that incorporates themes of humor, leadership, friendship, sympathy, and family. I look forward to reading the second book in the series. There was one instance of mild profanity, which would probably not be offensive to some readers. There was no violence or sexual content in the book. Since the story is about a priest, there were church activities in the book, which makes it more appropriate for Christians. However, it would also be enjoyed by readers of other religion or non-religion.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was beautifully written and professionally edited. I did note a few typos while reading it. However, these were not in any way distracting to my enjoyment of the story. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy religious dramas, Christian books, and suspense with a little bit of romance.

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Can I Be Frank?
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Oyedeji Funmilayo · Post by **Oyedeji Funmilayo** » 25 Jun 2022, 17:48

Father Francis really went through a lot. I hope to read the book and see how he pulled through. You did well with the review, welldone!!!

Mr Excellence · Post by **Mr Excellence** » 02 Sep 2022, 14:17

Poor Father Francis! I hope he gets the best out of life.
Wonderful review.

Post by **Shillah Andeso** » 02 Sep 2022, 23:24

Many people face temptations like those of Father Francis. I would love to know how he tackles this issues. Your review is well written. Thanks for the recommendation.

Margi zuu202 · Post by **Margi zuu202** » 03 Sep 2022, 00:44

This humorous novel following father a Young catholic priest to his parish in America he is not sure what to expect but certainly isn't prepared for what he finds.. good reviews

Margi zuu202 · Post by **Margi zuu202** » 03 Sep 2022, 06:12

Goodreads

Amina Yusuf · Post by **Amina Yusuf** » 04 Oct 2022, 01:52

Oyedeji Funmilayo wrote: ↑25 Jun 2022, 17:48 Father Francis really went through a lot. I hope to read the book and see how he pulled through. You did well with the review, welldone!!!

Yes, please. You will definitely enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by.

Amina Yusuf · Post by **Amina Yusuf** » 04 Oct 2022, 01:56

Mr Excellence wrote: ↑02 Sep 2022, 14:17 Poor Father Francis! I hope he gets the best out of life.
Wonderful review.

I hope you will read this entertaining and fun read. Thank you

Amina Yusuf · Post by **Amina Yusuf** » 04 Oct 2022, 02:00

Shillah Andeso wrote: ↑02 Sep 2022, 23:24 Many people face temptations like those of Father Francis. I would love to know how he tackles this issues. Your review is well written. Thanks for the recommendation.

I hope you get to read this amazing book. Thank you for stopping by.

Amina Yusuf · Post by **Amina Yusuf** » 04 Oct 2022, 02:02

Margi zuu202 wrote: ↑03 Sep 2022, 00:44 This humorous novel following father a Young catholic priest to his parish in America he is not sure what to expect but certainly isn't prepared for what he finds.. good reviews

Definitely one of the themes I enjoyed when reading this book is the humor. Thank you for stopping by.