I loved this book! I loved Music as the narrator and the insights provided about muses and talent.
I haven't played an instrument since my teens and have forgotten even the basics of reading music and the terms, but that definitely didn't hinder my understanding of the book. If anything it's made me want to pick up an instrument again!
Frankie Presto may be made up, but his story is an amalgamation of stories of celebrities in the music world and that makes him very real. There's also a little magic involved, as with most talents. It's beautifully written and well thought out and I loved it from start to finish.

Another absolute belter from the fantastic Mitch Album. Seriously, other authors should take a leaf out of his book…. Literally!! He doesn't throw them out once or twice a year. He takes time, finds a subject and puts everything into it that any reader could ever want.
The story of Frankie Presto is by far one of the best books I have read in a long time. Its a story within a life time, within fear and worry while letting the reader guess what will be next. The characters are so life like you actually question if your reading or actually know these people. The book keeps you coming back for more at every turn of the page and every twist. You can't put the books down but don't want the story to end.
Cant recommend this book enough as I would with most of Mitch Albom books… every one needs to pick up a Mitch Album book and try it…. you will be hooked.

While this was an interesting read, I can't say it ever completely grabbed me by the short and curlies and gave me what I normally expect of an Albom novel. I guess the main drag was my taste in music didn't gel with that of this book, which can snidely be reduced to a rock 'n' roll Forrest Gump. The musical side of things and the Spanish elements all seemed to be a bit forcedly put on things, and a whole host of contrivances meant there was a lot less room for the majestic 'spirituality' of his usual unusual stories. Another problem was that it was way too long, and the timeline jumping forward and backwards – to the extent the ending was the main character learning something we knew hundreds of pages beforehand – didn't provide the usual page-turning flow. It's not a bad book (it does have Albom's name on it, for one thing) but it's nowhere near as great as those of his I've read before now.

Mitch Ablom's books often read like fairy tales or allegories rather than realistic narratives and this is no different. The concept of Music as narrator is wonderful, and made for a lyrical, sometimes heartbreaking story. It's incredibly beautiful.

Born during the Spanish Civil War, Frankie Presto has lived a long and varied life. A virtuoso musician from a young age Frankie has seen some success professionally and also some success personally. Frankie has seemed to live a charmed life and at his funeral the great and the good want to pay tribute. What was Frankie's secret? Some say tales, some say luck and some relate it to his special guitar with its unusual strings.

This book was a complete joy from start to finish. Frankie Presto is a musical Zelig as he moves through time and genre, encountering many well-known names. The touch of fey comes from the magic strings of the title and there is a redemptive quality to the action. This could be read as a simple fantasy biography but the book is so much more. I loved the slightly fairy tale quality of the writing and the plot is light yet profound touching on huge historical / social issues with a gently context.

3D-frankie-e1439344972792The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto starts off a little slowly as the narrator gets themself established. Considering that the narrator is music itself, this isn't an easy task but it does make for a little of a slow burn. If anyone can pull it off, it's Albom whose previous successes give him some leeway.

It's like when JK Rowling spent pages and pages describing all the departments in the Ministry of Magic describing everything. It didn't progress the storyline but by that point, no one was censoring her. Frankie Presto is a much shorter story than any Harry Potter could be, however.

Music, our narrator, is at the funeral of one of its beloved musicians, one of, if not the best one that there has been, Frankie Presto. A Spanish documentary is being made about Presto and the story cuts back and forth from Frankie's childhood to his end. The book is full of cameos from all sorts of famous people such as Lyle Lovett, Duke Ellington, and Wynton Marsalis who either provide their best story or featuring in Frankie's progress.

With such powerful emotions and dramatic tellings, long-time musician Albom keeps the telling sparse but appropriately wrapped in musical metaphors.

It's a beautifully told story and I read it in one day. Highly recommended.

The story of Frankie Presteo - the greasiest guitar player who ever lived and of the 6 lives he changed.

Frankie was born in a burning church and was abandoned as an infant. He was raised by a music teacher in a small Spanish town until war rips his life apart. At the age of 9 he was sent to America in the bottom of a boat. With just his guitar and 6 precious strings his journey takes him through the 1940's, 50's and 60's and with his stunning voice he becomes a pop star.

Mitch Albom has his own style of writing that will make you want to read more. I have read this book before and I have read all of this authors books and my favourite is - ALL OF THEM.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Little Brown Book Group UK and the author Mitch Albom for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mitch Albom turns his attention to the world of music in his latest tome. Focusing on the titular character, Frankie Presto, a contemporary of Elvis with a mysterious background. Born in Spain in a burning church and then subsequently abandoned in the river and rescued by a dog, he ends up being raised by a music teacher who turns him into the legendary performer that the world comes to love.
The path to fame and fortune has many twists and turns, darkness and light, and plenty of coincidences that stretch the boundaries of credibility slightly beyond acceptability. As a result, the story ends up reading like a musical version of Forrest Gump, as Frankie invents genres, inspires many great artists, and creates magic along the way with his mysterious glowing blue guitar strings.
It would be easy to dismiss this as too far-fetched to be taken seriously, but Albom creates such a fun tale along the way, that had be hooked. A fun read.

The first Mitch Albom book I read was The Five People You Meet in Heaven, which I cried my way through. I've since read all of his books, even though they're not really my normal type of book! This one was about Frankie Presto, right through from his birth to his death. He was a fantastic musician, and carried round with him his guitar which, when he did something that affected lives, the strings glowed blue. This is the story of the ups and downs of Frankie's life, not just through his music, but his relationships with the people who raised him, looked after him and loved him. Slotted nicely in between are musical anecdotes from the people that knew him and worked with him. Being a big Kiss fan, it was great to see Paul Stanley's anecdote in there as well!

I struggled with this to begin with - I hated the beginning, with the personification of 'music' and the style felt hammy...I wasn't sure what on earth I was reading or why. But then came Frankie, and his story, and suddenly I was utterly caught up in his life and what was going on, wondering about the mystery...knowing the ending and yet not knowing how...

It's interesting having the real life characters thrown into the mix, and makes it feel like a true story. I felt the music was woven into the book very well, and the characters were engaging.

If you're not sure, at the start, just keep going. I felt it was definitely worthwhile to persist and I'm glad I did - I found the ending emotional, and it was one of those books I put down with a happy sigh.