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Bright Shiny Morning (P.S.) |  | Author: James Frey
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Category: Book
List Price: $15.99
Buy Used: $0.05
as of 3/11/2010 02:46 CST details
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Seller: abmediaservices
Rating:  166 reviews
Sales Rank: 230540
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Pages: 544
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.4 x 1.1
ISBN: 0061573175
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780061573170
ASIN: 0061573175
Publication Date: May 1, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9780061573170 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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Product Description
One of the most celebrated and controversial authors in America delivers an extraordinary novel—a sweeping chronicle of contemporary Los Angeles that is bold, exhilarating, and utterly original. Dozens of characters pass through the reader's sight lines—some never to be seen again—but James Frey lingers on a handful of LA's lost souls and captures the dramatic narrative of their lives. A dazzling tour de force, Bright Shiny Morning illuminates the joys, horrors, and unexpected fortunes of life and death in Los Angeles.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 166
 Truly Enjoyable March 1, 2010
T. Giorgione
I read both of James Frey's other books and loved them both very much. When I got my kindle and saw that he had another book out I couldn't pass it up. I started it exactly a week ago and ever since any free time i had i needed to read it. The book is made up of many stories within a story. It tells the tale of people living in LA and how there lives vary so widely from one another. What makes it so good is Frey's style of writing. His writing is so detailed and his emotioin comes through his words. It makes you feel the characters and feel what they feel.
If you enjoyed his other books or you just want a taste of something new, i truly think you should give this a go.
 Bright Shiny Let Down February 28, 2010
Sara M (California, USA)
When I picked up Bright Shiny Morning on audio, I was elated to find out Ben Foster was reading it. If you've seen Foster's movies, you'll know he never does anything half way (except for maybe the Disney Channel's Flash Forward). And he brought that intensity to this reading even when it didn't suit the material. This disjointed effect is the very least of the novels issues for me, and what Ben brings to the more serious packages is brilliant. But as much as I enjoyed Ben's reading, audio is not the way to go on this one.
Frey tells the stories of Los Angeles residents up and down the food chain, but in-between every narrative passage or profiles of a resident (some of which go no where), we get LA history, trivia, facts, lists. It is almost like he grabbed a travel guide to intersperse with the novel, or he included all of his research on the cities setting just so we'd know that he did it. The lists are the worst. Frey lists something like gang names or LA disabled veterans or prestigious artists, and these lists drag on for minutes. And since it was audio I was held captive as I could not skim some of these lengthy inclusions as I know anyone who read this book must have done at some point. The lists are interesting and at times moving, but I don't want to read one every ten pages or so in a work of fiction.
One of my other pet peeves is the use of repeated phrases for emphasis which Frey worked to exhaustion in this novel. Try using skill in diction instead of hitting us over the head with the same phrases. When the language calls attention to itself it dissipates the tension of otherwise incredibly gripping or moving passages.
Frey it seems can't help call attention to his rendition in his gimmick and overworked novel. This is a shame because some of the stories are very engrossing particularly an American maid of Mexican decent coming into her own and a closeted A-list movie star who falls in love with an emotionally distant up and coming agent. These narratives were not enough to save the construction which was not cohesive. I do understand that the novel is everything LA and the detailing and criticizing of LA culture is more important then any one story or theme, but a good novel should offer some narrative direction. This chief complaint could be why some will rave about the book, so Frey fans, anyone who lives in or around LA or those fascinated by it, will probably enjoy it. Give yourself an out though by skipping the audio version just in case some serious skimming is in order.
 Horrible February 6, 2010
Meaghan (Ab, Canada)
I saw this book on the discount table at the local book store. I had heard about it, and thought it was weird it was already on clearance. Now I know why.
I thought this book was awful. There was way too many short stories, which made me have no feelings for any of the characters. And when I was slowly warming to a characters story, it goes into these boring stats of LA I found myself skipping over very early in the book. At one point there was three pages of just names, or a list of people that bought guns and the type of gun they bought. This made it a quick read, as 50% of the story was random stats that I skipped over.
I didn't feel the the characters, I felt it was all stereotypical stories of the stereotypical people in LA. I can't remember the last time I read a book that I hated as much as I hated this book. Homeless alcoholic, check, young couple from crap homes, check, fake celebrity marriage, check and a Mexican house cleaner with a crap job, check.
I would highly advise everybody to not read this book.
worst book evver January 6, 2010
Shaun Klaseus
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The author has clearly never lived in Los Angeles by the way he has written such a flat, 2-dimensional, superficial telling of the city. I am actually angry that I have read this book. It was at best offense to am Angelinos, especially those of color, and at worst an affront to the english language.
Awesome December 6, 2009
Cheryl D. Ray
When I first purchased this book I wasn't sure what to think. I read a few pages and couldn't get into his style. I sat it down for a while and decided just to read a little more. Boy, am I glad I did. I finished the book in 2 days. I couldn't put it down. Yes, the characters are cliched, but their stories and lives draw you in. Frey creates an urban masterpiece that you won't want to put down. I laughed, I cried, and I empathized with the characters. I loved this book!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 166
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