Review & Giveaway: The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published October 25th 2011 by Ecco

more details...

ISBN:0061966908 (ISBN13: 9780061966903)

About the author:

Caroline Preston is the author of three previous novels, "Jackie by Josie" (a "New York Times" Notable Book), "Lucy Crocker 2.0", and "Gatsby's Girl". She has collected antique scrapbooks since she was in high school, and has worked as an archivist at the Peabody/Essex Museum and Harvard University. She and her husband, the writer Christopher Tilghman, live in Charlottesville, Virginia.

thoughts: Not only is this a fascinating concept, the story to go along with the book is delightful. Frankie is such a spirited character! We follow Frankie as she graduates from high school in the very small New Hampshire town of Cornish through her college years at Vassar to her grand adventures in Paris and right back to Cornish where she finally finds just what she was looking for. We feel for her when she experiences the pangs of new love found and lost. It's probably this experience that got her her first writing job!

     "I think I know something about sorrow, Mr. Macfadden. My father died young, leaving my mother to support 3 children."

     "Most of our stories are about heartache. What do you know about that?"

     I pause--just say whatever it takes to get the job. "I was involved with a man who turned out to be married." Straight out of True Story!

     He looks pleased. "But you lived to regret it?"

     "Yes, sir, I did."

     "Atta girl. Sin, suffer and repent. That's our motto. You're hired."

   
The visuals in the books are just stunning. I loved the idea of using old postcards, vintage ads and
other memorabilia from the 1920's all arranged in scrapbook fashion. Some of the items I even recognized from my childhood. Wow, did that make me feel old!! Please be sure to listen to Caroline Preston's trailer as she tells how this book came about.

This is one of those books you could just keep perusing over and over.  The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt would make a wonderful gift, (once you have your own copy!). It's definitely a keeper to be savored time and again. 5*****To see some sample pages from the book, please visit Harper Collins.





Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided Harper Collins by in exchange for my honest
opinion. Thank you, Heather!

Through the generosity of Harper Collins, I am allowed to give away up to 5 copies of this book.  Open to US only. Deadline to enter is November 12th at 5 PM (est)

Bonus entries available for this contest are as follows:

+1 for posting on your facebook page with link to giveaway
+2 for being a follower, old or new. Just remind me how you follow and under what name.
+3 for blogging (sidebar is fine) or tweeting about the giveaway. Leave me a link, please.

If you wish to enter but cannot leave a comment, you can e mail me at florida982002[at]yahoo.com with Win The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt in the subject line. Leave your name and e mail.

Good luck!