Review of Can I Be Frank?

Winnrich · Post by **Winnrich** » 07 Jan 2022, 05:04

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

4 out of 4 stars

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Can I be Frank? is an interesting comical story written by Rob Wyatt. It tells the story of a young English Catholic priest's journey to his first parish in the USA. Father Francis Gold, the protagonist of the story who would rather be referred to as Frank, is all thrilled and headed to what would be his first parish after taking his vow of chastity. A church that so happens to be named after none other than, Saint Francis of Assissi, a twist that raises expectations he wasn't sure he could live up to.

Upon his arrival, Frank gives off an impression of being a clumsy and unusual guy, who might just as well be doing anything but being a priest. From his cluelessness at the airport, to forgetting to prepare a homily for his first service, to not seeming to be able to go a day without raising brows, one would wonder what business he had being a priest. However, Frank's career decision is more or less, a practical one and he just simply wants to help. Although, he later finds out that the process of helping turns out not to be so simple after all.

After a run-in with a wealthy, domineering parishioner, a bully who practically "runs" the town; the church not being an exemption, Frank is at risk of losing his public image as well as his congregation. Caught between the decision to stand for what he believes is right and keeping his head down and not stirring trouble, it soon becomes apparent that his seminary training hadn't prepared him for everything he would face as a priest.

Can I be Frank? is an excellent read filled with abundant elements of humour. In the novel, the author presents quite a number of unexpected situations. These situations are usually presented as ordinary circumstances gone wrong related by the protagonist himself. The protagonist seems to be a master of falling into difficult situations and coming out just as quickly.

As amusing as the story is, embedded within are a lot of important lessons and food for thought. It covers various aspects of human relations and emotions such as compassion, reliance, integrity, corruption, rivalry and teamwork. The story makes us realise that priests aren't as dull as they are usually perceived to be. It serves as an eye-opener to their humanity; to the fact that they can joke, be cool, hurt, happy, sad, make mistakes and in some cases even be clueless and feel lost, just like any other human.

All through the book, the author has maintained a perfect tempo in order to maintain interest in the story. I particularly found the idea of using citations from the bible at the beginning of each chapter, to give readers a hint of what the chapter would be like, absolutely laudable. The author also did a fantastic job of presenting Frank's character as someone who, while timid and soft-spoken, could nevertheless, stand up for what he believed in.

In conclusion, the storyline is absolutely lovely and is conveyed in a style that is easy to relate to, having a flow which I found natural and easy to follow. The book has also been properly edited and I found absolutely nothing to complain about while reading. For it's content and overall structure, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I totally recommend it to fans of humorous stories which also delve into serious matters concerning life.

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Can I Be Frank?
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Oyedele Tomijane · Post by **Oyedele Tomijane** » 11 Jan 2022, 15:19

I attended a Catholic Church for six years, and I adored our priest. However, I've never thought of them as humans. After all, how can someone so holy be a mere mortal? I'd like to read this book to better understand them from a human standpoint. Your review is lovely. Thank you for your time and effort.

Uniquekemmie · Post by **Uniquekemmie** » 11 Jan 2022, 20:24

I love how this book corrects the impression that Priests are some sort of "immortal" or "perfect" beings who are not prone to mistakes. I also love how the author addresses important aspects of human life, but doesn't fail to lighten things up by bringing in some humor. I'll love to read this book. Thank you for a wonderful review.