The Nanny Diaries

By: Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus

Narrated by: Julia Roberts

Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

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 Xes' 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 important, 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.

The Nanny Diaries deftly skewers the manner in which America's overprivileged raise les petites overprivileged - as if grooming them for a Best in Show competition. Written by two former nannies, this alternately comic and poignant satire punctures the glamour of Manhattan's upper class.

©2002 Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (P)2002 Random House Inc., Random House Audio, a Division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

• Romantic Times Award Winner - Best Chick Lit Novel, 2002

"The Nanny Diaries is diabolically funny...vastly entertaining...perfectly pitched social satire." (New York Times)

A Nice Surprise. By a man...

I downloaded this book for my wife and ended up listening to it completely. As a parent I loved it, but the rich snotty class wont enjoy this book. If your a person who hires a nanny and treats them like this go read the comics. But if your a working class person its a good book to listen to and you wont wonder anymore why rich kids often grow up so messed up.

enjoyable

light and fun, nice for daily commute

Nanny diary

As a mother of a 5yr and coming from a middle income family, this book was wonderful. It has everything that i like in a good book or movie. Laughter,excitement,scandal,family,and of course tears... I wish the ending was better, but still a 4 star review...

Very entertaining

I hated to see it end.
Thought Julia Roberts did a fine job of narrating. Particular liked her transition to "Grover".
Mr and particularly Mrs X needed a swift kick.

This was good

I liked the narator (Julia Roberts)and the story was a good listen.

Depressing

There is not enough humor in this book to be considered satire. It comes off as resentful and depressing. The whole nanny situation seems a sad state of affairs.

Great Story, but narration drones

The story is very fun, but Julia Roberts doesn't quite read it in any sort of believable way. It sounds like she is just rushing through it. Hardly any inflection. The story rings true of New York society and it's hilarious. Worth getting, but maybe you should read it.

A glimpse of the ultra rich

I really enjoyed this book. The portrayal of Mr. and Mrs. X, the extreme of superficial, makes one think about what is important in life. The over-the-top description of their life in comparison to that of the nanny and her charge is sad and yet thought provoking.

Very much worth the time.

I wasn't sure what I was buying but was very pleased with the purchase. It was a very well written work, humorously exposing a sad fact of life for many "well off" families in America. There is nothing better than real life experience retold and recast in a humorous but yet loosely factual manner. I thought it was great!
HINT: make it into a movie and have Julia Roberts play the lead.

I love Julia Roberts in movies, but...

I didn't see The Nanny Diaries unabridged, and bought this version because so many reviewers liked, even loved, the reading by Julia Roberts. I don't understand why. Her voice was a distraction. She reads too fast with a tone of disdain as if she personally disapproved of the story. She sounded more like Mrs. X than the narrator. Kathe Mazur, who reads the unabridged Nanny Diaries, is far more convincing as Nanny. The book is probably a four or even a five, but Julia Roberts's reading brings it down to a two.