Always on the periphery, looking on, young Frankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now old, Frankie finds it easier to forget the life that came before.
Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat, there to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years.
Travelling from post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger than life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where, for a while, life blazes with an intensity that can't last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie's past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable.
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Frankie by Graham Norton was published on 12 September 2024 by Coronet. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.
I was talking to a friend about this book and told her that I could easily read a book by Graham Norton every month. He writes so beautifully, his characterisation is exquisite and he does not shy away from dealing with the darker issues in life.
All too often, I hear people say that they refuse to read a book written by a 'celebrity' author. I really don't understand this stance. I'm not sure why anyone assumes that just because someone was well known for something else before they published a novel, then they cannot write. As far as I am aware, most novelists had other professions, some still do, yet are accepted as writers. I know of police officers, doctors, nurses, comedians, scientists who have all written fiction, I can't believe that anyone assumes that they are unable to write just because it wasn't their first profession. There, that's out of the way, had to be said!
Back to this wonderful book. It's a slim volume at just over 300 pages but my goodness, it is packed with drama and intensity. We meet lead character Frankie as an elderly woman who has recently had a fall. Despite her misgivings, her friend Nor has arranged for a carer to visit Frankie in her London flat. Just to make sure that she is OK. The carer is young, Irish gay man Damien; a man who has his own struggles in life. Frankie and Damien connect via their shared culture, they both originally come from County Cork, and it is not long before Frankie feels comfortable enough to share stories about her long life with him.
What a wonderful, full life Frankie has led, although she has never felt that way herself. She always felt a little on the edge. Overshadowed by Nor, and by her choice of partners through the years. However, she has left a legacy that will live on forever and as she regales Damien with her tales, we learn so much about her.
From her tragic childhood in Ireland, through a loveless marriage and then on to London, followed by the bright lights of New York. Frankie really found herself, she also found her crowd. She experienced hard times, she had many disappointments, but she also had huge successes.
Norton's handling of some of the darkest of issues, most especially the tragedy of the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s is outstanding. We learn to love the characters, we cry with them, we grieve for them. It is startling and sweeping.
Frankie is an utter triumph. I loved everything about it, from the detailed narrative to the warm and appealing characters, to the wonderfully described settings. Highly recommended.
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Graham Norton was born on April 4, 1963 in County Cork, Ireland.
He is an actor and writer, known for Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020), So Graham Norton (1998) and Soul (2020).
He has been married to Jono McLeod since July 10, 2022.
Instagram @grahnort
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