Frankie

»Das wär nix für mich, so'n Lebenssinn. Erstmal muss man ihn finden. Und dann muss man drauf aufpassen, damit man ihn nicht verliert.« Richard Gold hat alles vorbereitet. Heute ist der Tag, an dem er sich das Leben nehmen wird. Der Strick liegt schon um seinen Hals, als sich ein dürrer Kater vor das Fenster setzt, interessiert glotzt - und Gold komplett aus dem Konzept bringt. Als dann der Kater auch noch bei Gold einzieht, weil der einen großen Fernseher hat, ein "extremst" weiches Bett und pünktlich Essen serviert, beginnt die skurrile Freundschaft zwischen zwei Außenseitern, von denen zumindest einer ganz fest an ein Happy End im Leben glaubt. Ein Mann, der sterben will. Ein Kater, der ein Zuhause sucht. Eine berührende und zugleich urkomische Geschichte über eine außergewöhnliche Freundschaft und den Weg zurück ins Leben. »Es gelingt Jochen Gutsch in seinem Roman nahezu perfekt, die schwierige Balance zu halten - zwischen Lebensfreude und Todessehnsucht, zwischen unbeschwert und tieftraurig.« Christine Westermann

The beloved Sunday Times bestseller 'I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished' Nigella Lawson 'Wonderful' The i 'A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel' Sarah Winman, author of Still Life 'A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and refuses to let go' Sunday Independent Frankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now in her eighties, she finds it easier to forget the life that came before. Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years. From post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger-than-life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where life blazes with an intensity that can't last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie's past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable. 'Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know' Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry 'Frankie is one of the most wonderful characters I've come across in a long time' Good Housekeeping 'A perfect song of a book' Andrew O'Hagan, author of Caledonian Road 'Immersive, stunningly written, and very emotional - this is a triumph' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things 'I was bereft when I turned the last page. I adored Frankie and the storytelling was sublime' Prima , Book of the Month

The beloved Sunday Times bestseller 'I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished' Nigella Lawson 'Wonderful' The i 'A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel' Sarah Winman, author of Still Life 'A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and refuses to let go' Sunday Independent Frankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now in her eighties, she finds it easier to forget the life that came before. Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years. From post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger-than-life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where life blazes with an intensity that can't last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie's past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable. 'Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know' Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry 'Frankie is one of the most wonderful characters I've come across in a long time' Good Housekeeping 'A perfect song of a book' Andrew O'Hagan, author of Caledonian Road 'Immersive, stunningly written, and very emotional - this is a triumph' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things 'I was bereft when I turned the last page. I adored Frankie and the storytelling was sublime' Prima , Book of the Month

The latest novel from million-copy bestseller author Graham Norton - a dazzling, decades-sweeping story about love, bravery and what it means to live a significant life. 'Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know' BONNIE GARMUS 'I loved Frankie so much. I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished' NIGELLA LAWSON 'Gently melancholic, this novel is lovely company' THE NEW ZEALAND LISTENER 'A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and refuses to let go' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT Always on the periphery, looking on, young Frankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now old, Frankie finds it easier to forget the life that came before. Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat, there to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years. Travelling from post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger than life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where, for a while, life blazes with an intensity that can't last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie's past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable. 'Fascinating, funny, sad... Every page is intriguing. Once again, Graham shows his class as a writer' JO BRAND 'I was enthralled by Frankie from page one. It's a beauty. A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel' SARAH WINMAN ' Frankie is a perfect song of a book and everyone who likes human beings should read it' ANDREW O'HAGAN 'Immersive, stunningly written, and very emotional - this is a triumph' JENNIE GODFREY 'Packed with surprises, it's moving, riveting and enriching' MATT CAIN 'A great sweep of a novel, full of unexpected twists' LISSA EVANS * Graham Norton's most recent novel Forever Home was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in April 2023, and Frankie was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in September 2024.

The latest novel from million-copy bestseller author Graham Norton - a dazzling, decades-sweeping story about love, bravery and what it means to live a significant life. 'Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know' BONNIE GARMUS 'I loved Frankie so much. I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished' NIGELLA LAWSON 'Gently melancholic, this novel is lovely company' THE NEW ZEALAND LISTENER 'A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and refuses to let go' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT Always on the periphery, looking on, young Frankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now old, Frankie finds it easier to forget the life that came before. Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat, there to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years. Travelling from post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger than life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where, for a while, life blazes with an intensity that can't last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie's past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable. 'Fascinating, funny, sad... Every page is intriguing. Once again, Graham shows his class as a writer' JO BRAND 'I was enthralled by Frankie from page one. It's a beauty. A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel' SARAH WINMAN ' Frankie is a perfect song of a book and everyone who likes human beings should read it' ANDREW O'HAGAN 'Immersive, stunningly written, and very emotional - this is a triumph' JENNIE GODFREY 'Packed with surprises, it's moving, riveting and enriching' MATT CAIN 'A great sweep of a novel, full of unexpected twists' LISSA EVANS * Graham Norton's most recent novel Forever Home was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in April 2023, and Frankie was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in September 2024.

