Rating: 
Summary: Inspirational
Review: I would like to thank James Frey for writing a heart-wrenching, passionate, revealing, courageous tale for us. He takes great risks and ultimately wins us over with his naked prose. At the risk of sounding cliche, I was literally unable to wedge my bookmark between the golden pages. I cared so deeply for the "hero" in his tome, and that's what he is - a hero. Mr. Frey's grizzly descriptions of the lead character's struggles captivate the reader from page one. Just when you think this character has braved his darkest demons, it gets more and more dismal; however, through black moments like receiving a root canal with no pain management, there is somehow this ever-present light that carries him (and us) through.I must read it again.
Rating:
Summary: Life from death and other sorted tales
Review: Be prepared. This is not your run-of-the-mill "Clean and Sober" story. This story belts you in the face from the very beginning with the harsh, cold reality of addiction. This very realistic, honest depiction of the depths of addiction is not a ploy to appeal to the grotesque or morbid curiosity in people, but very necessary to understand the thinking problems and the behavior manifested by these thoughts present in active addicts. This story is one of heart-breaking saddness, despair, lonliness, abondonment and self-loathing. It is also a story of courage, triumph of will and determination. Frey's style is different, no doubt about it. His halting style and repitiousness have a purpose, but you must read on for it to become appearant. It makes one uncomfortable at first, much the same way an active addict feels most of the time. His character development is subtle but complete. I felt that I truly understood James and his cast of compatriots and could indentify with their feelings of failure, loss and hope. I know a little about the life of addiction, treatment and recovery and in my opinion, this is a very accurate portrait of the "experience, strength and hope" that you would find in this setting. I appreciate that James takes his own path to his treatment, a path not recommended nor condoned by the staff at his facility all the time, but a path that proves to be the only one he could follow. It's not always about the 12 steps and AA for everyone. If what your looking for is a true-to-life story of struggle and redemption, addiction and recovery, death and life, look no further, you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Sobering
Review: Go buy the book today. You will pick it up and not put it down until it is finished. And do not listen to some of these ex-addicts who think they know better and think their own story is so much more tragic.
Frey does not pretend to have all the solutions. Thats the point.
If you are looking for a good book, buy it today.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful and Intense
Review: This book is great if you can get past the point that it is really brutal and honest writing. I cant think of a book that I have read recently that tells its tale in a more bare bones style and the results are often upsetting. The writer tells his story (it truly is his story) in a very brash writing style that often reads like poetry - resonating long after the words have crossed your path. Its subject matter is addiction and at times you feel the writer is trying to make you understand the thought process of a true addict through the timing of his prose. Really effective and very original novel. I read a review of someone angry about the writer's story. They are upset because most addicts don't have any college, or any parents, or any money to get them out of their addictions. Having known several addicts in my lifetime, I can understand this bitterness directed at the sickness. I have not read a book that so clearly entertains while sending its message loud and clear. If there were more addicts (recovering) like Mr. Frey writing entertaining and impressive books, then there wouldn't be as many new addicts waiting to be born in our middle schools every day. These problems happen early, like when Mr. Frey started drinking and sniffing glue - 12 or 13 years of age! He is truly lukcy to be alive, and he lets us know it through a great first novel.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book
Review: This book made me feel like I was sitting next to James Frey. I cringed, gagged, cried, laughed, and routed for him when I wanted to hate him. Read this book and appreciate HIS story. Learn from it, or just marvel in the raw depiction of his struggle, self-loathing, and eventual recovery. This story isn't just about addiction; it's about life and the sometimes ugly road to getting something you want. It's about love, friendship, family, being real with yourself and knowing yourself. Read this book, you will not be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Even better the 2nd time around
Review: I just finished reading A Million Little Pieces for the 2nd time, almost 7 months after being blown away by it the 1st time. This book makes you feel angry, exhausted, scared, relieved, and even happy. The point is that it makes you think and feel at a time when so much liturature does just one or the other, but rarely both. I highly recommend buying and reading this book at least twice.
Rating: 
Summary: You Can't Judge This Book By Its Cover
Review: BOOK REVIEW: A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
You Can't Judge This Book by Its Cover
That's right. The best component of James Frey's autobiographical novel is the cover. A great cover. One of the best book covers I have seen in years - it really catches your eye, it really draws you in. The insert flap is semi-interesting (probably because it was not written by Frey himself), not original, but good enough to pique your interest and see what it is all about. The problem comes when you open it.
