Book Review: Loving Frank

Nancy Horan's Loving Frank is my book club's selection for August-we're meeting tomorrow. I don't usually say too much about my book club reads on here because I like to save it for the discussions at our meet up. I will say a few things however!

I have picked this book up many times at the book store to read the back cover (yes I do that!!) since it came out in 2007, only to put it back down again. In a nutshell, Loving Frank is MamahBorthwick's story of her extramarital affair with the infamous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. I have always had a hard time reading (or watching movies) about affairs or cheating. I have not cheated, nor to the best of my knowledge have I been cheated on. I do not say this to say I'm better than people who have- I say it because I 'm not sure why then, does reading about cheating, in fictional characters, or those with whom I have no personal connection, do I feel such strong, and at times visceral reactions to these events? I think it must come down to how I value trust, honesty, and loyalty, and cheating is the ultimate betrayal.

Although cheating is not the only theme (and I know others will argue it is not even close to the main theme), Loving Frank also examines feminism, duty and obligation, love, and personal freedoms, I could not connect with the story or the characters in any way. To put it bluntly, I did not enjoy this book, or the time I spent reading it. As always, I look forward to discussing this book in my book club as I always leave with a different appreciation for the books we discuss-I hope the same can be said for Loving Frank.