Dawai-Dawai Ajaib Frankie Presto - The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto

by Mitch Albom, Lanny Murtihardjana (Translator)

Frankie Presto berpendapat bahwa, semua manusia berbakat musik. Jika tidak, mengapa Tuhan memberimu jantung yang berdenyut? Kisah epik tentang Frankie Presto, gitaris paling hebat yang pernah ada, dan enam dawai biru gitarnya diceritakan secara lengkap dalam buku ini.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Historical Fiction, Music, Audiobook, Magical Realism, Fantasy

576 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2012

About the author

Author, screenwriter, philanthropist, journalist, and broadcaster Mitch Albom is an inspiration around the world. His fiction and non-fiction books — which include 8 #1 New York Times bestsellers — have collectively sold 42 million copies worldwide in 48 languages. TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, the bestselling memoir of all time, topped the list for four straight years and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2022. He has also written Emmy Award-winning TV films, stage plays, screenplays, a nationally syndicated newspaper column, and a musical. Through his work at the Detroit Free Press, he was inducted into both the National Sports Media Association and Michigan Sports halls of fame and was the recipient of the Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement.

Following his bestselling memoir FINDING CHIKA and HUMAN TOUCH, a web and audio weekly serial that raised funds for pandemic relief, he returned to fiction with the bestselling novels THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT and THE LITTLE LIAR. His much-anticipated new novel is a stunning love story about magical second chances called TWICE, which dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along.

Albom spends the majority of his time in philanthropic work. In 2006, he founded the nonprofit SAY Detroit, which provides pathways to success for Detroiters in need through major health, housing and education initiatives. All profits from an original dessert shop and a gourmet popcorn line also help fund the nonprofit. He operates Have Faith Haiti, a home and school for impoverished children and orphans, in Port-au-Prince, which he visits monthly. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ stars .

I almost didn't finish this book because it just wasn't grabbing me at first and for some reason the narrator, Music (yes that's right Music) was getting on my nerves . Maybe I was a little intimidated because I'm not familiar at all with the music terminology he/she was using . I enjoy listening to many types of music but that's as far as it goes with me. I don't know much about the specifics. To his or her credit, definitions were given most times. But then I fell in love with Frankie Presto. As his story unfolds and he is young Francisco , the orphan born in Spain during the civil war and gifted with an amazing talent for playing the guitar and singing, I couldn't help but want to know about how he lived his life. It's a fairly lengthy book and I read it in less than three days . I'm more than glad that I continued because I would have missed out on a beautiful story and because of that I made peace with the narrator.

While Music tells the story starting at Frankie's funeral , the chapters alternate with other musicians or song writers or singers remembering when they first met him. The reader is taken from Spain to Detroit to New Orleans to Woodstock and other places around the world . You'll see or hear Elvis and the Everly Brothers , hear from Darlene Love , a real who's who of music - the Beatles , the Byrds , Louis Armstrong , Tony Bennett and more . The interactions with these real life people will entertain you, but it is the heights of happiness and the depths of despair in Frankie's life and how he affects people that will touch you

Music in the beginning tells how talents are given out at birth and how Frankie's
was bestowed on him . But for Frankie it was more than the talent it was " 6 strings , 6 lives." If you can suspend your disbelief for a while you'll experience little bit of magic , a lot of music and a lot of heart in this book . If you can't do that , I would say read it anyway because the real magic is in the bands that Frankie joined in his lifetime. Not his band of musicians but with the beautiful people he loves , Baffa Rubio, and the beloved El Maestro and the love of Frankie's life , Aurora and his daughter Kai.

Is it pretty unrealistic? A lot of it is . Is it a little sappy ? Of , course . Is it kind of preachy ? Sometimes . Is it maybe a little bit too long . A little . Yet I enjoyed it so more than I thought I would .

Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.

[Candi · Rating 3 out of 5]

No doubt you recall that wildly popular novel titled The Book Thief. If so, then I’m sure you remember its narrator – ‘Death’. Well, I have not forgotten that book, or the fact that I was deeply in the minority with my aversion to ‘Death’ as narrator. It forced me to rate what I considered a decent book only 3 stars, going against a very strong tide of respected reader friends.

"I am Music. And I am here for the soul of Frankie Presto. Not all of it. Just the rather large part he took from me when he came into this world. However well used, I am a loan, not a possession. You give me back upon departure."

“Oh no!” These were my first words when I flipped to the second page of The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto. Please, not another unconventional narrator! Okay, well, I was willing to try to ignore this and get on with what I hoped would be a great story. I absolutely adore music anyway, so it shouldn’t really be a problem for me. Plus, it is historical fiction, and I love a well-written, well-researched HF novel.

The story begins at Frankie Presto’s funeral – we learn this on page one, so I’m not giving anything startling away here. The mystery lies not in the fact that we are at a funeral, but at the journey one takes to this point. And that is primarily what this book is about. Aside from a funeral, it essentially begins at the birth of Frankie during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. I loved this piece of the story the most. The turmoil of the times and the people that were a part of Frankie’s early life grabbed me immediately. A young boy is born with the gift of music, and how that gift is developed left a huge impression on me. Frankie is a guitar player, and we learn how he comes to own a special guitar with some very magical strings. The timeline jumps around quite a bit, with the reader following Frankie across the Atlantic to the United States, and then later across the Pacific to New Zealand. We go back and forth in time throughout the book. I don’t mind this technique in theory. In practice, it was slightly jolting due to the frequency. Furthermore, there are little interludes where the reader is introduced to some very big names in the music industry – Tony Bennett, Roger McGuinn, Darlene Love, Wynton Marsalis, Elvis Presley, Burt Bacharach, and Paul Stanley, to name a few. I admit, despite my love for music, I’m not a huge pop culture kind of gal. Some of the names dropped were lost on me. Others may feel differently and find much pleasure in hearing each of these musicians chat for a few minutes about how they knew Frankie Presto personally.

