the magic strings of frankie presto: lessons of life
- paigenherbooks
- May 29, 2022
- 4 min read
5/5
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom is one of the best stories ever written and I will stand by that admittedly. Like I will defend this book with my life. I have delved into Frankie Presto's story around four to five times and each time I am again impressed and wowed by how deep his story touches me. A story of love and loss, sacrifice and falling down the wrong path. A story that I think everyone can learn something very very valuable from.
Synopsis: An epic story of the greatest guitar player to ever live, and the six lives he changed with his magical blue strings. In Albom's most sweeping novel yet, the voice of Music narrates the tale of its most beloved disciple, young Frankie Presto, a war orphan raised by a blind music teacher in a small Spanish town.
First, if you're a fan of The Book Thief, you might want to pick up this story! I have a thing with interesting narrators, and with our narrator being music, you as the reader get a very insightful window to watch this story unfold from. So yes, Music is our narrator as he takes us through the life of Francisco Rubio/Presto, our beloved child turned wonder star. He can sing, he can dance, and man can he play the guitar like no other! I first was encapsulated with this book when I myself was a music major. It in some ways helped me realize that maybe music wasn't for me in the sense of making it my whole life. I couldn't sacrifice everything for Music and that is exactly what he wants. Music demands to be heard and reading this made me realize that I couldn't relate to Frankie in his absolute adoration of music. That being said this book is beautiful in the way that it depicts how much music can really effect someones life. Frankie was born with a gift and us readers get to see him use it throughout his life in ways that are so crazy but enjoyable to watch.
The structure of the book helps the story move along in ways that are both entertaining but also just really cool. The story starts at Frankie's death (ugh I always get so sad about this so maybe bring tissues?) and through Music telling us scenes from Frankie's life as well as interviewing some of the biggest musicians of past and present we are given a story full of life, loss, love, and hope.
I don't want to give too much of the story away as I genuinely think it is one that everyone should experience organically. The first time you close this story I guarantee you will sit back and just reflect. On life, on what it means to be happy or to be in love. It's breath taking. But alas, I do want to focus on some of the personal lessons that this story has taught me and continues to teach me each time I go back to revisit Frankie.
Love.
Love is a large part of this story and it is one of the only stories that I think showcases love in a real way. It's not easy, honestly most of the time it's quite hard. Theres highs and lows and sometimes things don't work out the way people think. But if you are committed and truly in love like Frankie and Aurora, nothing can stop you from being together. Come hell or high-water. No amount of drugs, alcohol, women or men, movies, or record labels. Literally nothing can stand in your way.
Your past.
As someone who has my fair share of regrets this story always reminds me that it's important to know where you come from but it does not make you who you are. Everyday you have the chance to choose. In some ways where we are born and where we grow up play notes along our sheet of musical life, but it is truly up to us to deem if they are dissonant or happy notes. I will forever be connected to the ocean and the dark green of the evergreens that shine all year round, but I also know that where I come from does not define who I am today. I can capitalize off the good times and create those characteristics in a positive way. I can "remember Spain" but don't have to live in the pain that is there (Frankie is originally from Spain)
The concept of God.
I am a religious person and I find God in everything, or at least I try to. God is a difficult concept in the book at times as Frankie feels that God has abandoned him. And yeah I've been there, I think everyone has to be quite honest. When it feels like the world has no color and everything is quite frankly going to shit. Like major shit hitting the fan plus explosions... life happens okay! But theres a character within the story that almost acts like a guardian angel for Frankie but we, meaning us and Frankie himself, don't know until the very end of the story. To me that was Frankies answer. God doesn't present himself in the same to everyone. To Frankie it was a person looking over him when he felt his most alone, for me it is people or the quiet that I realize I am not alone. The coincidences in life are too large to say that there is nothing above us, and I think Mitch Albom does such a beautiful job of writing about this concept.
I could go on and on about this story but I just need all of you to read it haha like please at least sometime. This book is truly special and I just have so much respect and awe for the beautiful words that the author has crafted. ALSO if you go to this link (click the button hehe)
Mitch Albom has some amazing interviews and a whole playlist for the book if you want the viiiiibe before you read it.
But as always friends, keep reading, learning, and growing. I know I will be!
With love,
xoxo
paige :)
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