When Franny Stands Up
A Novel
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3.6 • 7 Ratings
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Named a Best Book of the Month by Bustle and Buzzfeed!
Named one of the best books of 2022 by Chicago Reader and All About Romance!
As praised by Book Riot, Autostraddle, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and more!
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel meets A League of Their Own in this inspiring story Buzzfeed calls "a warm hug of a novel."
Franny Steinberg knows there’s powerful magic in laughter. She’s witnessed it. With the men of Chicago off fighting WWII on distant shores, Franny has watched the women of the city taking charge of the war effort. But amidst the war bond sales and factory shifts, something surprising has emerged, something Franny could never have expected. A new marvel that has women flocking to comedy clubs across the nation: the Showstopper.
When Franny steps into Chicago’s Blue Moon comedy club, she realizes the power of a Showstopper—that specific magic sparked when an audience laughs so hard, they are momentarily transformed. And while each comedian’s Showstopper is different, they all have one thing in common: they only work on women.
After a traumatic flashback propels her onstage in a torn bridesmaid dress, Franny discovers her own Showstopper is something new. And suddenly she has the power to change everything…for herself, for her audience, and for the people who may need it most.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Robins's smart and nuanced debut, a stand-up comedian draws inspiration from her pain in 1940s Chicago. After Franny Steinberg catches a female comic's set at the Blue Moon comedy club, she wants nothing more than to launch a stand-up career of her own. But that's a lofty goal in postwar Chicago, where she's expected to get married and have children. After fits and starts, Franny transforms into stand-up comedian Peggy Blake, determined to find humor in her brother's trauma as a POW during WWII and her own rape by a close family friend: "My twenty-first birthday, a family friend decided to make a woman out of me.... He had his finger blown off in the war—and by the end of the night, I wished he had lost... a different appendage. Sadly, they don't call him Peter for nothing." Robins overlays her convincing illustration of mid-century social repression of women with a stirring portrayal of Franny, who succeeds because of her willingness to speak frankly about taboo subjects. Supporting characters, especially fellow comics Hal and Boopsie, add texture. Readers will fall in love with this one.
Customer Reviews
Funny, historical and magical
Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
When Franny Stands Up by Eden Robins is a debut historical novel that made me laugh, but, it’s so much more than just a comedy. It’s emotional, inspirational, and very unique. It has humor, and a bit of magical realism along with emotion, trauma, and found family.
Story Recap:
Franny Steinberg lives with her parents and older brother in a suburb of Chicago, a wealthy area of mostly Catholic families. The Steinbergs, a quiet Jewish Family, live in a strong Catholic neighborhood. One evening, Franny goes to the Blue Moon Club where she witnesses female comedians and experiences a “Showstopper”, a joke told so well that it gives the listener a sense of euphoria. A Showstopper only works on women, and only when told by a woman.
When Franny suffers a traumatic event at her friend's wedding, she escapes to the Blue Moon Club, and she goes onstage and discovers she has her own Showstopper. And that power can change her life. But will it?
My Thoughts:
When Franny Stands up was a very different story. I expected a romantic comedy but instead got a beautiful story about friends, found family, discrimination, personal trauma and so much more.
The humor was a bit hit or miss for me, and I think this is partially due to the time period of the story. What we found humorous in the early 1950s, doesn’t always translate well to modern times. What I did enjoy was the banter and humor of the friends and characters of the Blue Moon when they were off stage, their friendship and love for each other was the highlight of the story.
The book also tackles many of the issues of the day. First is Franny’s desire to tell jokes at a nightclub. That is certainly not a job for a proper woman of the time. Also, the book looks at discrimination and segregation and the effects of WWII. Leon, Franny’s older brother goes away to the war and comes back a shell of the boy who left.
When Franny Stands Up was a very unique, funny, and enjoyable read. This story will stay with me for a while.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend When Franny Stands Up to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.