For centuries, musicians have sought to find me at the end of a needle or the bottom of a drink. It is an illusion. And it often ends badly."

As much as ‘Music’ as narrator grated on my nerves, I did come to truly enjoy watching Frankie Presto grow. Sadly, as we sometimes see in those who rise to the heights of fame, Frankie was not immune to the vices that so often ruin a truly talented individual. Drugs and alcohol and the ghosts of Frankie’s past plague him throughout the novel. It’s quite sad really, but an all-too-true occurrence in one so gifted. I rooted for the guy and hoped he could conquer his demons and live a truly happy life.

So, by the time I reached the finish line, I still could not buy into ‘Music’ as narrator. Perhaps I’m just not imaginative enough, but I like a traditional narrator I guess. Not to mention, here I was once again struggling with a whiff of magical realism. This is another case where I could have done without that element in this particular book. The real ‘stars’ of the novel for me were Frankie and the historical aspects. If you don’t mind unusual, omniscient narrators, if you enjoy pop culture, and if magical realism always works for you no matter what, then this book will probably be just the thing for you. For me, there were some very memorable portions and I always wanted to keep going because I did love Frankie. The element of mystery throughout compelled me to turn page after page. Therefore, I consider this book to be good, but not one that blew me away.

"It is not in the bones. Nor in the lips or the lungs or even in the hands. I am Music. And Music is in the connection of human souls, speaking a language that needs no words."

[☮Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this from Goodreads first reads, and was thrilled.
I enjoy music as much as the next guy-- well, rock music and oldies at least. I do prefer  to use my ear pods for listening  to books over listening to music, though.  I can't read music and don't play any instruments.  Could not tell you the difference between allegro and adagio.   In other words, I'm not exactly what you'd call  musical. Thus when it hit me that Music is the narrator of this book, I was a little worried.  Then I immediately thought  of Death as the narrator in The Book Thief, which I loved, so I thought "Keep an open mind. This could  be very special."
Or a little magical, as it turned out.  Just a smidge; just enough.

While Music tells us about Frankie becoming orphaned as a baby during the Spanish Civil War and his musical training as a boy, other chapters are told by famous people who knew Frankie, Burt Bacharach and Tony Bennett to name two, those who learned of Frankie's death and are eulogizing  him.  We learn how he was as talented or moreso than Elvis during the time of Elvis, we learn of his diverse singing and amazing abilities with those guitar strings, a unique talent who had it  all--voice, talent, and  looks--up to getting high at Woodstock.  I loved the continuous name dropping  of musicians met along the way of Frankie's  search for his childhood sweetheart, to all the music meccas of the U.S.:  Detroit, Nashville, New Orleans, and of course Woodstock.  All while the lyrics of well-known love songs sing out Frankie's feelings for his beloved Aurora. 

It started feeling very much like Forrest Gump after a while--the time period, Frankie's loneliness and perseverence, just a tad magical, very musical--and I can picture this being turned into that same type of movie.  I felt this even before I noticed my book jacket mentions Gump as well.

Well, in the end this was very, very special.  Music is just one of many talents we are infused with, some people  more than others.  We all know that Music, though, can absorb your memories, with a single tune taking you back years to where you were and what you were doing the first time you heard  it.  Music can and has changed the world.  It is alive in us from birth, and when we die Music takes it back, to pass on to his next disciple.  Really a beautiful thing from this very talented author, who inevitably tugs at the strings of my heart. 4.5 stars and I think I'll round up this time.

[Gypsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

یکی از شاهکارهایی که خوندم.. میچ البوم رو همیشه دوست داشتم. ولی تو رمان آخرش واقعاً از همه نظر سنگ تموم گذاشت.. اطلاعات موسیقیایی ـش منو حیرت‌زده کرد و دانش و درکش از موسیقی به شدت منو به شوق و ذوق اورد. اونقد که بعد از خوندن هر بخشی ازین کتاب، هی آهنگ گوش میدادم و انگار با این کار میخواستم قسمت های مختلف داستانو برا خودم حفظ کنم و یه نوستالژی ابدی بسازم- میترسم فراموش کنم. فراموش کنم هر سیم چطوری آبی شد. یادم بره آرورا چه نماد فوق العاده ای داشت- بیشتر ازینکه اسم یه شخصیت باشه و خود ِ شخصیت هم چه نمادپردازی فوق العاده ای داشت.. اصلاً این داستان پُراز چیزای ظریف و موشکافانه ست و دلم میخواد چندبار دیگه هم بخومش. اینقد خوشال میشدم سرش ک میخواستم گریه کنم. تعلیقش محشر بود. این حجم رو من هیچ جا، واقعاً هیچ جا حس نکردم داره رو به سرازیری میره و فرود میکنه و تعلیقش کم میشه. بهترین کاری بود ک از میچ البوم خوندم. گرچه کارهای قبلی شو خیلی سنم کمتر بود ک خوندم و دلم میخواد اونا رَم باز بخونم. توصیه میکنم هر کی علاقه داره به ادبیات داستانی، بخونه اینو. به ویژه کسایی ک اهل موسیقی هم هستن. اصلاً انگار فرانکی یه شخصیت واقعی بوده و چقد شخصیت پردازیا- حتی شخصیت های فرعی، قشنگ و برجسته پرداخت شده بودن. وای که هر چی ازین رمان بگم کم گفتم..

+ میار اگه بدونی چقد کارو برام سخت کردیا.. :)) اینکه این کتاب ِ بخصوص هدیه توئه، خودش سیم ِ جادویی ـه اول و آخره برای من..

