The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Harper (Reprint Edition, November 10, 2015)

Review by Mae Clair

Mitch Albom has become a go-to author for me. Although this book is listed as “Christian Fantasy” on Amazon, it’s also categorized as “Christian Historical Fiction.” I’ve been an avid fan of music all my life, dumping an insane amount of $$$ into MP3’s, albums, cassettes, and even eight-tracks (yes, I’m old enough to remember them) over the years. The premises of the novel—the story of a genius guitarist in possession of six blue “magic” guitar strings—naturally appealed to me.

I’ll start off by saying the story is exceptional. And because it’s Albom, it’s unique with a capital “U.” The Christian element, however, is minimal, and I did find that a bit disappointing. BUT… bear with me on that thought until the end.

We follow the life of Frankie Presto from his birth in a church—soon to be consumed by flames­—through his death, marked as “strange” by many observers. The book starts at Frankie’s memorial service, with the POV character and others reflecting on his life.

And who exactly is the POV character? Ready for this—it’s Music.

Albom’s work is always “different,” but this one elevated his creativity to a new plane. I was enthralled as Music told Frankie’s tale—from his beginning as an orphan, to his mentorship under a blind guitar teacher (who becomes so much more), through his meteoric rise to fame and the intrusion of those six magic blue strings.

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He reached into the box and removed a set of strings, coiled together by a yellow band. They seemed brand new, almost shiny.

“I could not,” she protested.

“For your kindness.”

“It is not nec—”

“Please. To connect the child and the father. They are special strings.” He lowered his voice “they have lives inside them.”

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, Mitch Albom

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There is an eventual downfall, followed by a reinvention for a final near-mystical performance as Frankie’s life (and the strings) come full circle.

I’m kind of at a loss how to describe this book.

It’s part mystery, part love story, and part family/character drama, with a healthy dose of history and mystical elements intertwined. One of the highlights for me, was the people who look back on Frankie’s life through interview chapters and retrospection. These include (among others) Burt Bacharach, Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, Lyle Lovett, Paul Stanley of Kiss, and Tony Bennett, to name a few. In the acknowledgements, Albom relays how each of the musicians he uses in the story, allowed him to weave fictional encounters with Frankie Presto into their lives and careers. It’s all cleverly done. From the days of Elvis Mania to Woodstock, and so much more, Frankie’s life and the lives of others intersect like threads on a loom.

Multiple surprises happen along the way—bomb drops that start via small explosions, then morph into larger denotations. Much like a musical composition that moves through frenzied moments into softer pauses and sweeping crescendos, Albom takes his reader on a journey fraught with emotion. It isn’t until the very end that I found myself contemplating the Christian elements. They won’t hit you over the head as you read, but when all is said and done, you’ll realize this is a story about God’s hand in our lives. About forgiveness and trust. The purity of true love.  

And those blue strings?

Pure magic!

Fans of music will not want to miss this one. Whether pop culture, classical, or twined with historical elements, music has been a driving, creative force throughout time. Step into this book and let Albom sweep you into a symphony that will linger long after the final curtain drops.

Five enthusiastic fish!

I purchased the Kindle version of The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto