Minding Frankie

By: Maeve Binchy

Narrated by: Sile Bermingham

Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Maeve Binchy is back with a tale of joy, heartbreak and hope, about a motherless girl collectively raised by a close-knit Dublin community.

When Noel learns that his terminally ill former flame is pregnant with his child, he agrees to take guardianship of the baby girl once she's born. But as a single father battling demons of his own, Noel can't do it alone.

Fortunately, he has a competent, caring network of friends, family and neighbors: Lisa, his unlucky-in-love classmate, who moves in with him to help him care for little Frankie around the clock; his American cousin, Emily, always there with a pep talk; the newly retired Dr. Hat, with more time on his hands than he knows what to do with; Dr. Declan and Fiona and their baby son, Frankie's first friend; and many eager babysitters, including old friends Signora and Aidan and Frankie's doting grandparents, Josie and Charles.

But not everyone is pleased with the unconventional arrangement, especially a nosy social worker, Moira, who is convinced that Frankie would be better off in a foster home. Now it's up to Noel to persuade her that everyone in town has something special to offer when it comes to minding Frankie.

©2011 Maeve Binchy (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

“Binchy is a national treasure in her homeland of Ireland, and her latest novel is a perfect illustration of why.…Your heart will have no trouble recognizing the landscape [of this] touching saga.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Reading a Maeve Binchy novel is like settling in for a cozy visit with an old friend. In vintage Binchy style, a cast of colorfully eccentric characters living in a snug Dublin neighborhood seamlessly weave in and out of each other’s lives, united by family, faith, friendship and community....Readers will need a box of tissues handy as the good-hearted residents of St. Jarlath’s Crescent prove that it does indeed take a ‘village to raise a child.’” (Margaret Flanagan, Booklist)

exceptional! wonderful story & characters

Loved it and will recommend it to all; dear to the heart, sincerely best work!

Great Book - Poor Performance

What did you love best about Minding Frankie?

I love the story. It is typical Maeve Binchy which is always wonderful! The characters are well developed and I love that they interlace with other books, so as you read one after the other, you learn more and more about the other people in other favorite books.

Would you be willing to try another one of Sile Bermingham’s performances?

Absolutely not!

Any additional comments?

I loved this story - but it iwas with gritted teeth that I made it through the performance. When staying with the Scottish accent the narrator was fine - but when moving to the other accents it ranged from annoying (American accent) to completely awful (Aussie accent) While I will snatch up every one of Maeve Binchy's books that I have the chance - I will forego the audible version if narrated by Ms. Bermingham.

I love Meave and her amazing cast of characters 💖

I love every book Meave ever wrote. I'm a huge fan and fall in love with her fabulous cast of characters every time 🥰

Top Notch Binchy

If you are a fan, this is yet another fine example of her craft. At all times Maeve is optimistic. I listen because I know there will be the best ending there can be. She does not shrink from the hard fact of modern life but if there is a positive spin, it will be there. Thank you Maeve for continuing the stories of an Ireland we wish we could visit and people we would love to meet.

This is the good stuff.

Minding Frankie is a wonderful read, filled with Maeve Binchy's signature characters - there is no way not to love them.

Might have been better in print...

I am a longtime Maeve Binchy fan, but I couldn't finish listening to this. The narrator was utterly distracting. Even while reading passages of dialogue from characters expressing clear delight, she sounded depressed. When she gave the young Australian man an upspeak, I turned it off for good. (Why did she do that? Does she consider that to be an integral part of the Aussie accent? I couldn't tell if it was an attempt at character development or just a jab at Australians.)

The book itself was classic Binchy, with solid character development that leaves you constantly wondering what the characters are up to when you're not with them, and loads of characters from other books, a treat for those of us familiar with her work and hungry for an update from old friends. Although it's become a bit formulaic, I will continue to be a fan of her books - in print.

How Life can Be Lived

This book is a bright and balanced view of life depending on individual choices. It’s depiction of what AA is and how it works is excellent. The realities of the struggles in codependent relationships, addiction recovery and what it takes to rise above a difficult upbringing are very well portrayed. A lot to learn here while on a well written rollicking good ride - which Maeve Binchy always provides. The reader is also tops. It’s been great to be back in Ireland.

Charming and Engaging

Maeve Binchy's gifts are her excellent eye and ear for character. Each of the people in this engaging novel is finely drawn and believable. Binchy makes the reader care about them and their lives. I particularly enjoyed the character of Emily, the American cousin who seems to have a knack for untangling other people's messes. Her ingenious and practical tactics are a pleasure to consider. The action in this story revolves around relationships and feelings. I listened to this book as I was driving, and it made me eager to get back into the car. My few minor quibbles involve a somewhat inaccurate description of a baby's development (she is speaking in two-word sentences before her first birthday) and the lack of foundation for the romance Emily eventually finds, but overall this was a charming book that I enjoyed immensely.

decent story but...

Where does Minding Frankie rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I was annoyed by the narrator.. She had a horrible lisp and I found it so annoying. If I hadn't paid for the book and liked Binchey so much I wouldn't have finished it. I didn't love the characters the way I did in some of her other books. Maybe I am just getting bored with this author. She had been one of my favorites but this book is not. I would recommend trying some of her others rather than this one.

How could the performance have been better?

Speech therapy! Seriously, I hated this narrator. Binche's daughter I believe narrated some of her other books and she was far superior.

More fine reading

Really hooked on maeve binchey. This one Carries on with cast of old characters and new ones. Nicely told as always