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto' is an enchanting novel that will have readers lost in the story from the very first page. I was hesitant to read this book at first - the description didn't sound like something I would be very interested in - but I have read other books by the author and always end up blown away by the end of each one. I'm so glad that I decided to give this book a chance - the author created another magnificent piece of fiction that will stay with me. There are so many unique aspects to this book - from the varying writing styles used to the realistic characters we meet and all of it put together with some of the best writing I've personally ever read. The author and his books stand alone, refusing to be labeled and breaking down genre walls. Each one is truly original and always beautiful in their own way.

This is one of those instances where you love a book so much and for so many different reasons, that any kind of review or amount of praise will ever be able to express how you feel. I hate writing these types of reviews simply because I know that nothing I say will come close to what it deserves and I won't be able to make anyone fully understand how much I loved it and why it touched me so deeply. It's incredibly frustrating, but something that demands to be done anyway. Where do I even begin? The largest aspect of the book that affected me was the writing - from the varying styles to the ridiculous amount of talent that just seems to flow off the pages. The style of writing for the novel is unique in several ways. First of all, we have a first person point of view with the narrator being Music itself. It sounds unbelievable and hard to fathom being able to identify with such an obscure character - but the author did just that. We get to know Frankie Presto and his life story from the perspective of Music. I don't know how the author did it, but right from the start - when our narrator speaks to us in such a conversational tone - I was immediately connected to this character and the story that was going to be told. It's so hard to explain how this happened - it's just one of those things that must be experienced by the reader themselves.

Aside from our narrator, we get to know Frankie and his life story through small snippets of conversations and stories from others who knew him at some point. Each of these anecdotes is told from the speaker's point of view - as they are telling a story to someone else. I loved these little tales that were sprinkled throughout the novel. Each one is another piece of Frankie and his life to add to our growing knowledge of him, and they're all entirely believable. The author even writes in different dialects for some of these mini stories, which only added more authenticity to them (in my opinion). I could go on for days about all the various writing devices and styles that the author uses in the novel, but I'll try to stop there in the hopes that what I have said is enough for one to get a good idea of what it's like. Short version: Ridiculously amazing in the best of ways.

Another aspect of the book that I loved was the author's ability to bring the entirety of the story to life in front of our eyes. Frankie's character becomes so complex and well rounded, that by the end of the story, it felt like I had known him as well. There's so much detail, imagery and vivid descriptions that every part of the book was infused with it - from the characters to the different settings and stories told - and every little bit in between. The ability to bring a book like this - with such an obscure narrator especially - to life shows that the author has immense talent and a true gift. As I mentioned, I could go on and on about all the small things I loved about the book and why the writing moved me so much, but it would only be my ramblings and probably wouldn't make sense. The bottom line is this: The author has created a mesmerizing novel that I honestly believe everyone should read. I don't care what genre preferences you may have - this book transcends all of that. Every person who reads this book will have an experience that goes beyond mere reading and will leave them changed - even if it's just a tiny bit. Like I said at the beginning of this review - I never would have picked up this book or given it a second glance if it weren't for the author and my positive experiences with his other books. Don't make that mistake! Please - just give it a chance. I swear you won't be disappointed - and I truly hope that you'll love it as much as I did. I was already keeping tabs on this author, but I'm a dedicated fan after reading this book - and I'm already desperately waiting to see what he'll come out with next.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up at my local flea market for 50 cents, but the story is worth so much more. In fact, it is priceless. I love how the characters were connected in different ways and it was really cool that Mitch Albom made it into historical fiction in the best way possible. I'm not giving much away because I think you need to experience this book for yourself!

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly Good Story of a Great Musician



Albom is a Musician

Mitch Albom is and was a musician as well as a writer.

It shows in this wonderful novel, the story of a legendary fictitious guitarist, Frankie Presto.
Albom's prodigious knowledge of music informs the entire book, which is a love affair with music.

Begin at the End

The story starts at the end, at Frankie Presto's funeral in Villareal, Spain, the town in which Frankie was born in 1936. Frankie's funeral takes place in some unspecified year close to the present time.

Narrated by Music

The narrator of the entire story is the mysterious figure of Music. Music tells us that Frankie was one of Music's favorite and most talented children.

Frankie's History

Frankie (short for Francisco de Asisi Pascual Presto) starts life in the Spanish Civil War and is almost immediately orphaned.

He is adopted by a kind local man, Bapho Rubio. (Frankie thinks Bapho is his real father, and even uses Rubio's last name ). Frankie's pet is a hairless dog that follows him everywhere.

Frankie's eyes are damaged, so Bapho wonders how his adopted son will earn a living. He decides that Frankie, who sings along with records, might become a musician.

Bapho takes Frankie--aged five or six-- to a local music teacher, "El Maestro". The Maestro teaches Frankie to play guitar. He teaches him Spanish guitar, classical, jazz, etc.

Things go from bad to worse in Spain and Frankie ends up fleeing in a boat to America.

A handsome black haired youth, Frankie becomes a star--singing and dancing and only rarely playing guitar--and marries twice (once for love). He adopts a child.

The book traces the ups and downs of Frankie's life---his fame, his very brief movie career, his world travel and life in many different places, his subsequent decline into obscurity, his period of drug and alcohol abuse, his excellence as a music teacher, etc. Frankie meets and plays with many famous musicians, who recognize his brilliance.: Django Reinhardt, Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, etc. He shows up at Woodstock.

Through it all, Frankie remains (mostly) kind, humble, and dedicated to music. His prodigious talent never goes to his head.

Interviews with Real Musicians

Albom uses the unique device of inserting interviews with living musicians who "knew" Frankie. These include Darlene Love, Wynton Marsalis, Tony Bennett, Burt Bachrach, Ingrid Michaelson, Roger McGuinn, John Pizzarelli, etc.

Magic Strings

The title "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" refers to two things. First is a bootleg tape of Frankie playing in the studio, captured by a studio engineer. (By the way, there's a sound track of "Magic Strings" available. I haven't heard it).

