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The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto: A Novel Audiobook
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Publisher Description
From the beloved author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most critically acclaimed novel yet—a stunningly original tale of love: love between a man and a woman, between an artist and his mentor, and between a musician and his God-given talent.
Narrated by the voice of Music itself, the story follows Frankie Presto, a war orphan born in a burning church, through his extraordinary journey around the world. Raised by a blind guitar teacher in Spain and gifted with a talent to change people’s lives—using six mysterious blue strings—Frankie navigates the musical landscape of the twentieth century, from the 1950s jazz scene to the Grand Ole Opry to Elvis mania and Woodstock, all the while searching for his childhood love.
As he becomes a famous star, he loses his way, until tragedy steals his ability to play the guitar that had so defined him. Overwhelmed by his loss, Frankie disappears for decades, reemerging late in life for one spectacular yet mystifying farewell.
Part love story, part magical mystery, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is Mitch Albom at his finest, a Forrest Gump-like epic about one man’s journey to discover what truly matters and the power of talent to change our lives.
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“The narrative ensemble, which includes the author, is an inspired choice for this production. Their collective talents prove equal to a story with an extensive cast and a magical blend of realism and fantasy. Omniscient narrator Music sets the pace and guides listeners through the captivating tale of an orphan whose guitar, with its magic strings, changes lives as he plays with some of the most celebrated bands of the twentieth century. Wisely, the narrators don’t attempt mimicry, yet they manage to effectively portray the voices of some musical icons. As these personalities tell Frankie’s story, the narrators’ perfect timing and pacing effectively deliver Albom’s wonderfully natural dialogue. The fortunate listener who can briefly suspend disbelief will be rewarded with one of this season’s true audio gems.”
— AudioFile
Quotes
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“Albom’s fable about the power of song carries you along like a beautiful melody.”
— People -
“A beautiful story that forces us to think about the concept of a life well lived…Albom brings his literary magic once again.”
— Huffington Post -
“Albom’s The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto hits the right notes. Albom’s love for music is richly apparent… and his maxims about life will no doubt bring readers on a pleasantly sentimental journey about the bandmates in their lives.”
— USA Today
Awards
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A People Pick of the Week for November 30, 2015
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An AudioFile Editors’ Pick
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
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A New York Times Bestseller
The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto Listener Reviews
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Claudia Rosenthal, 12/12/2022
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carolyn bridwell, 7/20/2020
About Mitch Albom
Mitch Albom is an award–winning playwright, screenwriter, and author whose works include several #1 New York Times bestsellers, such as Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time. His books have been made into acclaimed films for television. 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 is the recipient of the 2010 Red Smith Award for lifetime achievement. He founded and oversees a consortium of nine different charitable operations in his hometown of Detroit, including a nonprofit dessert shop and food product line to fund programs for Detroit’s most underserved citizens. He also operates an orphanage in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, which he visits monthly.
About the Narrators
Adriana Sananes is an award-winning actress and an Earphones Award–winning audiobook narrator. She narrated the documentary Children of Fate, winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and nominated for an Academy Award, and has recorded over eighty bestsellers including Loving Che, The Dark Bride, My Sister Frida, The Dirty Girls Social Club, the Grammy-nominated Brown Bear Series by Eric Carle, and the Audie-nominated How the García Girls Lost Their Accent by Julia Álvarez.
Christian Baskous is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. His theatrical credits include numerous roles in the New York Shakespeare Festival, Circle in the Square, the Kennedy Center, and Theater for the New City, as well as other regional theaters. His film and television work includes appearances in Glory, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Law & Order, Swan’s Crossing, and Swift Justice.
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.
Robin Miles, named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine, has twice won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, an Audie Award for directing, and many Earphones Awards. Her film and television acting credits include The Last Days of Disco, Primary Colors, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order, New York Undercover, National Geographic’s Tales from the Wild, All My Children, and One Life to Live. She regularly gives seminars to members of SAG and AFTRA actors’ unions, and in 2005 she started Narration Arts Workshop in New York City, offering audiobook recording classes and coaching. She holds a BA degree in theater studies from Yale University, an MFA in acting from the Yale School of Drama, and a certificate from the British American Drama Academy in England.
Tony Chiroldes is one of New York City’s busiest voice-over performers. He was an original Broadway cast member of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical In the Heights, and has appeared in other productions such as The Capeman, Sympathy Jones, Senor Discretion Himself, and more. Tony has voiced hundreds of English and Spanish commercials and many audiobooks, including The Dreamer, for which he won an Earphone Award from AudioFile.
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.
Mike Hodge is an actor and the president of SAG-AFTRA’s New York division. He has appeared in such films as Ransom, Loving, and Adam, among others. His audiobook narration earned him a nomination for the prestigious Audie Award in 2015.