The prose - I hope - is meant to be intentionally simple. Simple with short sentences that cry to hit home, but this Frey is no Hemingway. No, just about every word does not feel authentic, but over done, over cooked, over zealous, trying too hard - DO YOU GET THE POINT? Absolutely as dramatic as they come; and although I may not be a professional writer, I am an alcoholic, so I semi-know of where I speak. As an alcoholic, the only thing I did enjoy was Frey's staunch opposition to Alcoholics Anonymous' 12 Step Recovery Program (Lord, knows that quasi-cult-new religion for the 20th/21st century needs to go or at least come healthy competition - but it works if you work it right; sorry, to get off topic). It is sad that I have to doubt the author's prowess; that he so readily (over dramatically, of course) boasts of it, as if it was the only thing he was ever good at in life. I am probably way off base, but I am skeptical that he consumed as much drugs and alcohol as he did, and that he has done as much internal damage to as many organs as he claims. Who knows if this is dramatic license or not?
Although what I do know about the protagonist, the author himself, is that he is a completely unlikable, snot nose brat with rich, but loving and concerned parents and this 23 year old punk, old enough to know better, appears to be unmoved by their sacrificing. So painfully dramatic when it comes to scenes with his parent's I almost needed to put the book down and watch a soap opera on the Soap Channel instead...really. He: DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THEM - oh, poor baby is ashamed, and numb and emotionless, and sadly, it all feels unauthentic - done for effect.
For the most part, what can be said of Frey is that he is one hell of a jerk to almost everyone he encounters. Just about the entire autobiography takes place in a rehab clinic. During his stay, Frey is unnecessarily rude to just about everyone, (Yeah, yeah we get you, your angry, withdrawing, hating yourself, blah, blah, blah.) except for a retired mafia guy (who will be played by Danny Aiello if there is ever a film adaptation), and some ex-prostitute whom the clinic forbids him to speak to, (keeping with the men to the men, women to the women - the famous 12 Step/AA philosophy for new people in recovery). And the book goes on, and on, stubborn young man routine just rolls on and collects much moss as it rolls. A complete drag - humorless, less than insightful, and it is better off left to collect dust in the recovery section of the bookstores.
Incidentally, the audio addition is far, far, worse, having been read in this annoyingly urgent phony voice by some no name actor who lives in Los Angeles. So bad, in fact that the compact disks themselves might jump out of your cd player and run to the nearest bar or crack house to dull the pain of their abridged (thank God) audio book existence.
But damn, what a great cover - designers Rodrigo Corral and Christopher Marble are the only ones who deserve the praise in this one.
Rating: 
Summary: A better screenplay than a book...
Review: I'm sorry. But I ain't buying it. I believe James Frey was a hopeless addict, I believe he went to a facility like the one he described, I believe he has now kicked his addictions through sheer will power, and I admire him for it. But I don't believe one of word of the dialogue he wrote in this autobiography, the characters he describes, or the interactions he had. The people come off as archetypal. The interactions make believe. That's not to say he's not a good writer, it's just that I didn't believe what I was reading to be a factual account of what really happened. He is imaginative and should write more movies.
Rating:
Summary: what an idiot
Review: A note to anyone contemplating this read- don't bother!!
Frey is unsympathetic, unlikable. Having traveled a similar road as the author, I fear the uninitiated reader will be left with the impression that Frey's mentality is indicative of ex-abusers in general. I do share Frey's weariness of coerced spirituality. Nevertheless, the reader should be aware that alcoholics and addicts come in all shapes, sizes and worldwiews. In this addicts humble estimation, most of us have outgrown the phony, adolescent bravado which he so boorishly demonstrates throughout the work. This guy sucks !!
Rating:
Summary: Read Dry Instead!
Review: I bought this book and Dry by Augusten Burroughs on the same day. Both deal with addiction and recovery. While Dry was a pleasure to read...insightful, witty and wonderful. This was completely laborious, a chore, a bore. Don't bother. The writing is on Reader's Digest level. 11th grade. TOPS.
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