The second is that his guitar strings, a gift from El Maestro, magically turn blue when Frankie changes the life of someone he encounters.

Specific, Yet Universal

Albom has a gift for creating the very specific details of a particular and unusual life and yet somehow, at the same time, making the story universal.

Musical Terms

The prose is infused with musical terms, used very appropriately. For example, Frankie begins his love affair in "allegro", a quick tempo.

Full Cast Audio

The audio was done by a full cast and was excellent. The cast includes: Mitch Albom, Roger McGuinn, Ingrid Michaelson, John Pizzarelli, Paul Stanley, George Guidall, Mike Hodge, Robin Miles, Christian Baskous, Tony Chiroldes, Kevin O'Neil, Adriana Sananes, Ken Brown, and Sarab Kamoo.

[Ghazaleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

فوق العاده!
داستان فرانکی پرستو از زبان "موسیقی"
اینکه داستان از زبان موسیقی تعریف میشه یک نحوه بیان جدیده.
نحوه بیان، موضوع و همه چیز این کتاب به نظرم به نوعی جدید و تازه بودند.

[La Tonya Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankie Presto was a fictional character. But, after reading this book, I hoped he was real. This was a feel good book of what the value of music can do for the "bands" in your life. The bands are the connections you have in your life with people. Frankie Presto belonged to many bands and changed the life's of many.

When the special guitar strings turn blue, a person's life is shifted and altered. Music soothes the salvage beast and it makes believers out of non-believers. Frankie Presto guitar playing and life lessons will make you fly with imagination for your own life. Happy Reading.

Quote:
Suddenly it was terribly quiet, as if the earth itself were too stunned to breathe. I know this sound; silence is part of music. But just because something is silent doesn't mean you aren't hearing it.

"Niles, what I play, you can't write, and what you write, I can't play."

"Money and music are not friends." Frankie chuckled. "I know something about that."

[Ali Book World · Rating 5 out of 5]

فرانسیسکو پسری یتیم است که به طور معجزه‌آسایی به بزرگترین گیتاریست جهان تبدیل میشود و لقب "فرانکی پرستو" را از آن خود میکند. اما به هر حال روزی عاقبت همه، مرگ است و فرانکی پرستو هم می‌میرد اما این کتاب داستان زندگی اعجاب‌انگیز این شخصیت است که اینقدر زیبا بیان شده که هر لحظه‌ش آرزو میکردم: " ای کاش فرانکی پرستو وجود خارجی داشت. " ... البته راوی داستانِ ما موسیقی است.

این کتاب دومین اثر بعد از سه‌شنبه‌ها با موری بود که از میچ البوم خوندم و واقعا میگم قلم این نویسنده بی‌نظیره. هرچند سه‌شنبه‌ها با موری معروف‌ترین اثرشه ولی زیبایی این کتاب از نظر من ده‌ها برابر بیشتر از سه‌شنبه‌ها با موری بود.

فرانکی پرستو پر از جادوی موسیقیه، پر از زیبایی زندگی‌ست. واقعا نمیتونم زیبایی این کتاب رو وصف کنم. اینکه این شخصیت چجوری از کجا به کجا رسید و مشکلاتی که سر راهش به وجود اومد و چه حقایقی که کشف نکرد واقعا روحم رو به لرزه در می‌آورد.

فصل‌های کتاب از نظر زمانی و تاریخی، پراکنده‌اند و هر کدوم به یک دوره از زندگی فرانکی اختصاص دارن که از زبان موسیقی بیان شده. بعلاوه جندتا فصل هم از بیان چند شخصیت دیگه گفته شده که از نزدیکان و دوستان فرانکی بودند و خاطراتی از اون رو بیان میکنند، ممکنه به ظاهر و در نگاه اول کمی گیج کننده به نظر بیاد ولی در حقیقت اینها مثل تکه‌های پازلی هستند که در انتها یک تصویر کامل و شفاف رو تشکیل میدن.

به جز زیباییِ داستان و شخصیت‌پردازی خوبش، توصیفات موسیقی و گیتارش هم بینظیره. اصلا یجوری نوشته شده که انگار همین الان یکی کنارت داره گیتار میزنه. و اون جادوی ریز و قشنگی که توی کتاب گنجونده شده جذابیتش رو چندین برابر کرده. واقعا چجوری میشه که فرانکی با گیتار زدنش باعث بشه رنگ تارها به آبی تبدیل بشن؟ اینو دیگه خودتون باید بخونید.

و چه پایانی... پایانی جذاب و البته کمی هم دردناک.. با اینکه از همون اول میدونستم آخرش چی میشه اما دلم میخواست که اشتباه کرده باشم ولی باز هم همون شد... خیلی دوستش داشتم، کتاب خیلی خوبی بود. توصیه میکنم بخونیدش. این کتاب خیلی حرف‌ها برای گفتن داره.

[Lori Tatar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto" by Mitch Albom is a masterpiece, Albom's best work yet. The story is narrated by Music, interspersed with interviews with famous musicians of many ages and genres. It is a sad story, a love story and just as beautiful, eloquent and elegant as any flawless symphony. Mitch Albom has composed a book of life, love, despair and forgiveness for the ages. My gratitude goes to Goodreads for sharing.

[Sarvenaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

بهترین انتخاب برای شروع از میچ آلبوم خوندن بود.
از تک تک کلمه‌هاش لذت بردم و یکی از تجربه‌های خوب کتاب خوندنم بود.

