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| A Million Little Pieces |  | Author: James Frey
Publisher: Anchor / Random House
Category: Book
Buy Used: $2.66
as of 7/31/2010 19:33 CDT details
New (1) Used (19) from $2.66
Seller: -bearbooks-
Rating:  1856 reviews
Sales Rank: 6014066
Media: Paperback
Edition: Trade Paperback Edition
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0385508840
EAN: 9780385508841
ASIN: 0385508840
Publication Date: 2003
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 1856
 Highly Recommended and unique writing style July 15, 2010
K. Nowicki (Grand Rapids, MI)
I loved this book and James Frey's unique writing style. As a child and sibling to a drug addict and alcoholic I found James recovery to be realistic and found myself with some understanding of the difficulty one may face to live a clean life and face emotions head on without covering them up with mind altering substances.
Although it has come out that some of the book is fiction I found many parts believeable and rooting for James to make it in life and to tackle his addictions and overcome his old ways of pulling away from those he loves and not facing his emotions.
I also found James Frey's writing style very refreshing! His style tends to show intense feelings and vulnerability. The book was an easy read that I could not put down and was anxious to read the next book that follows "My Friend Lenord". Highly recommended!!
 A Downer With No Redemption. June 22, 2010
Urbun Scrawler (NYC)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I read this book when it first came out because one of my sober pals highly recommended it and because I was curious. It took me three separate attempts--unusual, since I'm an unrepentant book junkie--to force myself past the first 30 pages. If the story had been remotely compelling--that is, if it had held my attention and fostered the development of an emotional investment in the main character--I might have forgiven the lackluster writing that characterizes James Frey's memoir. But his tale is flat, emotionally false and vacuous, and ultimately unbelievable--that is, I was unable to suspend belief that the events he described actually happened--that the pedestrian writing was like adding insult to injury. (I wouldn't be the first to point out that his prose suffers from the kind of hyperbolic sensationalism that characterizes mediocre writing.) I forced myself to finish the book so I could have an informed opinion about "A Million Little Pieces"--since it was a hot topic of discussion around the rooms of AA when it first came out--but it was one of the most unsatisfying reads I can remember. There's nothing in his book that is redemptive, uplifting, educational, or spiritually instructive. In the end, it isn't even entertaining. It's about an egomaniacal, violent, mean-spirited, self-destructive, authority-bucking, self-pitying child-man who wants to take the world down. The only change he undergoes during the course of the book is that at the end he isn't drinking. (P.S. Anyone can do that. The difficult part is the transformation.)
Those with a firsthand knowledge of alcoholism know that drinking is not the root of the disease. It's a symptom of a deeper illness which is a distorted perception of reality, a warped attitude about life that causes the individual to do many harmful, destructive things to himself and those around him. If that goes untreated, even if the person quits drinking or drugging and survives, he'll mostly likely spend a miserable life hating and blaming others for the rotten hand he's been dealt, and remain too fearful or lazy to take the necessary actions to change that which is causing him pain. It's a rotten belief system that has to be rebuilt from the inside out. Unfortunately, that truth is not made apparent in this book, or it certainly does not shine forth as brightly as it should.
If the book possessed some redeeming quality, the fact that he'd fictionalized events in his life would not have mattered to me anywhere near to the degree that people here seem to have taken it personally. It's discouraging for those seeking actual book reviews to be confronted instead with endless diatribes and character assassinations of the author about whom readers feel obliged to vent their vitriolic righteous indignation--because they feel he tricked them! (If only people felt half as outraged at the lying done by their country's leaders before the execution of horrific acts.) The sadly ironic part is that all the notoriety surrounding the scandal of his having lied has only made him more popular and successful.
If you want a good memoir about alcoholism, one that is literate, humorous, compelling, and honest, read either Caroline Knapp's "Drinking: A Love Story", or "Dry" by Augustin Burroughs. They are writers, for real.
read it! May 24, 2010
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
it is a very realistic view of what a life of drugs and alcohol holds. freys writing style keeps you wanting more and captures your attention. i loved this book for it does not sugar coat anything. made me cry and laugh at the same time.
A Million Over Reactions May 10, 2010
Michelle Johnston (Atlanta USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I had heard all the controversy about this novel but I wanted to read it for myself. What all the controversy blocks out is how much GOOD this novel/non-fiction (who cares which it is?) can do - how it can help those who have addicts in their lives, how real it is.. how important this book is, and how important this book SHOULD be.. everyone who has any kind of addict in his or her life should read this book.. and if you are an addict you may want to read it too, to find out that you are not alone, your experiences are not as unique as you think, and that there is a possibility of hope..
A Million Little Pieces is a Big Disappointment May 7, 2010
Jacob Peebles
I was disappointed in the book A Million Little Pieces. Once I found out that the book was a lie I wasn't really in the mood to read it. I found out about this after purchasing the book but before I started reading it. Trying to read the book, knowing that a lot of it was false was really hard. I just couldn't get "into it". I kept wondering, "oh, did he lie about this? Or is this true?" It just really bummed me out. I couldn't even continue reading after the first 150 pages of the book. It still currently sits on my shelf in my dorm room and I will probably never pick it up again, except for when I move out. The sad part is that it probably would have been a magnificent book if he would have made it a fiction book or "based on a true story". I guess it's a disappointment not only me but others, that someone would call this book an autobiography. I also feel bad for Oprah and how he and the book got famous at first because of her having him on the show. This book made Oprah's book club and after it came out that he lied, it just turned into a frenzy.
I would recommend reading this book if and only if you can handle the fact that it's not all truthful. I almost feel like James Frey was making fun of drug and alcohol addicts. People really do need rehab and what's the point of fabricating stories about it? This book would make people not want to attend rehab and that disgusts me. I wish that James would have told his real story and I'm sure it would've have gotten just as much recognition, but this time it would be good recognition.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1856
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