ABOUT THE BOOK:
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't want 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.
MY REVIEW:
Even though this book has been out quite awhile, I am just getting a chance read and finish it. I read it within just a couple of days. As I read, I was reminded of the years that I taught preschool the age of the child in the book. Some things rang true.
The book cover mentions that the NY Times found the book to be funny. I can't say that I agree with that statement. I read about a cultural of upper class people who see their children as possessions verses what they really are, beautiful human beings that are dying to have their parent's notice them. As I read, I shook my head at the audacity of the parents of this child. So not funny.
At the same time, I held "nanny" in praise as she navigates this little human around an impossible life and mourns for him as he will grow up and more than likely become like them.
This book should be an eye opener to people who take care of children but more importantly to parents that are supposed to be raising them. Yes, I know this is a supposedly fictitious book but it is based on a conglomerate of the authors' real lives.
In the end, it is not a surprise as the reader hopes it will be but, "nanny" did the right thing and left with head held high and loved him.
4 stars
Disclosure: I purchased this book for my own collections. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle
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