[Zahra · Rating 5 out of 5]

بهترینِ من! ❤

[Kate Ayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm breathless. The star rating doesn't fit this book. It is wildly wonderful. Of course, so was Tuesdays with Morrie, but The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto had so many more dimensions, so many incredible loops and tie-ins and -- well, magical happenings. I know it's large, nearly 490 pages, but if you can read it in one sitting -- and it is easy to race through -- then the rhythm, once begun, never gets interrupted, and the rhythm adds to the richness. The story is at once legend, parable, fable and fairy tale, but not fantastical. Frankie Presto had a guardian angel, yes, but don't we all? What brightened his life was Music, his talent and the book's narrator. Yes, narrator. That's part of what makes it so lyrical. But music was also Frankie's curse. We are there when Francisco (Frankie) is born, and we are with him when Frankie dies, and everywhere in between. It's an epic journey, but that should come as no surprise. It does span a very special lifetime. Be prepared, though, for many Aha! moments, and have a box of tissues nearby.

[Rustic Red Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THE BOOK before reading the review (not because it contains spoilers but IT IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD. READ IT RIGHT NOW!)

Mitch Albom's book are really, really good. After reading, the five people you meet in heaven and the time keeper, Mitch Albom become one of my favorite authors. And when I got a copy, I read it immediately (but since I have school it took me more than a week). And what I really like about this book is the narrator, Music, which is similar to some books that have another "being" as the narrator or someone unknown, like Falling into Place and The Book Thief.

So on Mitch Albom's latest novel, took place on two events or timelines. One of the timeline, which is about 80% of the book, took place before his death, from his birth to the people who he interacted with, and shared his music, to the present day, the second timeline - his funeral.

Reading the first few chapters, I knew that this will be really good and it already have a some kind of twist. Plus the words are threaded beautiful with each other. Plus I quite happy that Philippines (or something Philippine-related) ARE mentioned in the book Maalaala Mo Kaya which is a song and University of Santo Tomas which is considered as the big four university in the Philippines and for that I am hoping Mitch Albom will return so I could meet him.

If I you are finding a book to vanquish your book slump this is the book you are finding. This is probably my third favorite Mitch Albom novel.

[Heather Fineisen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I say skip the book and go straight for the music. I just couldn't buy in to the idea of Music as storyteller or narrator, reliable or unreliable. Some of the chapters, especially of Frankie's early life in Spain were interesting but the musical terms used for comparisons and life-saving strings became almost hokey for me and easily anticipated. The musical history of various legends is easily appreciated by music lovers as well. Maybe I just have too many bad memories of childhood piano lessons to appreciate the Testare De Corde (testing the strings) Albom is shooting for with this Novel. Follow the playlist and you have some great music to listen to.

Provided by publisher and TLC Book Tours

[Brina]

Did not finish by page 50. I did not enjoy the Forrest Gump like premise of this book. I was never a Gump fan so this is not the book for me. I am guessing that people who enjoyed Gump both the movie and book will enjoy more than I did.

[Arash · Rating 5 out of 5]

_
.
«آدم از کجا بفهمه عاشق شده،مایسترو؟»
«اگر بپرسی،یعنی عاشق نیستی.»
«شما تا حالا عاشق بودید،مایسترو؟»
«کی "رکو یر دوس دلا آلهامبرا" رو نوشته؟»
«فرانسیسکو تارگا»
«چه تکنیکی باید توی اون آهنگ استفاده کرد؟»
«تکنیک ترمولو»
«تو باید از این سوال ها بپرسی،نه سوال های عاشقانه!»
«خود ترمولو یعنی چی ،مایسترو؟»
«معنای کلمه ش میشه "رعشه"»
«رعشه یعنی چی؟»
«لرزیدن،ترسیدن یا نگران بودن.»
«کی این اتفاق می افته؟»
ال مایسترو مکث کرد.«وقتی عاشقی.»
_

او این جاست، درون تابوت، در واقع او متعلق به من است. یک موزیسین خوب تا زمانی که آخرین نتهایش نواخته می شود نیز قابل احترام است. ترانه های این مرد به آخر رسیده اما سوگوارنش از راه دور آمده اند تا قطعه ای دیگر به ترانه های او اضافه کنند در واقع بخش پایانی اش را.
بگذارید گوش کنیم بهشت می تواند صبر کند.
ترساندم تان؟ نه این طور که فکر می کنید نیست، من مرگ نیستم، یا آن عزرائیلی که مردم می گویند با کلاه مخصوصش می آید و در مه و دود محو می شود نیستم.
و نه آن قاضی و داوری که هنگام مرگ از آن می ترسید. من کوچکتر از آنم که بخواهم درباره ی یک زندگی رای بدهم. در کنار همه ی خوبی ها و بدی ها بوده ام. اما هیچ حکمی درباره ی کارهای بدی که بشر مرتکب شده نداده ام. و نه این که کارهای خوبش را سنجیده ام.
فکر می کنید زیاده می گویم؟ من این گونه هستم. گاه شیرین و آرام، گاه ناکوک و خشمگین، گاهی به روانی شن و لحظه هایی به تیزی نوک سوزن. گاهی سخت و گاهی آسان.
من موسیقی هستم.
_
خیلی هامون آهنگایی رو سراغ داریم که با شنیدنشون کلی خاطره رو یادمون میندازن. توی این کتاب برعکسه، ما از زبان موسیقی روایت هایی رو میشنویم، روایت زندگی یک موزیسین بزرگ، از بدو تولد تا مرگ. اوایل کتاب و پایان هر فصل، توی یکی دو خط، نویسنده آن چنان ضربه ای به خواننده میزنه که کل تصوراتش به هم میریزه و کلا غافلگیرش میکنه. انتظار نداشتم این کتاب اینقدر خوب باشه، خیلی لذت بردم از خوندنش، کلی حرف دارم راجبش بزنم، خودتون بخونید و لذتشو ببرید.
_
#تارهای_جادویی_فرانکی_پرستو / #میچ_آلبوم / ترجمه ی #سحر_توکلی / نشر_کوله_پشتی
_

[Farnaz Farid · Rating 5 out of 5]

