Review of Can I Be Frank?
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Nicole Selebalo
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Review of Can I Be Frank?
[Following is a volunteer review of "Can I Be Frank?" by Rob Wyatt.]
Can I Be Frank by Rob Wyatt is a light-hearted novel about an English priest who relocates to a parish in America. While still learning to adapt to his new surroundings, he is quickly met with a situation that promises to test his faith and his morals. Not only must he overcome the culture shock, but he is faced with the hard decision of whether or not to go head to head with a giant that has been oppressing the town for years. Taking this Goliath on could jeopardize the parishes future, bringing his own career to a screeching halt. On the other hand, choosing to ignore the problem and save the church would go against everything he believes in.
Being a story about the journey of a priest, one would expect Can I Be Frank to be a serious and intense read. However, it is surprisingly packed with humour, making it light and easy to digest. Structurally, the novel is divided into short chapters, each focused on one scene, keeping the reader interested and never feeling lost. Rob Wyatt's sculpting of the characters is commendable. Each of the supporting characters is captivating, well-rounded and feels complete without taking any impact away from the main character. I appreciate that each character is a good representation of real people and human behaviour. The main character is also exceptionally built. Rob Wyatt uses the main character, Frank, to reveal the very human nature of church leaders. Every stereotype or misconception we once had about church leaders is challenged by this witty, young and rather clumsy priest who also happens to indulge in so-called worldy pleasures. This unexpected addition to the character makes the reader feel that they can relate better to the character. It brings a priest (Frank) closer to a congregate (the reader) and thus makes the reader want to read further.
While there is a lot to praise about this novel, some of Rob Wyatt's poor choices are hard to ignore. The author has too often relied on character conversations to present the events in the novel. Thus, the same scene appears many times over, only with different dialogue between the characters. This scene repitition is unnecessary and makes for a boring read. The plot loses realism when every problem finds a perfect solution. This fairytale unfolding of events makes the story difficult to relate to. The plot seems to take an abrupt turn from the story of a priest moving to a new parish across the globe, to suddenly being a mini crime drama exposing a corrupt, power hungry mogul. It almost feels like two novels squeezed into one. While the novel itself is not centered around religion or religious beliefs, the biblical scriptures at the start of each chapter are polarizing and might have the effect of diverting readers' focus from main theme and message of the book.
I rate this book 3 out of 4. Even though it reaches a plateau midway through, I still wanted to read to the end. Overall, it is a well-written piece with very few grammatical errors, which can honestly be overlooked.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking to have a laugh. People who enjoy happy endings will appreciate this book. If, however, you prefer to read with the aim of learning something new and profound, you will be highly disappointed.
******
Can I Be Frank?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Can I Be Frank by Rob Wyatt is a light-hearted novel about an English priest who relocates to a parish in America. While still learning to adapt to his new surroundings, he is quickly met with a situation that promises to test his faith and his morals. Not only must he overcome the culture shock, but he is faced with the hard decision of whether or not to go head to head with a giant that has been oppressing the town for years. Taking this Goliath on could jeopardize the parishes future, bringing his own career to a screeching halt. On the other hand, choosing to ignore the problem and save the church would go against everything he believes in.
Being a story about the journey of a priest, one would expect Can I Be Frank to be a serious and intense read. However, it is surprisingly packed with humour, making it light and easy to digest. Structurally, the novel is divided into short chapters, each focused on one scene, keeping the reader interested and never feeling lost. Rob Wyatt's sculpting of the characters is commendable. Each of the supporting characters is captivating, well-rounded and feels complete without taking any impact away from the main character. I appreciate that each character is a good representation of real people and human behaviour. The main character is also exceptionally built. Rob Wyatt uses the main character, Frank, to reveal the very human nature of church leaders. Every stereotype or misconception we once had about church leaders is challenged by this witty, young and rather clumsy priest who also happens to indulge in so-called worldy pleasures. This unexpected addition to the character makes the reader feel that they can relate better to the character. It brings a priest (Frank) closer to a congregate (the reader) and thus makes the reader want to read further.
While there is a lot to praise about this novel, some of Rob Wyatt's poor choices are hard to ignore. The author has too often relied on character conversations to present the events in the novel. Thus, the same scene appears many times over, only with different dialogue between the characters. This scene repitition is unnecessary and makes for a boring read. The plot loses realism when every problem finds a perfect solution. This fairytale unfolding of events makes the story difficult to relate to. The plot seems to take an abrupt turn from the story of a priest moving to a new parish across the globe, to suddenly being a mini crime drama exposing a corrupt, power hungry mogul. It almost feels like two novels squeezed into one. While the novel itself is not centered around religion or religious beliefs, the biblical scriptures at the start of each chapter are polarizing and might have the effect of diverting readers' focus from main theme and message of the book.
I rate this book 3 out of 4. Even though it reaches a plateau midway through, I still wanted to read to the end. Overall, it is a well-written piece with very few grammatical errors, which can honestly be overlooked.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking to have a laugh. People who enjoy happy endings will appreciate this book. If, however, you prefer to read with the aim of learning something new and profound, you will be highly disappointed.
******
Can I Be Frank?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Unlikely Cowboy by James E. Doucette
