The magical music of Frankie Presto is a novel written by Mitch Albom that explores the power of music and its impact on people's lives. The story revolves around Frankie Presto, a talented musician with a unique ability to influence others through his music. Frankie is introduced as an orphan in war-torn Spain, where he first discovers his passion for music. He learns to play the guitar and quickly becomes a prodigy, mesmerizing everyone who hears him play. After leaving Spain, Frankie's musical journey takes him to various places around the world, from the nightclubs of the United States to the arenas of rock concerts. Along the way, he crosses paths with several renowned musicians, including Elvis Presley, Duke Ellington, and Paul Stanley, who all recognize his exceptional talent.
As Dostoevsky once said, “Beauty will save the world.” Music, art, poetry, and architecture, along with the wonders of the natural world, are much better equipped to capture and communicate the ineffable nature of spiritual insights and truths.
And in case you fear this is some progressive mumbo-jumbo, the book also explores how to seek out an enchantment that is able to challenge you to grow and get better rather than just reassure you that all your opinions and actions are perfect. Richard Beck is not only a professor of psychology at Abilene Christian University, but also a theologian who probes seriously the implications and interplay of psychology.
Along the way, he crosses paths with several renowned musicians, including Elvis Presley, Duke Ellington, and Paul Stanley, who all recognize his exceptional talent. The novel follows Frankie's life from his troubled childhood to his rise as a music sensation, and ultimately to his disappearance. The narrative is interspersed with interviews and anecdotes from people whose lives Frankie touched through his music.
Hunting magix eels
I recently finished reading Richard Beck’s latest book, Hunting Magic Eels. It was a fantastic read and a book I’d recommend to anyone. The subtitle explains his premise well: “Recovering an Enchanted Faith in a Skeptical Age.”
I was initially drawn to this book as this topic seems to be an underlying premise of so many of our conversations on the Forest and Trees podcast (see: podcast page). In addition, I still think about things Beck wrote in his book Unclean many years after I read that one. Beck writes deeply about the Christian experience from the perspective of psychology (he’s a professor).
One of the themes throughout the book is that we need to be mindful of what gets our attention. And if we want to experience more of God, we need to find ways to aim our attention in that direction.
Faith is a matter of perception. Faith isn’t forcing yourself to believe in unbelievable things; faith is overcoming attentional blindness. Phrased differently, faith is about enchantment or, rather, a re-enchantment: the intentional recovery of a holy capacity to see and experience God in the world.
After his flight from Egypt, Moses is tending his father-in-law’s sheep in the middle of the desert near Mount Horeb. There, in the middle of nowhere, he catches sight of a bush that’s caught fire. Strangely, the bush isn’t being burnt up. Intrigued and fascinated, Moses says, “I must turn aside and see this strange sight.” I must turn aside. This is the key point. Encountering God’s presence requires a shift of attention. Moses must intentionally direct his attention to behold the strange sight.
When faith is a matter of attention, we need visual cues to capture and captivate our hearts and minds.
One of the most profound ideas in the book is how we’ve reduced Christianity to something that has inherently moved us away from experiencing God. Beck says it this way:
When the Christian experience shifts away from the mystical toward “being a good person,” the foundation of faith is relocated and placed in a very vulnerable location, like a cup set dangerously close to the edge of the table or a rock pushed to the edge of a cliff. Why? Because you don’t have to believe in God to be a good person. There are many people who don’t believe in God who are amazing, generous, and loving people. And once you make that observation, that you don’t need God to be good, the whole reason many of us have for believing in God simply evaporates. The glass falls off the table and shatters, and the rock tips over into the abyss.
He also does a great job—as a skeptic himself—showing how we need to challenge our own skepticism.
We still believe in the soul, even in this skeptical age. And we’d be horrified if anyone claimed otherwise. More and more people might doubt the existence of God, but God still haunts us. We crave the magic. We resist reducing our lives to biology. We are convinced that we are “more” than the sum total of our organs, bones, and tissues.
As Dostoevsky once said, “Beauty will save the world.” Music, art, poetry, and architecture, along with the wonders of the natural world, are much better equipped to capture and communicate the ineffable nature of spiritual insights and truths.
If you’re struggling with disenchantment, odds are you’re thinking rather than paying attention.
And in case you fear this is some progressive mumbo-jumbo, the book also explores how to seek out an enchantment that is able to challenge you to grow and get better rather than just reassure you that all your opinions and actions are perfect.
The critical issue, then, for both the religious and the spiritual alike, is this: Can your enchantment judge, criticize, and unsettle you? Can your enchantment point out your selfishness and self-indulgence? Can your enchantment, be it burning sage for your spell or singing “God Bless America” in your pew, hold a mirror up to your hypocrisy? Can your enchantment weigh your nation or political party on the scales and find it wanting? Does your enchantment create sacrificial obligations and duties in your life that you cannot avoid or ignore? Does your enchantment call you to extend grace to people you’d prefer to hate? Does your enchantment bust up your cozy self-satisfaction and dogmatic self-righteousness? These are questions that won’t be asked by an enchantment bought on Amazon. This fierce and honest moral examination can only be conducted by an enchantment that is “over and above” us, an enchantment that can judge us and hold our feet to the fire, an enchantment that cannot be avoided or blown off like the latest fad. These are the questions we have to ask when we seek to “discern the spirits,” when we want to determine if the voice we are hearing is from God or from our own egos.
This is a book that gave me lots to chew on while also nudging me closer to experiencing Jesus in new ways. What a gift to find both in one book.
CLICK HERE to get your own copy.
(Disclaimer: As a Faithlife Partner, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Logos.com at no cost to you. Your reading can help support my writing. Thank you!)
These individuals credit Frankie's music with changing their lives and giving them hope during difficult times. Through his music, Frankie not only entertains but also inspires and heals people. The novel emphasizes the transformative power of music, illustrating how it can evoke emotions, bring people together, and provide solace in times of pain and loss. Overall, The magical music of Frankie Presto is a captivating tale that showcases the remarkable impact and universal language of music. It reminds us of the power of art to touch lives and leave a lasting legacy..
Reviews for "The Musical Mastery of Frankie Presto: A Virtuoso in Every Genre"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Magical Music of Frankie Presto." The concept of a musician's life story being told through the perspective of music sounded intriguing, but the execution fell flat for me. The characters felt one-dimensional, and the plot lacked depth. I struggled to connect with Frankie Presto as a protagonist, and the way the story was narrated felt disjointed and confusing at times. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and a missed opportunity.
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - I had high hopes for "The Magical Music of Frankie Presto," but it didn't live up to my expectations. While the idea of using music as a narrative device was unique and interesting, I found the pacing of the story to be slow and at times tedious. The constant jumping between different points in Frankie Presto's life made it difficult for me to fully invest in the characters and their stories. Additionally, I felt that the emotional impact of certain events was diluted due to the disjointed structure of the novel. While I appreciated the musical references and insights into the music industry, the overall reading experience left me wanting more.
3. Lisa - 2/5 stars - "The Magical Music of Frankie Presto" was a letdown for me. I found the writing style to be overly simplistic, and the story itself lacked originality. The predictable plot twists and cliched characters left me feeling uninspired and unengaged. While the love for music was apparent throughout the book, it wasn't enough to salvage the overall experience. I had hoped for a more profound and captivating story, but instead, I found myself struggling to stay interested. Unfortunately, this novel didn't resonate with me.