James Frey

James Frey wakes up on a plane, with no memory of the preceding two weeks. His face is cut and his body is covered with bruises. He has no wallet and no idea of his destination. He has abused alcohol and every drug he can lay his hands on for a decade - and he is aged only twenty-three. What happens next is one of the most powerful and extreme stories ever told. His family takes him to a rehabilitation centre. And James Frey starts his perilous journey back to the world of the drug and alcohol-free living. His lack of self-pity is unflinching and searing. A Million Little Pieces is a dazzling account of a life destroyed and a life reconstructed. It is also the introduction of a bold and talented literary voice.

A Million Little Pieces

maitha mana

'It is easier to laugh at ourselves than cry at ourselves. We are all awful.'

The ending f*s you up. But that's the reality of it all.

Sara Hakkoum

It drew me in from the first few pages. When I first heard about it, I went to the bookstore and read a chapter of it. The next time I went to a bookstore, I read another. Then another. Then I just needed to have it. It took me so long to finish because I was studying for SAT's and I got sick and stuff. Anyway.
Most of the time, predictable endings just don't do it for me. But this time it's not about the ending. The ending is predictable and simple and anyone would just shrug it off, but it's about the story behind the happy ending. It's about the strength of the human will. It's about determination and bravery and taking control. It was very inspirational.
To be frank, though, what made it especially amazing was the way James Frey portrayed all of that in his words. I am the biggest fan of details. He picked the perfect words, phrased things the way I like them phrased. His simplicity adds so much power to the book's overall effect. Less is more. His writing style is straightforward and blunt. It's a really nice change from most of the other books I've read. He left just the right amount of space for the readers to imagine the characters and situations the way they like.
I could really relate to this book personally; not addiction-wise, but moral-wise. Spiritual-wise. Strength and determination-wise. It was motivational and powerful.
This book is perfect.

EDIT: Okay, technically, the ending isn't happy. But it was to me. The fact that James Frey wrote the conclusion very curtly kind of gave me the feeling that the James in the story moved on from whatever had happened. I realize it's a bit insensitive, but I guess the ending had no effect on me because it simply wasn't elaborated. It's still not about the ending for me.

A Million Little Pieces

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