The book begins with the
protagonist Francis Dempsey who doesn’t believe in God and spends most of the
time in church during mass just day dreaming. His father who is a devout catholic
nudges him to listen to the whole church service. He doesn’t understand how the
tiny round wafer is possibly the body of Christ and the bottle of Mosaic Cyprus
Sherry his blood. And if it were why people would want to drink it? He finds
the term “good Friday” a misnomer especially since they ban all forms of
pleasure during Easter. He looks at the picture of Christ and wonders how we
know he looks like that yet none of the gospels contain a reference of exactly what
he looked like. He reckons the praises that are heaped on Jesus sound like
groveling and sycophancy.
]
He finds kneeling beside a wardrobe telling a strange
man your innermost secrets strange. He has problems with wrapping his head around the notion of papal infallibility. Anyone who is curious about the catholic church will find this book useful and informative. Having gone to a catholic high school myself I was able to understand some of the things we did in church back then. He questions everything about the church
but doesn’t dare saying it openly, if anything he feels guilty for entertaining
such thoughts. He there is a higher power but admits he has trouble believing
some things he is taught in church. He argues that the Catholic Church should
have stuck to using Latin in during mass as it made it more spiritual; it put
the ‘Roman’ back into Roman catholic. He thinks that the Catholic Church
started declining when they started doing mass in English and because some
meaning got lost in translation some of the things started to sound meaningless
to the faithful..
He failed in high school and
gets a D, E and O in that order in the 3 subjects that he did. He finds this
funny especially since DEO means “God” in Latin and he doesn’t believe in
him. After high school he works as a Dj and enjoys it immensely although it is
not seen as a real job in his family. He knows sooner or later he has to get a
“real job”. As the plot develops, through a series of very interesting events
he gets a chance to go study theology in Oxford University. His date with Mandy
Wheeler, the–most-beautiful-girl-in-north-west-London, is disastrous and he
decides that if he can’t find Mandy attractive then he might as well become a
priest. Those who know him well like his sister are skeptical whether he will
able to survive priesthood, especially the part about celibacy!
Contrary to the people’s
opinion, Francis leaves behind his over-active sex life, he finds fulfillment
as a priest helping people despite the fact that he still doesn’t believe in
God. He goes by the title “Father Frank” which is the title of the book. He
genuinely loves people and enjoys helping around in the parish. The
congregation too loves him and he manages to rally the community together and
give the whole neighbor hood a pleasant change.
The whole book is funny
following his antics in the London parish, which reminds me of Whoopie
Goldberg’s character in SISTER ACT. He drives a taxi, which one parishioner
left for him in his will, to raise money for his parish. He tries to open a
packet of Kit Kat without making any sound while listening to people’s
confessions. He uses thick knitting needless to play the drums using old boxes
in his office. The thoughts that go through his head when talking to his parishioners
are hilarious. He manages to get away with not believing in God and no one
finds this out until much later in the book.
His love of music develops
into a habit of going to peoples houses and collecting records under the guise
of wanting to sell them to raise money for the church. His taste in music is eclectic
as seen by his collection of a wide array of records from rock n roll, Motown,
funk, punk and rap. The writer mentions famous singers like the beetles, Marvin
gaye,Elvis presely, Isley brothers, Dusty springfield, Donny Hathaway, Sinatra,
Simply red, Jim reeves, Michael Bolton, Light house family and James brown.
There others that I’m not au fait with like, Brenda Shine, Billy paul, William De
Vaughans, Clarence carter, Sandy Nelson, The surfaris, Tom Jones, the valentine
brothers, Human league, Rod stewart and the faces, Cozy powell, Levi Stubb, Roy
Orbinson, The drifters, Leo sayer, Charllie Rich, led Zeppelin, Genesis, Harry
Belafonte, Dean Martin, The Pogues, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Kevin Johnson, Brian
Protheroe, Meltorme, The Omens, Faron Young, Ella Fitzgerald, Engelbert
Humperdick and Sam and dave. Father frank reckons ‘ A quick examination of
musical taste was an almost fool proof guide to somebody’s character’. This is
the second book that I have read this year to make the same observation (I
wonder what my taste in music says about me?)
As a Dj he knew how to
bring the people together and have fun. He also knew how to sense people’s
moods which helped him in church too to deliver the appropriate sermon. This
makes him a darling to all the parishioners that he serves. Everything is going well
until he lovely Sarah Marshall steps into his black taxi a Suzuki X7 then his life starts to turn upside down. His inner
and outer turmoil begins which forces him to make another life altering decision.
This book is hilarious and any one should read it, no matter their religious
persuasion.
p.s. Don’t worry it has a
very happy ending.
What do Catholic priests have over Baptist pastors
or Anglican vicars that make them so popular with writers of fiction? In a
word: celibacy.
-Greg spearritt-