کتاب مثل اسمش جادویی بود . اگر کتاب ، کتاب دزد از مارکوس زوساک رو‌خونده باشید یا فیلمش رو‌دیده باشید و دوست داشته باشید این کتاب رو هم دوست دارین .
در کتاب دزد داستان از زبان مرگ روایت میشه و در این کتاب راوی موسیقیه .
ما قدم به دنیای بچه ای یتیم به نام فرانسیسکو می گذاریم و با غم ها و شادی ها و زندگیش همراه میشیم .
داستان بسیار لطیف و زیباس
فرانسیسکو یا همان فرانکی هنگام به دنیا اومدن دستهاش رو باز میکنه و تکیه ی بزرگی از موسیقی رو ازش جدا می کنه و زندگیش با موسیقی پیوند می خوره . و تا آخرین لحظاتش موسیقی همچون یاری قدیمی همراهش می مونه .
قریحه ی موسیقی در استخوان ها نیست در لب ها ،شش ها و حتی دست ها نیست
موسیقی در پیوند جان انسان هاست و به زبانی سخن می گوید که نیاز به کلام ندارد .
همه در زندگی شان عضو گروه های مختلفی میشوند انچه می نوازید و اجرا می کنید بر کسی تاثیر می گذارد گاهی هم بر جهان تاثیر می گذارد .
شخصیت پردازی واقعا خوب. توو این کتاب دنیال هیجان نباشید. دنبال عشق و‌موسیقی و آرامش باشید.
من برای همیشه تکه ای از قلبمو لای این کتاب جا گذاشتم .

ترجمه خوب بود . اگه دوست داشتین می تونید صوتی اش رو هم گوش کنید که خیلی خوبه .
امتیازم ۴/۵
پ.ن: صدای گوینده هم مثل کتاب جادویی بود. و حدس بزنید گوینده ش کیه؟
تایماز خان رضوانی
پ.ن۲: صداهای آرمان و تایماز برای من جادوییه، صداهایی از بهشت

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like probably everyone else, I've heard of this author but unlike probably most, I've never had a desire to read one of his books. I'm in a Book Voyage experience in one of my groups and this book was the first one to journey to my home. The person sending it (Linda) rated it highly and thought our voyage members would enjoy it. I'm so glad she sent it, I truly loved it! (Thanks, Linda!) I found the writing to be really, surprisingly, good and the story was so well-done with an interesting narrator, great 'interviews' from real musicians and Frankie, I loved the MC Frankie. What a beautifully fleshed out character who has flaws like the rest of us but you just love. This book is fiction but let me tell you, it feels like a wonderfully done non-fiction story. Some of the musicians in the story came up in a discussion in my home and it felt like I should mention Frankie in the conversation. Those of you who have read this book will know what I mean. I had to remind myself that he is a fictional character! This just showed me the strength of this author's storytelling and the book. If you like music and the old time musicians, I recommend you try this one.

[Abril Camino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha maravillado. Me ha acompañado durante unas vacaciones y creo que siempre recordaré lo que me hizo disfrutar esta historia llena de música, magia y amor. La historia de Frankie Presto puede no ser la más verosímil del mundo, pero la manera en que el autor la cuenta hace que ni eso importe. La estructura, con diferentes narradores entrelazados, y la elección de la propia música como narradora de la historia son, para mí, lo que diferencia esta historia de cualquier otra que pudiera parecérsele. Una auténtica preciosidad, emotiva y llena de magia.

[Maria ( ZITA ) Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost put this book down, it was kind of boring, but it got so good around page 150, after that I could not put it down, glad I stocked with it

[Shaghayegh.l3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

واسه منى كه عاشق فيلماى برگرفته از زندگى موسيقى دان ها و خواننده هام مثه بتهوون ، موتزارت ، جانى كش ، باب ديلن و .. اين كتاب يه نعمت بود . هرچيزى كه به موسيقى مربوط بشه مگه ميشه بد باشه ؟ چقدر روون و عالى بود و چه جاهايى كه غافلگيرم كرد . يك نفس عميق و بـَه به اين كتاب ..

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars.
This story has a unique narrator. It is told by Music and it starts with a funeral and tells the tale of Frankie Presto, real name Francisco. Born in Spain, in a time of civil war, to a woman named Carmencita, his life is endangered but saved. Right from the beginning his life is one of music as well as many desperately hard times. Music goes on to fill in the details of his life and the reader hears from others who have been friends or been influenced by Frankie over the years. As the story is told, different aspects of his life story emerge and we see the huge impact music played in his life. At nine years old he is sent to America with an old guitar with six strings, which once belonged to his teacher. Throughout his life he comes in contact with all sorts of music from classical to jazz, country and rock. Along the way he encounters many legends in the music business like Duke Ellington, Elvis, Carole King, Tony Bennett, and The Beatles as well as others perhaps not as well know. It reads like a who’s who of music, not in the sense of name dropping but in telling his story and his involvement in the industry. I am deliberately trying not to reveal too many details of the plot of the story as I think it is a book that needs to be read without any pre-conceived ideas.
Initially I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book, because it kept darting around in time and with different people’s responses to Frankie. But as it progressed and filled in the story I became more and more interested till I was an active and willing in participant in sharing this journey. There are moments of hardship and heartbreak for Frankie as well as some humorous moments and I admit to more than a few tears towards the end. Yes, you need to suspend disbelief sometimes, but the story is so well told that it is easy to do.
I loved this book. It had that indefinable quality that just makes a book work and characters that I cared about even when at times I deplored their decisions. One of the things that particularly appealed to me was the story behind the writing of the song Save the Last Dance for me. It also made me want to look up other songs mentioned that were not as familiar eg Lost in the Stars by Tony Benne. But that didn’t happen till after I finished the book as I simply had to keep reading. Towards the end I would have challenged anyone who tried to take this book out of my hands.
It is an engaging and interesting read. One of those books to savour. Those who love music should enjoy all the musical references. Despite my hesitance at the start I loved this beautiful, magical book.

