Book Vs. Movie is a feature that I started here on Ali's Bookshelf. I hope you all enjoy it!...
Book Vs. Movie: The Nanny Diaries Edition
First off let me start by saying, I enjoyed reading this book and watching this movie. But, yes I said but, I actually enjoyed the movie more than the book! Shocking isn't it. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book, but to me it was a bit long winded and I thought the nanny could have handled things a lot differently!
Title: The Nanny Diaries
Author: Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Date Published: March 18th 2003
Pages: 306 pages
ISBN #: 0312291639
Buy This: Amazon
Wanted:
One young woman to take care of four-year-old boy. Must be cheerful, enthusiastic and selfless—bordering on masochistic. Must relish sixteen-hour shifts with a deliberately nap-deprived preschooler. Must love getting thrown up on, literally and figuratively, by everyone in his family. Must enjoy the delicious anticipation of ridiculously erratic pay. Mostly, must love being treated like fungus found growing out of employers Hermès bag. Those who take it personally need not apply.
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 Xs 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 importantly, 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.
Review: The Book
The book to me seemed a bit long winded and like I said above I really was pulling for the Nanny to step up and do what she seriously should have done in the beginning. But when she didn't that was a total let down for me. I enjoyed reading this book, don't get me wrong, but there was just to much going on in the book and it took you away from the plot sometimes. It felt like there should have been some parts that could have been cut out and it would have been better!
I read this book for a book club I am part of and it wasn't a bad read, but not what I thought it would be. I really did enjoy the writing of this story, it is very descriptive and at times very funny. I think my favorite part of this book would have to be the Halloween party at Mr. X's work. It is a funny chapter.
All in all it wasn't a bad read, but it just didn't hit it out of the park for me.
Review: The Movie
As for the movie, I really enjoyed watching the movie. Scarlet Johansson is a great actress and she portrayed the Nanny perfectly. And so did the actress that played Mrs. X! Would I watch this movie again...YES I probably would. They picked the perfect scenes from the book and put them in the movie. It is a bit different though. My Favorite part in the book is changed a bit in the movie, but it still works.
My Rating:
Book rating:
Plot: 18/20
Characters: 16/20
Writing: 15/20
Creativity: 17/20
Ending: 6/10
Cover: 10/10
Movie Rating:
I can't believe I'm really saying this but I really enjoyed the Movie more than the book. There I said it!
If you've read The Nanny Diaries or seen the movie, feel free to chime in here, leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Did I give the book the right rating? I would love to hear from you on the subject of The Nanny Diaries Book vs Movie.
