Synopsis: Maeve Binchy explains the background to Minding Frankie

‘I have always been very interested in how childhood forms what we are in later life. I was a big, jolly, happy child, surrounded by people who told me that I was the best girl in the world – which I believed totally and remained all these things seventy years later. So I decided to write about a child who is accidentally born into a confused situation. Minding Frankie is a story about unconventional families, and relationships, and people who are all doing their best – although sometimes it doesn’t seem like it. There’s a fair amount of heartbreak in the story but also a lot of humour’.

Noel and Lisa are among the most supportive parents at the nursery school. Never late to pick up their little girl, always patient and delighted to see her at the end of the day. But in fact neither of them are Frankie’s parents. They have no blood relationship to her at all. They are there first because of a promise, and they stayed because Frankie had become a life-line to them both. She was the only reason their lives stayed on track and because of her they found the strength to fight their demons.

The problem was keeping this secret from the eyes and ears of the social workers. If it were known that Noel was an alcoholic and Lisa a serious fantasist Frankie would not remain another day in their care. And yet if she were taken away, lives would be destroyed.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Minding-Frankie-Maeve-Binchy/

Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict
Maeve Binchy is a sublime storyteller, and with Minding Frankie you are captured from the very first page until the final poignant last sentence. Her characters are always well drawn and this book is no exception, you are taken inside their lives and relationships. If you are looking for a book for a very satisfying weekend, or autumn read, this is absolutely perfect! Highly Recommended!