The latest novel from million-copy bestseller author Graham Norton - a dazzling, decades-sweeping story about love, bravery and what it means to live a significant life. 'Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know' BONNIE GARMUS 'I loved Frankie so much. I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished' NIGELLA LAWSON 'A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and refuses to let go' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT Always on the periphery, looking on, young Frankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now old, Frankie finds it easier to forget the life that came before. Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat, there to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years. Travelling from post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger than life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where, for a while, life blazes with an intensity that can't last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie's past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable. 'Fascinating, funny, sad... Every page is intriguing. Once again, Graham shows his class as a writer' JO BRAND 'I was enthralled by Frankie from page one. It's a beauty. A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel' SARAH WINMAN ' Frankie is a perfect song of a book and everyone who likes human beings should read it' ANDREW O'HAGAN 'Immersive, stunningly written, and very emotional - this is a triumph' JENNIE GODFREY 'Packed with surprises, it's moving, riveting and enriching' MATT CAIN 'A great sweep of a novel, full of unexpected twists' LISSA EVANS * Graham Norton's most recent novel Forever Home was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in April 2023, and Frankie was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in September 2024.

The latest novel from million-copy bestseller author Graham Norton - a dazzling, decades-sweeping story about love, bravery and what it means to live a significant life. 'Warm and wise, Frankie is a woman worth getting to know' BONNIE GARMUS 'I loved Frankie so much. I couldn't stop reading it, but feel bereft now that I've finished' NIGELLA LAWSON 'A masterclass in storytelling that grabs you by the heartstrings from page one and refuses to let go' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT Always on the periphery, looking on, young Frankie Howe was never quite sure enough of herself to take centre stage - after all, life had already judged her harshly. Now old, Frankie finds it easier to forget the life that came before. Then Damian, a young Irish carer, arrives at her London flat, there to keep an eye on her as she recovers from a fall. A memory is sparked, and the past crackles into life as Damian listens to the story Frankie has kept stored away all these years. Travelling from post-war Ireland to 1960s New York - a city full of art, larger than life characters and turmoil - Frankie shares a world in which friendship and chance encounters collide. A place where, for a while, life blazes with an intensity that can't last but will perhaps live on in other ways and in other people. But as Frankie's past slowly emerges, her spirit and endurance are revealed as undeniable . . . and unforgettable. 'Fascinating, funny, sad... Every page is intriguing. Once again, Graham shows his class as a writer' JO BRAND 'I was enthralled by Frankie from page one. It's a beauty. A warm, deeply moving, life-enhancing novel' SARAH WINMAN ' Frankie is a perfect song of a book and everyone who likes human beings should read it' ANDREW O'HAGAN 'Immersive, stunningly written, and very emotional - this is a triumph' JENNIE GODFREY 'Packed with surprises, it's moving, riveting and enriching' MATT CAIN 'A great sweep of a novel, full of unexpected twists' LISSA EVANS * Graham Norton's most recent novel Forever Home was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in April 2023, and Frankie was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller in September 2024.

»Das wär nix für mich, so'n Lebenssinn. Erstmal muss man ihn finden. Und dann muss man drauf aufpassen, damit man ihn nicht verliert.« Richard Gold hat alles vorbereitet. Heute ist der Tag, an dem er sich das Leben nehmen wird. Der Strick liegt schon um seinen Hals, als sich ein dürrer Kater vor das Fenster setzt, interessiert glotzt - und Gold komplett aus dem Konzept bringt. Als dann der Kater auch noch bei Gold einzieht, weil der einen großen Fernseher hat, ein "extremst" weiches Bett und pünktlich Essen serviert, beginnt die skurrile Freundschaft zwischen zwei Außenseitern, von denen zumindest einer ganz fest an ein Happy End im Leben glaubt. Ein Mann, der sterben will. Ein Kater, der ein Zuhause sucht. Eine berührende und zugleich urkomische Geschichte über eine außergewöhnliche Freundschaft und den Weg zurück ins Leben.

»Das wär nix für mich, so'n Lebenssinn. Erstmal muss man ihn finden. Und dann muss man drauf aufpassen, damit man ihn nicht verliert.« Richard Gold hat alles vorbereitet. Heute ist der Tag, an dem er sich das Leben nehmen wird. Der Strick liegt schon um seinen Hals, als sich ein dürrer Kater vor das Fenster setzt, interessiert glotzt - und Gold komplett aus dem Konzept bringt. Als dann der Kater auch noch bei Gold einzieht, weil der einen großen Fernseher hat, ein "extremst" weiches Bett und pünktlich Essen serviert, beginnt die skurrile Freundschaft zwischen zwei Außenseitern, von denen zumindest einer ganz fest an ein Happy End im Leben glaubt. Ein Mann, der sterben will. Ein Kater, der ein Zuhause sucht. Eine berührende und zugleich urkomische Geschichte über eine außergewöhnliche Freundschaft und den Weg zurück ins Leben.