The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 cover art

The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81

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The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81

By: J.B. Morrison
Narrated by: Julian Glover
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About this listen

Frank is eighty-one. He lives on his own, his daughter and her young family are living in America. He watches DVDs, keeps an eye on the neighbours, eats tinned spaghetti, and has a cat called Bill (which made more sense before Ben died). It was tough enough to fill the hours of the day when he was active. But Frank has just been run over by a milk float.

And then into his life comes Kelly Christmas, home help. Young enough not only to be his daughter but to be his daughter’s daughter, with her little blue car and appalling parking, her cheerful resilience and ability to laugh at his jokes, Kelly changes Frank’s life.

Can Frank raise the funds to continue to afford Kelly’s visits? Or is their time together about to run out, just when Frank had started to get used to it? And what on earth will Frank do without her?

Frank and Kelly’s story is sad and funny, moving, familiar, uplifting. It is a small and perfect look at a life neither remarkable nor disastrous, but completely extraordinary nonetheless. For fans of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry this is a quirky, life affirming story that has enormous appeal.

 Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Comedy Feel-Good Funny
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What made the experience of listening to The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick, Age 81 the most enjoyable?

I could identify the description of Frank's daily life as similar to my father's in his last years: the cold calls, the begging letters from charities with free pens, and the need to make a project of the smallest things.

Any additional comments?

The book was at times 'too' light: it lacked any real sense of drama or any change in the dynamics of the narrative.

Light but sometimes insightful

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The outline of this story is that the main character Frank Derrick is hit by a milk float which renders him immobile and his daughter pays for a home help to nurse him back to health.

JB Morrison's characterisation of Frank is spot on, as is the narration by Julian Glover. Its funny, thought provoking and sensitive, sometimes all at once. We probably know a Frank, we certainly know some of the other characters portrayed. The book deals with the loneliness and banality of being old with a character who feels his time isn't up, but is going through the motions.
Once I started this audiobook I couldn't stop, hence it only lasted about 3 days, it's a much better listen than his last book, purely because the character is likeable.
I would totally recommend this audiobook as its a great story a great listen and a great performance.

Brilliant listen

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This is a wonderful book, brilliantly read by Julian Glover. I love Frank and listened to this entire audiobook in just three 'sittings' (the first one lasting over four hours)! I can't wait to listen to Frank's next adventure. Highly recommended :)

Frank needs a fan club!

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I have fallen in love with this character! Thought provoking, sad but comical at the same time. Onto the next Frank adventure...

Excellent!

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I started off really enjoying this book and Julian Glover did a wonderful job of bringing the character of Frank Derrick to life.
I really liked Frank and had many laugh out loud moments and had great empathy with his situation of loneliness and isolation, as I’m in very similar circumstances myself, my husband having died and my children moved away. However, I stopped liking Frank so much when he started stealing from charity shops, unforgivable in my opinion, no matter what your reasons! Unfortunately, this spoiled the book for me otherwise I would have given it five stars.

Excellent Narration

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