Frankie

The pleasing latest from talk show host Norton (after Forever Home) traces an Irishwoman’s circuitous journey toward self-fulfillment. Frankie Howe, an 84-year-old West Londoner, tells her life story to her young caretaker, with whom she bonds over hailing from the same part of Cork. Her story begins in 1950 when, at 10, her parents die in a freak accident and she’s sent to live with religious relatives, who marry her off to a man named Canon Frost. Naive and unhappy with her neglectful and philandering husband, she’s spied kissing another man and renounced by Canon after word gets back to him. She flees to London in 1960, where a childhood friend takes her in and introduces her to mercurial theater producer Van Everdeen, who hires Frankie as her secretary. During a trip with Van to New York, Frankie loses her job and return ticket thanks to Van’s temper, then lucks into a new romance and builds a life there, eventually becoming a chef at a French restaurant. Troubles ensue as the narrative extends to the AIDS epidemic, which plays a role in Frankie’s eventual return to London. Norton’s character work is top notch as Frankie perseveres through one challenge after another. Readers will be glad to go along for the ride. Agent: Melanie Rockcliffe, YMU. (Jan.)