have always had a category of books that I call my “comfort books” (kind of like comfort foods).  Maeve Binchy’s books are in this category.  She always has a cast of characters that have their faults, but you end up rooting for them and wishing them the best.  This book is set in a Dublin neighborhood that has a real sense of community (perhaps much like Queen Anne) where neighbors care about one another and help each other out.  Noel Lynch is a young man who has been somewhat directionless and is trying to overcome his alcohol addiction.  He finds out that he has fathered a child with a woman who is dying.  He did not even know she was pregnant and barely remembered sleeping with her!  She wants him to raise the baby, because she knows deep down he is a decent “sort.” He is taken totally by surprise and is not in the least bit prepared to take over raising Frankie on his own, but the family, friends, neighbors all pitch in to make it work.  Yes, it is a bit predictable, but sometimes that is just fine.  I would not want that in all the books that I read, but every once in awhile I like to have an uncomplicated, restore-your-faith-in-the-goodness-of-people type of book and Minding Frankie fits the bill quite nicely. ~Cindy

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