James Frey, shamed by Oprah for making up parts of his memoir, A Million Little Pieces, has another book coming out June 3: Bright Shiny Morning. I can’t wait.
Thankfully, it’s a work of fiction, so he can write whatever he pleases.
I loved A Million Little Pieces, a story of hope and redemption. His writing style is unique – short sentences and run-ons and little punctuation.
Oprah liked it, too, before she found out Frey exaggerated a bit. Frankly, I don’t read any memoir with the expectations that it’s the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The memory is a faulty and subjective thing.
Frey may have taken too many liberties in dramatizing the memoir but it is an account of a liar, so it is fitting. His follow up, My Friend Leonard, is charming and funny. Ah, sweet Leonard.
I have high hopes for Bright Shiny Morning.
If his recent blog –Fun Facts Los Angeles– is any clue, it looks like the book will dwell in the eccentricities of LA.
I’m all in favor of lesser minds having their little treats, so by all means enjoy your Frey, but please try to write idiomatic English. It’s “dwelling ON,” not “dwelling IN.”
Comment by Shef Rogers — March 6, 2008 @ 6:43 pm
I think James Frey did not deserve the rough treatment he received from so many, including Oprah. It is a well known fact in the publishing industry that non-fiction books sell more than five times the number of novels or fiction in general. So the publisher of “A million little pieces” , with the cooperation of both the author and his agent published the book as non-fiction. If only the publisher had printed the standard “Disclaimer” a reader sees in so many books, there would have been no furor . Obviously Frey is a very good writer, albeit he writes without proper punctuation. But he has created his own unique style of writing, the now famous run-on sentences, just as Arundhati Roy has created hers. I am certain that his new book will be a huge seller.
Comment by Yesh Prabhu, Plainsboro, NJ — May 20, 2008 @ 10:39 am
I totally agree about reading a memoir with the understanding that it’s not a court transcript. As for Bright Shiny Morning — So Far so Good.
Comment by K — May 25, 2008 @ 6:27 am
I just finished reading A Million Little Pieces and I am in tears. I cannot believe this man lived through all of this, even if some of it was exaggerated. I cannot wait to get his other book/books and I hope to read more about him in the future.
This book was an eye opener for me. I am not an alcoholic nor a drug addict but I do take things for granted. I am a mother of 4 and now I will go home and look at my children and enjoy ever moment of their lives. Before I would take care of them but I was to depressed to really spend time with them. Now I am going to think twice about saying no to them. Thanks to James for writing this book and thanks to whomever lead me to it.
Comment by Dawn — June 11, 2008 @ 6:48 pm
I was so excited when I saw that James had decided to write again! I actually was a little lost when I finished “My Friend Leonard.” Now with “Bright, Shiny morning,” I have new hope ! Thanks James for continuing on your journey and continuing to write. Funny, If so many people were dissapointed with “Million Little Peices” how come I had to go to 4 stores to find your new book? I would guess that it was SOLD OUT!!! Good Job!! I look forward to your next book! Keep up the good work!
Comment by Jen — June 22, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
I just finished Bright Shiny Morning. More then I had hoped for. Reading this felt like I was reuniting with an old friend. Amazing.
Comment by Wendy — June 22, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
A sham. A travesty. Frey shows he knows nothin bout nothin. Lists of garbage facts some made up some real. No resonance. No no no real xperience, jus poseur Wiki bits. Fake spiritualism fake authenticity looking for fake fake fake redemption. Bogus bogus bogus. Generic characterization no deeper than a supermarket fanzine. Memoirs r better cause at least they once (supposedly) happened are imbued with the legitimacy or real xperience. But in Frey’s case the unlived life is not worth examining. Plus too few commas.
Comment by Geronimo Auchincloss — July 25, 2008 @ 4:06 pm
Just finished My Friend Leonard, loved it. Million Little Pieces rocked too.
Even if some of it is exaggarated, I couldn’t care less.
The arrogance of some people makes me chuckle, little minds and all that.
Cant wait to get Bright Shiny Morning
Comment by Stuart Galbraith — August 28, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
I’m in the middle of reading James Frey, a million little pieces. I enjoy the story, and the point of the story is a man going through a treatment to get off of drugs. It is a victory not all go through, or not something everyone will ever understand. No matter some of the slight changes of his journey, it is an amazing story. And I believe people should not be so hard on him. After all the moral of the story is a man bouncing back into life. Not a lesson on how to tell the truth.
Comment by Kyra Card — September 1, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
I have read a million little pieces, after it was publicized by oprah. i cried my eyes out, i really FELT what he wanted to say.
i am now 3/4 done my friend leonard, and am loving it just as much. i googled to see if james had a third book continuing, i found out he has a fiction coming out. i will buy this one too.
i must agree, that mr.frey was not writing a court document, and sometimes a little stretching can help to make the reader really feel his emotions. so i have no less regard for james frey. loved his reads, and look forward to more. thanks james.
brenda lavoie, ontario, canada
Comment by Brenda Lavoie — October 2, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
I just finished Bright Shiny Morning. It was excellent. Frey’s style and character development had me glued. I didn’t realize until now that he was the author berated by Oprah a while back. I don’t recall the details of that situation but it doesn’t change my high opinion of him. He has an artistic quality to his writing that makes him unique. His deep understanding and clear description of many human experiences made me wish the book wouldn’t end. My only criticism is that I caught myself often suffering through some of the historical segents of Los Angeles in anticipation of the continued saga of the primary characters. However, that probably was part of his goal to make the reader more “hungry.” I’ll definitely read more of his writings. Geronimo’s comments above aren’t worth the time it takes to read his nonsense.
Comment by Mark Gregory — October 3, 2008 @ 6:16 am
Fantastic Book first read before the ’scandal’ … they sold it in the Fiction section, surely that should be a clue !!!
Strenght, Courage, Wisdom… It helps with perspective
Thank you James Frey, i am not an adict, but read your book during a time of confusion, you’ll never know how much it helped.
Comment by L — October 11, 2008 @ 9:32 pm