Hannah’s Reviews > The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto > Status Update

The author keeps revisiting Frankie at Woodstock countless times, but never finishes the story. The people at his funeral also keep mentioning that he died onstage, during a performance. I'm thinking that Frankie probably died during his performance at Woodstock. (Prediction)

"I saw Frankie just sitting by himself in one of those director chairs, sort of half asleep. He perked up when he saw me." The author keeps hinting at Frankie being unhappy in his new marriage with Delores through small actions like this, further emphasizing that he truly loves Aurora. (Inferences)

Music says, "But in my countless creations, there has never been a sound for 'career'. Why do you let it affect me so?" I can see a theme here; the author is trying to convey, through Music's confusion about humanity, that it is so much more than humans make it out to be. Music is pure and naturally fundamental-- we humans demean it by thinking that we have control over it through making it a career. (Themes)

As soon as Frankie started playing "Maalaala Mo Kaya", the song he played for Aurora the first day they met as children, I knew that she would somehow appear on the scene. This book can be kind of predictable in that way- as soon as all hope is lost for Frankie when searching for her, Aurora comes to him. (Prediction)

"For my disciples, the map is simple. All lonely roads lead back to music. I embrace you. I forgive you. I will never leave you." I love this quote so much because I can relate to it completely. In some of my darkest moments in life, I have turned to music for comfort and strength, and it has never failed me. (Connection)

Two parts of this story don't line up. Later in the book, when revisiting Carmencita's death, the author says that she dies in the church the day the raiders come to overthrow it. Earlier in the book, Carmencita survives the raid, and lives for several months while raising Frankie. I am very confused! (Argue)

"Do not attack the strings, Francisco... Make them hunger for your next note. Same as in life. When you want someone to listen to you, will you attack them? No, you will not. You will make them hear the beauty of what you are offering, and they will want it for themselves." I often feel that the music that subtly draws you in resonates better with the soul than the music that forces you to listen. (Connection)

I love how the author switches between Music's narration and the stories of the people who met Frankie, talking at his funeral. You get an omniscient view of Frankie's life and the lives of all musicians, then you get sucked into Frankie's story, then you are pulled back to reality when the scene of the funeral comes back into view. (Writer's Strategies)

"'Remember this, Francisco,' he said. 'The secret is not to make your music louder, but to make the world quieter.'" (Favorites)

"Alberto stared at the velvet sack of money. El Maestro, of course, could not see his face. But I could. I saw a look that I have seen many times when new riches are within reach. The eyes get smaller. The lips tighten." I am sensing a change in Alberto. I predict that this money will instill greed within him and cause him to make some evil decision. (Prediction)