Portofino: A Novel (Calvin Becker Trilogy) [Paperback]

Frank Schaeffer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2004 | Series: Calvin Becker Trilogy

Calvin is the son of a missionary family, and their trip to Portofino is the highlight of his year. But even in the seductive Italian summer, the Beckers can't really relax. Calvin's father could slip into a Bad Mood and start hurling potted plants at any time. His mother has an embarrassing habit of trying to convert "pagans" on the beach. And his sister Janet has a ski sweater and a miniature Bible in her luggage, just in case the Russians invade and send them to Siberia. His dad says everything is part of God's plan. But this summer, Calvin has some plans of his own ... Portofino is the prequel to the noted trilogy that includes Zermatt. A huge bestseller, Portofino has been translated into seven languages.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wry coming of age tale ... splendid laugh-out loud moments."

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786713755
• ISBN-13: 978-0786713752
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars If you grew up fundamentalist and no longer are you can identify September 29, 2005

By Suzy Shepherd

Format:Paperback

Identifying with Calvin Becker in Portofino is easy for those who grew up fundamentalist, but are no longer in that particular camp. I recall a conversation with a cousin a couple of years ago which detailed the same kinds of experiences Calvin had. Since I grew up only half fundamentalist (mother was father wasn't) I was spared some of Calvin's angst, but was subjected to other types (my father was obviously among the "unsaved.")

I have appreciated Frank's work from the days when he was known as Franky. A lot of people associate his father with the sort of fundamentalist preacher that is portrayed in Portofino, but actually Francis Schaeffer encouraged his son to watch Fellini films and encouraged his forays into film making. Francis Schaeffer was outspoken against the list mentality in fundamentalism (see True Spirituality). It was Francis and Edith Schaeffer who encouraged many of my generation of fundamentalists to be more open to culture. I think that to assume that the Beckers are merely loosely fictionalized Schaeffer's is to not pay attention to things that Frank himself has written about his parents as well as things that Edith and Susan have revealed about the family. Francis Schaeffer once said that if we expect perfection or nothing we will get nothing. He would have hated a hagiography of his life. Towards the end of his life he was as distressed as his son at the direction that evangelical Christianity was moving in.

It certainly is amusing to see how Frank has taken his father's temper tantrums (documented by Edith) in which a flower pot routinely got thrown and encorporated it into the fictional character of Rev. Becker. I'm sure that there are pieces of his mother there as well (although I suspect that his maternal grandmother may be more to the point - since I never saw Edith in action I can't be certain of that). He even pokes fun at himself since he was a late reader.

Frank certainly got to see plenty of fundamentalist families like the Beckers as he was growing up. It certainly appears his mother grew up in one (his grandather wrote an empassioned tract on minced oaths - darn for damn was no better and also earned a mouth full of soap). His caricature of fundamentalism rings more true than a lot of people would suspect. However, Frank didn't grow up to reject Christianity. He found his way into a more historical form of Christian faith in the Greek Orthodox church.

Nearly every branch of Christianity (even I suspect the Orthodox) have pietists in their midst. Nearly every branch of Christianity has those believers who don't appreciate art, music, or literature that isn't explicitly proselytizing. Nearly every branch of Christianity also has believers who realize that art isn't necessarily about proselytizing. Much Ado About Nothing, Chaucer's Miller's Tale, Flannery O' Connor's Wise Blood, were all written by believing Christians, but they are all classed as great literature and are read with appreciation by people who don't share their author's faith.

You can read Portofino as a former fundamentalist and nod knowingly. You can read it as a non-believer and have it reinforce your ideas about fundamentalists. You can even read it as a fundamentalist and have it challenge your ideas about how to convey your faith to your kids and the world around you. The Beckers truly want to share their faith, they really do care about the lost. They simply have been handicapped by some of their subcultural baggage. Maybe what they really needed to do was go to L'Abri???

I think that people who have appreciated the Schaeffer's encouragement to reject the list mentality and appreciate good art will find Portofino an interesting read. I think those who simply found in Schaeffer an ally for their right wing politics (he actually wasn't as much of an ally as they think) and appreciated him for his strong stand for the Bible may find Portofino uncomfortable. But the people who find Portofino uncomfortable probably weren't happy that Francis Schaeffer was encouraging students from Christian colleges to view Satyricon back in the late 60's. Frank's work is not his father's, he isn't just a chip off the old block. But to see him as simply a son who has totally rejected his parents is to misread the situation, at least it seems so to me as I read Frank's work, Edith's work, and Susan's work.

In the final analysis Portofino is a wickedly funny book and a lovely look at an Italy that I would love to see (I suspect it is now covered with Golden Arches and Ben and Jerry's).

I'm looking forward to reading the last book in the trilogy and Frank's new military books.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncomfortably close to reality. December 4, 2008

By Belinda E. Few

Format:Paperback

I could say this about most of Frank's recent books. I have read everything Frank, or his father Francis, or his mother Edith have ever published. In addition I sold thousands of them; I am a former "Christian" bookseller. Reading Frank is like looking uncomfortably into a mirror of my life as a former evangelical. Fortunately this trilogy of novels helps me laugh in the midst of my tears. In fact, I do not recommend that you read these books in public (on a plane, in an airport or doctor's waiting room, for instance), for you might find yourself laughing uncontrollably and then pleading to the white coats as they pull you away. This is especially true of "Saving Grandma."

Although Frank's unabated anger shows through somewhat in these novels (not to the extent as in his non-fiction), here it is subjugated to his creation of superior art.

Do yourself a favor and read the entire trilogy.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Entering Calvin's World August 14, 2006

By Douglas M. Donahue Jr.

Format:Paperback

Portofino is the first book in the "Calvin Becker" Trilogy. Calvin is a young boy who lives in a classically 'disfunctional' family, ignored by his parents (Except for discipline!) and supposedly home schooled by his older sister, who uses her position to constantly ruin his life. Calvin spends every year eagerly anticipating the vacation in Portofino where he easily slips into a totally new life as a 'street urchin' who has developed friends in the local 'street'. (Local fishermen, merchants, shoe shiners, etc...) The highlight of the trip is hooking up with his only true friend, Jennifer, daughter of a stereotypically English couple who, for some reason, accept Calvin just the way he is.

I don't want to spoil the warm and funny narrative, but I do want to compliment Mr. Shaeffer on his wonderful descriptions of Portofino, and the ease with which he involves the reader into what turns out to be the summer experience we all had, or wished we all had, as children.

A wonderful story of the wide eyed education of a child who manages to escape from his screwey family for a few weeks in a beautiful setting.