[Ariyan Abidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

منم مثل اکثر افراد در زمان کودکی سعی میکردم
یکی دوتا الگو بین خواننده ها و اهنگسازا پیدا کنم
یکی که از شخصیت و اهنگاش و رفتارش خوشم بیاد
و به قول معروف بپرستمش
ولی رو زندگی هرکدوم که زوم میکردم یه گندی از یه جاییش
در میومد و پس از هزاران بار نامید شدن فهمیدم اینا هم
یه مشت ادمن و ادما هم بی ایراد نیستن
و خب از اون به بعد سعی کردم همیشه فقط به عنوان یه هنرمند بهشون نگاه کنم و نه بیشتر
و تاحد ممکن هم سعي كردم چیزی از زندگی شخصيشون نفهمم که نا امید هم نشم
-------------
اینجا ما داستان فرانکی پرستو رو داریم
داستانی که نیمیش توسط "موسیقی" و نیمیش توسط ادم های اطرافش
روایت میشه و در هر دوی این روایت ها ما فرانکی رو از نگاه "دیگران" میبینیم همونطور که ارتیست های معروف جهان رو میبینیم
و خب شخصیت پردازی هم در همین حده
در حد دیدن یه مستند از خواننده مورد علاقتون

کتاب سه شنبه ها با موری(از همین نویسنده) هم تقریبا همین حالتو داشت و داستان موری از نگاه یکی از شاگرداش روایت میشد
ولی اونجا بیشتر میشد با موری ارتباط برقرار کرد

جدا از شخصیت پردازی داستان زندگیش هم مثل بقیه هنرمنداست
استعداد ذاتی
زندگی سخت
اوج شهرت و غرور
دختربازی و مواد مخدر
به فنا رفتن پس از دوره های قبل
و ...

همونطور که قبلا گفتم بخش زیادی از کتاب از زبان موسیقی روایت میشه پس وجود تمثیل ها و اصطلاحات موسیقیایی کاملا عادیه
و اگه به واسطه تئوری موسیقی با این اصطلاحات اشنایی داشته باشید لذت خوندنش دوچندان میشه البته اگه هم اهل تئوری موسیقی نیستید نگران نباشید چون خود نویسنده
خیلی شاعرانه اصطلاهات رو توضیح میده
- تشبیه عشق به تکنیک ترمولو تو نوازندگی
- تشبیه زندگی عاشقانه به یک سمفونی با چهار پویه

کتاب یه جورایی ادای دین به موسیقی دهه
هشتاد نود امریکاست(حالا دقیقشو نمیدونم😐)
و خیلی جاها شخصیت ها و گروه های واقعی
مثل بیتلز یا الویس پریسلی وارد داستان میشن با فرانکی تعامل دارن
که قطعا برای کسی که تو اون حال و هوا بزرگ شده خیییلییی جذابه
ولی من نه :|

درکل حس بدی به کتاب نداشتم شاید اگه همه اطرافیانم ازش تعریف نمیکردن و انتظاراتم بالا نبود خودم بهش 5 میدادم ولی الان حسم در حد همین سه ستارست ولى پايانشو خيلى دوست داشتم واس همين ٧٥ صدمم به خاطر پايانش اضافه ميكنم چون قشنگ مو به تن ادم سيخ ميكرد.
اینم نباید فراموش کنیم که رمان موسیقی محور خوب خیلی کمیابه و برای چنین شرایطی همینم غنیمته.
3.75 / 5

[Fereshteh Khanzad · Rating 5 out of 5]

من موسیقی هستم. من این جا در درون شما هستم. چرا خودم را پشت یک مشت گرد یا بخار پنهان کنم؟ به نطرتان این قدر رقت انگیزم ؟!
"از متن کتاب"
این کتاب خود خود زندگیه؛ محشره...
چه قلم جادویی !!این نویسنده به اندازه ی فرانکی پرستو اعجاب انگیز هست..."او مال این زمین نیست."
بی نهایت بی نهایت لذت بخش بود ،پر از اوج پر از حس ناب زندگی ؛ به موسیقی جور دیگری نگاه کردم و حس میکنم به واقع درکم از این عالم بی مرز ساز و آواز بیشتر شد...
و باید بگم چه ترجمه ی خوبی !


برش هایی از کتاب:

حقیقت نور است. دروغ ها سایه هستند. موسیقی هر دو است .

اما من چیز دیگر دیدم. پسری دیدم که سیم های ساز را به طرف دختر خم میکرد. اولین باری بود که فرانکی پرستو خواست موسیقی اش را به کس دیگری بدهد.این طور بود که فهمیدم عاشق شده.

هیچ مخلوق دیگری چنین تکبری ندارد؛یعنی محبوس کردن هم نوع خود.

هر کسی در زندگی اش به گروهی می پیوندد.بالاخره هر گروهی از هم می پاشد.

مرد نابینا شانه ی فرانکی را گرفت. گرفت :《راز موسیقی این نیست که بلند تر بزنی؛باید دنیا رو آروم تر کنی.》
《میترسم.》
《آره. دوباره هم میترسی. تمام زندگیت میترسی. باید به این ترس غلبه کنی. با ترس هات روبه رو شو و تظاهر کن وجود ندارند.》

سکوت موسیقی را تشدید میکند. ان چه نمی نوازید ممکن است شیرینی آن چه مینوازید دوچندان کند. اما کلمات این چنین نیستند . آن چه نگویید ممکن است وجودتان را تسخیر کند.

اما تمام داستان های عاشقانه سمفونی هستند. و درست مثل سمفونی ها،عاشقانه ها هم چهار موومان دارند:
*آلگرو،شروع پر شور و تند
*آداجیو،نقطه ی عطف آرام
*منوئه/اسکرتسو، انقطاع های کوتاه در ضرب سه چهارم
*روندو،تمی تکرار شونده که با قطعه ها یا پاساژ ها ی مختلف منقطع میشود.

