Review by THarveyReadALot -- Can I Be Frank? by Rob Wyatt

[THarveyReadALot]

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

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3 out of 4 stars

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This story, Can I Be Frank? was fun to read. It has a lot of funny and/or upbeat moments, and some serious moments, but the fun moments outnumber the serious ones.
      
The story tells of the adventure of a young Catholic Priest who goes to America to temporarily take the position of a priest in a Parish in Florida. He goes through U.S. Customs in the Orlando International Airport with some food in his carry-on bag, which leaves the contents of his bag a little messy, to say the least. One of his bags gets ‘chewed up’ on an escalator. The Vicar who picks him up at the airport proceeds to take him to the Vicarage, with music blaring on the car’s stereo system, and they can hardly talk over the music. More funny things happen throughout the story. 

I liked the display of a Scripture verse at the beginning of each chapter; it made me wonder what was going to happen in that particular chapter, and how the verse might relate or pertain to that part of the story. 

There are some interesting situations in the story: Father Francis, who wants to be called Frank but his friends aren’t ‘catching on’ to his preference, gets bit by some bugs, and then has to somehow get the right medical help, even though he doesn’t want to say where on his anatomy the bite is. Frank also had a ‘falling out’ with a rich contributor to his Catholic parish. The Church, Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, through Frank and his friends, also helps some Mexicans in a big, satisfying way. A Fall Festival is planned and carried out, with help from some friends of Father Francis, two of whom weren’t even parishioners in his church.

Can I Be Frank? is a good, entertaining story, telling people some good things about the Catholic church, that is, their frequent observance of Mass and Holy Communion. 

There was one phrase, and one sentence, that I really didn’t appreciate, especially since the story is about a priest: ‘to get the hell out of there’, and ‘“Yes, hell, Goddamn it!”’ I spat, unable to keep the pent-up anger inside my head any longer.’ I think the author should have, or could have, found a better way for Father Francis, or Frank, to express himself. Those people that are sensitive to negative speech, like Christians, shouldn’t have to read those words, especially in a story intended to be lighthearted and humorous. It did have some editorial errors, so I can only rate it at 3 out of 4.

Despite the bad language near the beginning, it is an entertaining story. I encourage you to find a copy of it and check it out for yourself. Enjoy.
  

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Can I Be Frank?
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