Release Date: November 10/2015
Acquired: Print copy sent by publisher
Goodreads: ADD
Purchase: Amazon/Indigo/Book Depository
Mitch Albom creates his most unforgettable character—Frankie Presto, the greatest guitarist ever to walk the earth—in this magical novel about the power of talent to change our lives.
In Mitch Albom's epic new novel, the voice of Music narrates the tale of its most beloved disciple, Frankie Presto, a Spanish war orphan raised by a blind music teacher. At nine years old, Frankie is sent to America in the bottom of a boat. His only possession is an old guitar and six magical strings.
But Frankie's talent is touched by the gods, and it weaves him through the musical landscape of the twentieth century, from classical to jazz to rock and roll. Along the way, Frankie influences many artists: he translates for Django Reinhardt, advises Little Richard, backs up Elvis Presley, and counsels Hank Williams.
Frankie elevates to a rock star himself, yet his gift becomes his burden, as he realizes that he can actually affect people's futures: his guitar strings turn blue whenever a life is altered. Overwhelmed by life, loss, and this power, he disappears for years, only to reemerge in a spectacular and mysterious farewell.
With its Forrest Gump–like journey through the music world, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is a classic in the making. A lifelong musician himself, Mitch Albom delivers an unforgettable story. "Everyone joins a band in this life," he observes, be it through music, family, friends, or lovers. And those connections change the world.
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Dear Mr. Mitch Albom, how do I love thee (And The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto)? Please, let me count the ways:1. You are a bottomless pit. And I mean that in the most endearing literary sense of the phrase. How you manage to consistently put out material that hits you square in the heart is beyond me-I don't think there is ONE published book of yours that didn't make me cry ugly tears. The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto was no exception.
2. Your narratives are intricate, without being repetitive and cliche. The way you wove actual musical legends into this storyline was fascinating, and worth every effort of research you surely endured. Frankie Presto was 100% real in my mind, I completely believed that he was that behind-the-scenes genius who managed to fly JUST under the radar.
3. You narrated this entire book through the perspective of Music. You made Music a living and breathing character. Music! It was unfathomable, and brave, and so incredibly successful in it's execution. The way Music claimed credit for the thousands upon thousands of talented people in our generation, and generations past, and those to come. The way Music didn't quite understand the human psyche, or motives, but when it came to the power of sound, of song, Music helped readers to understand exactly why it was so, and how it came to be. It was a deliriously clever concept Mr. Albom, bravo!
4. The way you hit us hard with those twists. Those delicious, heartbeat pausing revelation of truths. Frankie was linked to everything, and everyone, and the way you made that play out was nothing short of spectacular. Just when I thought you ran out of puzzle pieces, there you were, making another one connect perfectly with the others. I would say this is, by far, my favourite literary talent of yours: your ability to tie up loose ends like you were the creator of the idea.
5. The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto was not my most loved of your narratives, but it was definitely a testament of your immense talent as a writer. And not that it needed solidifying, but this novel drove home the fact that you are one of my most cherished authors, and will continue to be. This book was a message of hope, alike all the others, and there is no doubt in my mind that everyone, everywhere, will be made a little better by reading it.
Recommended for Fans of: Music, Instruments, Elvis, Magic Realism, Nicholas Sparks, Sarah Addison Allen.
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Mitch Albom is a bestselling novelist, a screen-writer, a playwright, and an award-winning journalist. He is the author of six consecutive number-one New York Times bestsellers and has sold more than thirty-four million copies of his books in forty-two languages worldwide. Tuesdays with Morrie, which spent four years atop the New York Times list, is the bestselling memoir of all time.
Albom has founded seven charities, including the first-ever full-time medical clinic for homeless children in America. He also operates an orphanage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He lives with his wife, Janine, in suburban Detroit.
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Thank-you to Trish from TLC Book Tours for hosting this tour, and to HarperCollins for sending me a print copy to review!
CLICK HERE to follow the rest of the tour
I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I haven't read any of Albom's books yet. With rave reviews like yours I know I'm missing out on some fantastic reads!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of the tour.
Albom makes me think that maybe my heart isn't quite as cold and dead as I sometimes think it is!
ReplyDelete