. We follow the passive aggressive exploits of a 21-year-old NYU student, Nanny, as she nannies the 4-year-old child (Grayer) of a wealthy, unlovable Park Avenue couple, the X's.While most of the reviews that I've read praise McLaughlin and Kraus for their unflinching portrayal of vacuous wealthy Manhattanites who view their children as little more than pampered accessories, I found myself utterly loathing Nanny by the end of the novel, though I'm supposed to sympathize with her plight.
Nanny is the ultimate example of a passive aggressive drama queen, unable to set reasonable boundaries for her time but willing to blame everyone else for the resulting strife. When her employer, Mrs. X, starts making unreasonable demands of Nanny's time, Nanny aquiesces like an obedient puppy and then bitches to her friends and family about what a tyrant her boss can be. She is passively annoyed and affronted by the way Mrs. X treats her, but rather than confronting Mrs. X and setting down reasonable definitions of her responsibility as a nanny, she remains passive and holds her tongue. Well behaved women never changed the course of history...indeed.
I know so many young women like Nan, so many people who will subjugate their own feelings and demands while quietly allowing their resentment to fester. It's a retarded way to live life and by the end of this novel, I was overwhelmed with irritation and sadness. If Nan wanted to be treated well, she should have demanded it from the very beginning. You can't let your dog piss on the carpet for a year and then decide overnight that you want his behavior to change because it's inconvenient or unacceptable.
I suppose this might make for good airplane reading. I wouldn't say it's a book that you HAVE to read, but it's amusing and if you're in the mood to scorn the wealthy, perhaps a bit satisfying.
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