کسی بعد مرگ تارگا نوشت:مرگ گوش ندارد. اگر داشت،هرگز دنیا را از موسیقی او محروم نمیکرد.

💚NATURE BOY💚
There was a boy
A very strange, enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far
Very far, over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was he

And then one day
One magic day he passed my way
While we spoke of many things
Fools and Kings
This he said to me:

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return️"

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a goodreads first reads winner of "The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto:A Novel. by Mitch Albom.I would give this book a 4.5.the book is narrated by "music" who follows the mysterious life of Frankie Presto. Frankie Presto was born in the mid 1930s in Spain. He was born in a convent.Frankie becomes a war orphan he is raised for eight years by the man, and a hairless dog who found him in a river as an infant. He is taught to play the guitar from a blind man known as "Maestro" at eight Frankie lives with Maestro for a short time. At ten he is in the bottom of a boat escaping the war torn Spain.Frankie is a very talented guitar player even as a child he is a prodigal in his talent. His guitar is kind of magical a string will turn blue after a huge event takes place in Frankie's life.
when Frankie arrives in America at ten years old "music narrates what happens to him" he becomes quite famous and meets and influences many actual famous musicians, such as Elvis, Hank Williams. some of the book has interviews with famous singers and musicians who knew Frankie. Frankie's life has had a lot of tragedy though the years but also good things that happened as well. At the beginning of the book it is told that Frankie has just died. so we now follow him from birth to his death. I do not want to give away any spoilers. I found this to be a good interesting read. I liked how Mitch Albom got permission from real life musicians and singers to put them with a fictional character. I did not want to put this book down thinking about what happened to Frankie and the other characters. A great read. Glad i got the chance to read.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Frankie Presto - the greatest guitar player who ever lived - and 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 singing 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 the 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.

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 brilliant stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

What a formidable and refreshing book that involves magical realism!
As I did not know what to expect, I was very surprised and pleased.
The narrative and development of the story were so engrossing and entertaining.
Music lovers will for sure love this book.
The suggestion as to how famous hits were created and the insertion of POVs by some famous musicians were quite ingenious.
The storyline is heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking.
This is a fast read and I recommend the audiobook, which I listened simultaneously.

Ebook (Kobo): 337 pages (default), 91k words, 63 chapters

Audiobook narrated by Mitch Albom, Paul Stanley, George Guidall, Mike Hodge, Robin Miles, Christian Baskous, Tony Chiroldes, Kevin O'Neill, Adriana Sananes, John Pizzarelli, Roger McGuinn and Ingrid Michaelson: 9.7 hours (normal speed)

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

“Baffa, unmarried and in his forties, went to church regularly and kept a cross on the wall of his bedroom, so the discovery of an abandoned child was for him a divine act, like finding Moses in the reeds. He took the boy in.”

“Baffa was potbellied, with a sagging chest, thick jowls, a drooping forehead, and a downward-bending mustache, so that when he sat, he seemed like a layer of frowns stacked in a chair. But the boy made him happy.”

“The blind man played it passionately, with great care, pausing for emphasis, shaking his head at certain notes as if absorbing their smell.”

“There is a big war going on, boy. We are all going to be speaking English or German soon. Personally, I prefer English. German sounds like someone is scolding you.”

“Man searches for courage in drink, but it is not courage that he finds, it is fear that he loses.”

“Silence enhances music. What you do not play can sweeten what you do. But it is not the same with words. What you do not say can haunt you. El Maestro was an artist (his soul was surely mine), but his instincts were too musical for this life. He left out words as he left out notes.”


My Review:

Narrated by the vast talent of Music, the craft and brilliance used in the construction of this story was as magical as Frankie’s fabled guitar strings. This was my maiden voyage in actually reading a Mitch Albom book, although I have viewed movies based on previous works. I am awestruck and grasping for the words to describe the quality and skill of his writing. The words poignant and moving seem trite and banal in what I am feeling highly inadequate in my attempts to convey and express. The fact that I have not read his work before now is a complete travesty, as Mr. Albom is obviously a master wordsmith whose writing is immensely creative and has great depth. The story was well crafted and taps emotion at all levels while keeping it close to the surface at all times. My cold heart was well squeezed and an odd and unaccustomed wetness filled my eyes more than once.

I was quite taken with the idea of Talents (such as Music, Math, or Reason) being bestowed and infused in humans at birth, while coming to them as bright colors that the infants grab and take in their hands – genius! And as the story was narrated by Music, I found it amusingly clever that the chapters were introduced by the tempo (such as 4/4 time) and movement of the story (i.e. allegro). I was also enthused by the use of current day musical celebrities such as Tony Bennett being interviewed about Frankie - in what sounded to me as their own voices. The history of his associations with various musicians (Elvis, Little Richard, Hank Williams, Duke Ellington, Lyle Lovett) seemed so realistic and well researched that in the midst of reading, I was compelled to put down my kindle to recheck that I was actually reading fiction and that Frankie Presto had not in fact been a living breathing performer.

The story was intriguing and mysterious, with sprinkles of clever humor, while also extremely insightful, captivating, and at times tragic and heartbreaking. To quote Mr. Albom’s own words used to describe Frankie’s playing, “It broke your heart, it was so sad and beautiful.” The characters were richly described and fully fleshed out, and I adored the philosophical life lessons his teacher (El Maestro) passed on to him about music that aptly applied to life, as well as the staccato cadence of their dialogues. All manner of tricks were expertly woven into the story that crossed continents, and decades – such as the hairless dog, gypsies, war, a shadowy figure, timely and untimely coincidences - and I was enthralled by it all. 5 stars is just not enough.