The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures
Caroline Preston
240 pages
Publication Date: October 25, 2011
Publisher: Ecco
Source: Publisher
When Candace over at Beth Fish Reads featured Caroline Preston’s The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt, I knew this was a book for me. I love journaling and art so reading a book that’s told in pictures though in a new format, sounded too good to pass up.
It’s 1920 and Frankie Pratt is an eighteen-year old girl who dreams of being a writer. After her high school graduation, she’s given her father’s typewriter and a scrapbook as a way to realize her dream. Frankie would love to attend Vassar but on her widowed mother’s salary as a home nurse, there’s just no way that will happen. Fortunately for Frankie, her situation changes and her new life begin.
The subtitle, A Novel in Pictures, is a perfect fit. Frankie’s story is told with ephemera from the 1920s. Though it fits my definition of a graphic novel (pictures + words), I wouldn’t describe the book in that manner. The author coined Frankie Pratt, a “scrapbook novel” and I think that’s the perfect term for this new format. Preston does such a fantastic job at matching pictures with Frankie’s life that I wondered what came first, Frankie’s story or the pictures. Not only that but while reading this, I didn’t feel like there was pieces missing to the story or that I had to fill in the blank spaces. Readers get enough of everything for this book to be a satisfying read.
Being that this is the 1920s, there’s mention of famous people and places of that time like Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, and the bookstore Shakespeare & Co. I thought it was all interesting and the story kept me rooting for Frankie all the way until the end.
After reading The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt, I was happy to find out that Preston is currently working on her next scrapbook novel.
Here’s an excerpt that I found on NPR about poet Edna St. Vincent Millay’s visit to Vassar while Frankie was a student there. Click on the pictures to enlarge.
Wasn’t this book wonderful? I just loved it!
I love this kind of imagistic storytelling too: this must have been great fun!
This looks so fun. I think if I read it I would probably feel inspired to start scrapbooking! :–)
This one looks just so great. I love the idea of a story told in new ways. I can’t wait to read it.
I really want to read this at some point. It looks really good!
Sandy and Kathy just loved this book, and now I want to get the chance to read it as well. It sounds like such a unique premise, and one that is really well executed. I must check this one out soon! Fantastic review!
I have many books on my wish list, but this one is definitely on the very tip top of the list. I want to read it badly!!
That does it. I have to get my hands on this book. It just sounds wonderful and my goodness, I love that cover.
I want to read this! Or just wallow in the pictures.
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The more I see of this book, the better it looks. And, it definitely looks like a book read, not an ebook read!
Edi, I can’t imagine someone trying to read this book on their e-reader! It’s really not that kind of book. The book I think about e-readers, the more I realize some books aren’t meant to be read in that format.
I loved this book too! I liked your review. If anyone else is looking for extra impetus to check the book out, you can see what I thought on my page http://proseandconsbookclub.wordpress.com. Thanks!
I am so looking forward to getting my hands on this one.
I won this book recently and just received it in the mail. I am really looking forward to reading it since there’s a lot about it that interests me…the time period, Frankie making NYC her home, her wish to write. and the format is new and different for me. I haven’t read many graphic novels either, so the scrap-booking idea is fun.
Reading your review got me even more excited. I might have to sit down with this book tonight or tomorrow and start reading!
This looks so good. I love when stories are told in alternative formats!
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