Review by DecoDaisy1925 -- Can I Be Frank? by Rob Wyatt
Posted: 21 Oct 2018, 17:13
[Following is a volunteer review of "Can I Be Frank?" by Rob Wyatt.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Father Francis (but please, call him Frank) is an endearingly accident-prone English clergyman transplanted to Florida to lead his first parish. Frank is ill-prepared to navigate his new environment, which includes suffocating heat, obvious flirtations from a married woman, and a local tyrant, who happens to be a major benefactor of the parish. When Frank unintentionally upsets this manipulative mogul, his new world threatens to come crashing down. With the help of a few unlikely heroes, Frank hopes to rectify his rectory.
Rob Wyatt writes Can I Be Frank? with wit, snark, and a hefty dose of church references and similes. Each chapter begins with a short Bible verse that acts as a sort of comical preface to the story. Wyatt has a knack for description and personifies things in a way that’s almost Dickensian. Part of the humor centers on the differences between terminology in British and American English, but sometimes it’s taken a bit too far (quick research told me that there isn’t a “more American” term for “escalator”), and Frank’s overwhelming surprise and confusion makes him look ultra-sheltered and naive.
I found Frank to be a charming character who is trying to find his way in this new world, and above all, wants to Do A Good Job. However, I could see some readers finding his nearly constant injuries tiring. He can’t even receive surprising news without falling out of a chair. Frank is as accident-prone as they come, and he fluctuates between showing clear-headed leadership skills and facing bumps, bruises, bites, and probable concussions. (The progression of injuries reminded me of The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle, which was a young adult Christian book series of largely slapstick humor.) The humorous writing was strong enough without these additions. For instance, the inclusion of Frank’s fervent prayers for help out of his predicaments offer funny pauses from the plot.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and rate it 3 out of 4 stars. A few things in the novel could have been tightened up. There were a few minor cases of words missing and punctuation that should have been changed. In the story, there are some unnecessarily extreme reactions from characters - a few characters are so offended by Frank’s conspicuous car that it’s like the vehicle is causing them physical pain. (Frank also calls another person excitedly speaking another language an “incomprehensible nightmare.”) Frank and his parish administrator, Martha, sometimes say things at the same time, which feels a little campy. And sometimes characterizations aren’t entirely consistent and a character says or does something that doesn’t quite fit within the image that the reader has built.
However, the plot moves quickly and keeps the reader engaged. It’s a lighthearted and enjoyable story with unexpected plot twists, great for a casual read with a few chuckles. Frank is an endearing catastrophe-magnet worth rooting for, and I would definitely read another novel about his next adventure.
******
Can I Be Frank?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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3 out of 4 stars
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Father Francis (but please, call him Frank) is an endearingly accident-prone English clergyman transplanted to Florida to lead his first parish. Frank is ill-prepared to navigate his new environment, which includes suffocating heat, obvious flirtations from a married woman, and a local tyrant, who happens to be a major benefactor of the parish. When Frank unintentionally upsets this manipulative mogul, his new world threatens to come crashing down. With the help of a few unlikely heroes, Frank hopes to rectify his rectory.
Rob Wyatt writes Can I Be Frank? with wit, snark, and a hefty dose of church references and similes. Each chapter begins with a short Bible verse that acts as a sort of comical preface to the story. Wyatt has a knack for description and personifies things in a way that’s almost Dickensian. Part of the humor centers on the differences between terminology in British and American English, but sometimes it’s taken a bit too far (quick research told me that there isn’t a “more American” term for “escalator”), and Frank’s overwhelming surprise and confusion makes him look ultra-sheltered and naive.
I found Frank to be a charming character who is trying to find his way in this new world, and above all, wants to Do A Good Job. However, I could see some readers finding his nearly constant injuries tiring. He can’t even receive surprising news without falling out of a chair. Frank is as accident-prone as they come, and he fluctuates between showing clear-headed leadership skills and facing bumps, bruises, bites, and probable concussions. (The progression of injuries reminded me of The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle, which was a young adult Christian book series of largely slapstick humor.) The humorous writing was strong enough without these additions. For instance, the inclusion of Frank’s fervent prayers for help out of his predicaments offer funny pauses from the plot.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel and rate it 3 out of 4 stars. A few things in the novel could have been tightened up. There were a few minor cases of words missing and punctuation that should have been changed. In the story, there are some unnecessarily extreme reactions from characters - a few characters are so offended by Frank’s conspicuous car that it’s like the vehicle is causing them physical pain. (Frank also calls another person excitedly speaking another language an “incomprehensible nightmare.”) Frank and his parish administrator, Martha, sometimes say things at the same time, which feels a little campy. And sometimes characterizations aren’t entirely consistent and a character says or does something that doesn’t quite fit within the image that the reader has built.
However, the plot moves quickly and keeps the reader engaged. It’s a lighthearted and enjoyable story with unexpected plot twists, great for a casual read with a few chuckles. Frank is an endearing catastrophe-magnet worth rooting for, and I would definitely read another novel about his next adventure.
******
Can I Be Frank?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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