The Nanny Diaries

I gripe about the local public library, but it has generously filled my greedy hands with books lately, including The Nanny Diaries. (I gripe about the library for all sorts of reasons, including having one of their people who is supposed to help visitors use the computers tell me "I don't use computers" as an explanation when he realizes he is losing the discussion where I explain why I want to use a wheel mouse or click the quick-launch icon instead of the one on the desktop after he has tried to talk me out of both. But mostly the library is forever my buddy, and the local one has improved 1000% over the past nine years that I've lived here.)

The Nanny Diaries is/was immensely popular, so I expect you've heard of it. I'd heard of it, but it didn't go on the shortlist until my friend Chris recommended. Chris is the one who steered me to finally read Anne of Green Gables and Harry Potter -- I'm ashamed anyone had to convince me of either, but they did, and she did, and the rest of my days will be happy because of it. And all I ever gave this woman back was a nudge to read Maeve Binchy, which she did, and she enjoyed, because that's how agreeable and cool she is.

Anyway, Chris liked TND, and I liked it, too, at least while I was reading. Afterwards it was much easier to nit-pick. What the heck was up with her and the Harvard guy? (Did they really sleep together after only a few elevator exchanges? When did the romance ever develop?) When did she get a job for the next year? What happened to the $800 and why did it sound like she repaid the money but then it didn't? Why did some of it sound like it was trying to stick to the plausible (no big face-to-face speeches) and, in doing so, come across as completely implausible (no big face-to-face speeches)? Why were we given so much detail about some things, but other things were thrown in later as if we ought to know (like about her new job)?

If this had been a real work of fiction, the supporting cast would have been more fully fleshed out. If this had been a real work of non-fiction, the plot could have been abandoned in favour of vignettes attached by a slender thread.

But, I liked it. And I like to think it was mostly true, which made it even more fun. Perfect vacation book, and I am on vacation, as all school districts are closed until next week (no chance of postings or interviews), and grad school doesn't start for another threeish weeks. It's not all fluffy page-turners, though -- I'm still helping dismantle the office.

That should be a post in itself. Anyone want to buy kites, televisions, PCs, photocopiers, laser printers, desks, ATMs, every kind of banking equipment part imaginable, modems, routers, misc important ISP hardware that I don't know the names of, motherboards, cards, wireless antennae, dried floral arrangements, potpourri dishes, envelopes, envelopes, envelopes, and possibly some really nice furniture and who knows what else?

(Well, some of it may be kept for the building's next incarnation, and we're not done sorting the goodies from the endless half-empty Cheetoh bags [I'll explain later] but if you're interested...)