Thanks, Amy! Several years ago, Amy, my youngest sister, urged me to read Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, which tells the story of Morrie Schwartz, who was a college professor of the author. I read it, and like many others, was incredibly touched by the book. It is, I've learned recently, the bestselling memoir of all time.
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is the story of a very talented singer and guitarist. The book begins by noting the death of the main character, Francisco de Asisi Pascual Presto, known as Frankie Presto, who was born in Spain in the city of Villareal in 1936. The novel goes back and forth in time to tell the story of Frankie's life, and the lives he changed with his music and his six blue strings. The story is told by various narrators, including real musicians and singers such as Darlene Love, Roger McGuinn (the Byrds), Paul Stanley (KISS), Tony Bennett, and Wynton Marsalis, and by the most essential and prevalent narrator, Music. It's a bold way to present the story, using the voice of Music, but it works because Mitch Albom is such a talented and creative writer (I also learned that he's a talented, lifelong musician himself).
"All humans are musical. Why else would the Lord give you a beating heart?"
"Here is what I know of love. It changes the way you treat me. I feel it in your hands. Your fingers. Your compositions. The sudden rush of peppy phrases, major sevenths, melody lines that resolve neatly and sweetly, like a valentine tucked in an envelope."
~ The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, Mitch Albom
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto makes numerous wonderful statements about music (please note that the quotations above may change, as they are not from the final edition of the book). Music is certainly one of life's great pleasures as far as I'm concerned. The older I get, the more I appreciate (many different kinds of) music. When I listen to music, I feel it deeply.
In addition to the music in this book, there's a wonderful love story, between Frankie and Aurora York, and there is more magic as well, sprinkled throughout the pages. And there are many "little touches" in this book that I enjoyed a great deal, such as a "cameo appearance" by Hank Williams (I adore his music).
Like his other books, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto reminds us and inspires us to live with passion and purpose, and to love deeply. Although it's fiction, there's some true history in this book, and many musicians and musical events, such as Woodstock, are depicted, in a realistic manner. The author met with many of the musician "characters" in this book, and the result is an imaginative yet believable, thoroughly entertaining novel. I LOVED this book!
Special thanks to Trish from TLC for including me on this tour. For more reviews of this book, please visit the other stops on TLC's blog tour for The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto. Thanks for reading! Your comments are welcomed.
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