Publisher: Pan Macmillan.
Release Date: June 5, 2014.
Source: Review copy.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
Purchase: Amazon UK | Amazon
Frank Derrick is eighty-one. And he's just been run over by a milk float.
It was tough enough to fill the hours of the day when he was active. But now he's broken his arm and fractured his foot, it looks set to be a very long few weeks ahead. Frank lives with his cat Bill (which made more sense before Ben died) in the typically British town of Fullwind-on-Sea. He watches DVDs, spends his money frivolously at the local charity shop and desperately tries to avoid cold callers continually knocking on his door.
Then a breath of fresh air comes into his life in the form of Kelly Christmas, home help. With her little blue car and appalling parking, her cheerful resilience and ability to laugh at his jokes, Kelly changes Frank's extra ordinary life. She reminds him that there is a world beyond the four walls of his flat and that adventures, however small, come to people of all ages.
Frank Derrick, as I’m sure you can work out from the title of the book, is 81 years old and has just been run over by a milk float. Seriously.
You would imagine, being 81 and injured, there’s probably very little you can do and definitely not enough to warrant a near 300 page novel. Yet it’s Frank Derrick’s attitude to life which brings this book its charm and The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 is a witty, moving and wonderful story.
Frank is an endearingly brilliant character. He was a lonely character and I couldn’t help but share his joy upon his Monday morning visits from Kelly Christmas, the home help hired by his daughter. I loved seeing his relationship grow with Kelly, in particular their visit to the beach and then Frank’s exploits when the twelve week period of her visits was coming to an end.
His relationships with Smelly John and the other little star of this book, his cat Bill, were also highlights of the novel for me. As was virtually every other moment like Frank’s regular trips to the charity shop and the nicknames he gave everyone. There really wasn’t anything to dislike about this book and it was so well written, from the humorous to the sadder parts.
It made me appreciate my family members a whole lot more because I wouldn’t want to think of any of them becoming lonely like Frank as they grow older. The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 was touching, charming, funny and yet sad all at the same time. It’s a refreshingly told story of an older person’s life and a brilliant read.
This sounds like a wonderful book! I loved reading your review!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's a brill book.
DeleteSounds a lovely poignant story, nice review!
ReplyDeleteThanks Linsday! I think you'd enjoy it :)
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