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Summary: Addicted to this Book
Review: James Frey's writing style is very creative and reflects the state of his addiction. It really opens your eyes to the world of the addicted and causes you to think if you ever could become that way. This was definitely a page turner that I could not put down. I highly recommend this book for someone looking for an unconvential read or someone who has a friend or family member who has fought with an addiction.
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Summary: Outstanding! A Must Read!!
Review: One of the most compelling novels I've read. The author grips you from the first sentence and won't let you go. "A Million Little Pieces" stays with you long after you finished reading the last sentece. You feel every emotion of the author as he shares his innermost thoughts and fears. You are taken along a painful, honest, scary, loving, vulnerable and courageous journey. I cried and laughed. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. This is a must read for everyone. This is not a book merely for the addict or recovering addict. Everyone will come away from reading this book a more compassionate person with a greater understanding of the human soul and our own vulnerability thanks to the honesty of James Frey. I look forward reading more of Mr. Frey's work.
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Summary: Best book I've ever read
Review: When I read the first page, I was taken aback by his way of writing. It's definitely not conventional, and he would deserve punishment from a grammar teacher. That being said, I think his way of writing contributed to the effectiveness of this book. The fact that he could be so brutally honest, knowing that everyone in the country was going to read his story, is mind-blowing. I've already recommended this book to all of my friends, and despite other reviews that you may read that put this book down, IGNORE them. Buy it. Read it. You may even want to read it twice. It's the kind of book that's so good, you don't want it to end. Honestly, I cried more than a few times. Awesome!!
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Summary: A Rare Sense of Realism
Review: I was prompted to read "A Million Little Pieces" (and "Running With Scissors") after enjoying Augusten Burroughs' "Dry" which I read upon recommendation after enjoying Rikki Lee Travolta's "My Fractured Life." This is a stunning book. It doesn't have the same humor as "Dry" and "My Fractured Life" which made it a little more testing to absorb, but once I did I loved it. It is scary and dramatic and sad, which I think gives this a rare sense of realism. Also, like "My Fractured Life" the author doesn't try to sugar coat the lead character to be a likeable "hero." Instead he presents a man with many flaws, who at many times is very unlikable. But that's the point! Addicts are not necessarily people who are on their best behavior. I can't say enough. This is a great book.
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Summary: One of the Best because it's BY an Addict
Review: In terms of stories about addiction, A MILLION LITTLE PIECES blew me away. You can tell the voice of a real addict versus a flim flam writer creating dialogue based on what they've seen on TV. A MILLION LITTLE PIECES is among the best in capturing the real experiences of an addict in an interesting way. It stands with DRY (stunningly written), THE BASKETBALL DIARIES (brutally vivid), and MY FRACTURED LIFE (absolutely brilliant) as one of the best ever books about addiction (most notably because they are all BY addicts).
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Summary: Warts and all
Review: It's possible to read this book on a number of levels. First, it is as harrowing an account of addiction and early recovery as you're likely to find anywhere. And while the author's style is a little self-conscious, it seems painfully sincere. It is literary only in the sense that the author has begun to master stream-of-consciousness, and dares to subject the reader to the frequent monotony of his pain and hopelessness. (Like it or not, pain and hopelessness can feel endless.) Like some terrible accident, we can't look at the text and we can't look away. On a different plane, the book recounts one human being's passage from total loss and destruction to some shred of hope, and once or twice in a lifetime, that's what some of us long for. Cheers to Nan Talese for taking this on as a project and for Doubleday for taking the risk of releasing it. The marketplace doesn't take very kindly to books about cancer, alcoholism, or to non-political suffering. I think the book has great value -- apart from all the hype which has engulfed it -- as a razor-sharp account of how difficult life can become in this world, and how much tenacity it takes to find the way back. Five stars for tremendous literary effort and editorial courage. I've read a few mean-spirited reviews here, and they simply seem exaggerated and out-of-place.
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Summary: All Socio Economic Backgrounds
Review: This book was one of the most gripping books I've read - period! It proves that all people have problems...some more than others. It doesn't matter if James Frey is from a wealthy family or a poor family, white or black, he's an addict. Thats the story of the book...this diverse group of people all brought together under one common bond and goal. James' way of reaching and conquering that goal also happens to go against what a few million recovering addicts believe is the best way to beat it....but what do they know?! The fact is that this country is over run with drugs. Some take drugs like James Frey took them...others take them just to make their own personal day to day pain go away. The fact is we've never been winning "The War" on drugs.....but James Frey won an impressive battle. Read this book- it will change your opinion of what an addict is supposed to be.
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Summary: Facinating
Review: I haven't read a novel in 15 years, and I am so glad that I pick-up this book. Frey describes feelings, emotions and physical anguish so distinctly that it felt like it was the one in detox. I literally could not put it down at times. A very engaging, real and dramatic story.
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Summary: One of the best books I've ever read...
Review: A Million Little Pieces is absolutely one of the best books I've ever read. And that says a lot; It keeps company in my bookcase with Mark Twain, Larry McMurtry, Wally Lamb, Hemingway, Stegner, Pirsig...the list goes on. This book is real. It's honest. How courageous of Mr. Frey to not only stand up and face himself and his addictions, but to TELL his story to the world. To tell the truth about his life and what he went through and what he put his family through. You have seen some mixed reviews, no doubt. But we all have our own opinions. So form your own. Don't let a nasty review from a jealous, whiny former addict be the reason you don't read this book. Don't cheat yourself. The book is amazing and even if you don't agree with everything in it (we seldom do) you are certain to take something away from it. Buy the book, read the book, keep the book on your shelf. You'll be sure to pick it up again and again.
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Summary: The Cold Hard Truth of Addiction and the Road to Recovery
Review: The writings of Frey are as authentic as they come...his story is about running toward the edge of the cliff to the abyss and beginning the jump off into it. Instead, he slips, trips and falls and is unsuccessful at destroying himself. The remainder of the story is about recovery...which is essentially, the grueling process of dusting one's self off and figuring out how to walk again. One of the most intriguing aspects and points of this book is, like all drug addiction, it knows no socio-economic background or intellectual status...like death, it is impartial to those things. Some reviewers have criticized the childhood background that Mr. Frey has come. While being a product of financially secure and caring parents, it shouldn't be used against a person to dilute the phenomenal amount of courage, dedication and perseverance it takes to recover. Addiction doesn't care about wealth, friends or family. It chooses victims across socio-economic and racial boundaries. It doesn't care if you're married, single, divorced, straight or gay. It is an equal opportunity taker of souls. At the onset, recovery from addiction is two things...hard as hell and lonely. Jim Frey puts his unique experience into a well told and thought out perspective. His story was gross, cold, explicit, angry and at times, shameful. His life today is heroic, inspiring and provides hope to those who are struggling with addiction...I know that the words of this story has certainly helped more than one person. This book should give a bit of hope to all of those individuals struggling with addiction and recovery.
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