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The Nanny Diaries

A Novel

By Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus

(118)

| Paperback | 9780312291631

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Book Description

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 famiContinue

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.

When the Xs marriage begins to disintegrate, Nanny ends up involved way beyond the bounds of human decency or good taste. Her tenure with the X family becomes a nearly impossible mission to maintain the mental health of their four-year-old, her own integrity and, most importantly, her sense of humor. Over nine tense months, Mrs. X and Nanny perform the age-old dance of decorum and power as they test the limits of modern-day servitude.

Critics

  • The Nanny Diaries

    The Nanny Diaries The authors have both been actual nannies, and while they are careful to include a disclaimer at the front of the book that all the people portrayed are fictional, I'm sure that the family and the events portrayed are a distillation ... (read full critics)

    likesbooks published on Tue, 31 Aug 2010

12 Reviews

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  • 1 person find this helpful

    *** This comment contains spoilers! ***

    I saw the movie in the "second-round" movie theater, and I surprisely find the movie is not the simple comedy that I originally assume. The interesting depicts not only the lifestyle of nowadays white-collar but also the bitterness of the blue-collar. I can totally understand the pathetic situaion t ... (continue)

    I saw the movie in the "second-round" movie theater, and I surprisely find the movie is not the simple comedy that I originally assume. The interesting depicts not only the lifestyle of nowadays white-collar but also the bitterness of the blue-collar. I can totally understand the pathetic situaion that was thrilled by the selfish employer. On the other hand, I am also concern if my future family life will be similar to the weird family in the novel. How to strike a balance among career, family, health will be a vital issue to me.

    Since the movie is very interesting, after seeing the movie, i immediately went to elite bookstore to buy the novel.

    However, the novel is different from the plots of the movie. Moreover, the vocabrary of the novel is numerous.... it depresses my interests of reading the book, so i only read a few pages.

    Is this helpful?

    Luckyboyoh said on Apr 25, 2008 | Add your feedback

  • Similar to the Shopaholic series - fun to read filled with humors.
    A good read for long-haul flight.

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    Angelamaris said on Mar 30, 2011 | Add your feedback

  • *** This comment contains spoilers! ***

    I read it before the movie came out

    And the movie (with Scarlett Johansson) was even worse, even if it had an happy ending, while the book did not.

    Do not let you fool by the cover: this is not your regular Mary Poppins-happy ending story.

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    La bouquineuse said on Dec 6, 2010 | Add your feedback

  • I enjoyed this more than I expected to! It is actually rather funny, though sure in real life a Nanny would not put up with being treated in such a way! Would they?

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    Lindyloumac said on Dec 4, 2009 | Add your feedback

  • The most impressive phrase from this book is when the nanny said that "just remember that someday his unconditional love for you will end and then it will be too late."

    Nanny and mother would naturally have different points of view. Nanny is the caregiver on short term basis, of course, they ... (continue)

    The most impressive phrase from this book is when the nanny said that "just remember that someday his unconditional love for you will end and then it will be too late."

    Nanny and mother would naturally have different points of view. Nanny is the caregiver on short term basis, of course, they would do anything as long as the end results meets. (give candy to the boys/girls as long as they would follow order) Mother is different.

    When you are a nanny, you can take a break from this but when you are the mother, the only time you could break away from your child is the day you die.

    Is this helpful?

    Mangafish said on Nov 14, 2009 | Add your feedback

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9780312291631 Paperback $13.95 $11.92 bn.com
$13.95 $11.43 The Book Depository
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