Million Little Pieces

[msdope]

Alrightie I do not subscribe to the Oprahization of America club, but this book was good.

It's a true story about this guy Frey's addictions. Can't think of his first name. Alcohol, and crack are his drug of choice although he describes some dope addicts in the book that are with him in rehab.

I liked it. Although at one point this middle class American addict gets sent to Paris, and London. Who has money for European travel?

[lolleedee]

I'm reading this book right now..just started it..the guy is just into rehab right now..it is a hard read..hits very close to home!! I'll let you know how I like it when I'm done!:D

[Buckshot]

Ya Im reading the same book right now too.

I can actually say its a good book hands down. I just finished the dentist part....Ohhh man thats pain.

[lukilu]

Yea < I just read that book on my vacation to Pa. and I dont know - I thought I would like it but something did not click for me ! Its almost like I wanted the guy to fukin use some effin gear ! Maybe it was all the war stories maybe its cause I am still using ! By the end I felt indifferent about reccomending it . Most Peeps give it thumbs up - Me - nah .
Lukilu

[Buckshot]

Well Im only like a third done,
Did anyone else find it somewhat motivating? I have, I think the writing style in combination with the character makes it really easy to relate to.

I read a page and can have a better image/feel of the situation more than say, someone who only smokes pot.

Curious...What would you recomend? Even if it doent have drugs involved.

[paperrabbit]

What does everyone think about the allegations of falsifying the truth?

actually not completely 'alleged' since Frey did say he embellished parts of the book. Regardless, i think it was an okay book. I don't think it's necessarily honest to embellish a memoir (though i'm sure this is done many times), i don't see anything about such a story causing any harm, the intention is to help people and give hope and obviously, it has done so.
I do find the addiction to crack, mushrooms and of all things, glue, a little laughable. If he was such a hardcore user who "did everything and anything he could get his hands on" i find it strange that he never once ran into a situation where dope came into the equation.

Anyway, for more background on the charges of false information, the smokinggum has a pretty elaborate report:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/jamesfrey/0104061jamesfrey1.html

[GMorris]

I haven't read it, mostly because of what I've heard so far, and the fact that I know I could write something similar and really be honest about it. Regardless, now that I've heard no opiates are involved, I really don't care much to read it at all. I'll wait for the movie (which is almost inevitable!)

[bi11i]

As much as I love Frey's work, it's getting harder and harder for me to hang in there. Some of the accusations by TSG that have proven to be true are a little much. While yeah, I think the general message of his book is true, it doesn't mask the fact that a portion of it is total horseshit.

I'm interested to see how the film plays out, or if they back out of doing it at all....

[paperrabbit]

I found this in the bookstore and flipped through it....pretty amusing.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0061171468.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_V56791064_.jpg

[Opiyum]

Havent read it yet but its next on my list. As far as the accusations I say fuck it. If its an interesting read thats good. All in all they should have sold it under a different Genre. I have a feeling that there are a lot of autobiographies out there throughout all history that have been elaborated on, but who cares, obviously not me and I have yet to read it. James lete his ego get in the way and decided to portray it as true, but who isnt guilty of remembering things to be more or less of what they really were.

Well Im only like a third done,
Did anyone else find it somewhat motivating? I have, I think the writing style in combination with the character makes it really easy to relate to.

I read a page and can have a better image/feel of the situation more than say, someone who only smokes pot.

Curious...What would you recomend? Even if it doent have drugs involved.


Kurt Vonnegut has this same writing style in some of his books inpeticular "Breakfast of Champions" which I would highly recommend to anyone reading this along with "Cats Cradle" and "Slaughterhouse Five". All are American classics.

Also theres a book called "A heartbreaking work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers. This book is written with the same kind of verseing. I have to warn you that the first fifty pages are very hard to get through. He lived a very fucked up life. It was a pulitzer prize nominee and is, so far, all completely true. The book does live up to the name though I'll tell you that.

None of these books I recommended are drug related in any way. Oh except for Alcoholism of course.

[ZodiacKiller]

^ Ha, that's a good one--what's the deal with it, is it an expose on Frey's fabrications?

I read "A Million Little Pieces" about a month ago, after all the hoopla and media crap, and I found it to be a reasonably enjoyable read. I did take it with a grain of salt, given what came out about it. Some of the stuff seemed a little far-fetched, but I did enjoy his "hit-'n-run" writing style, which seemed to emphasize the desperate nature of his situation. The dentist scene was excruciating. Funny how heroin is rarely mentioned, though; you'd think if he was getting that fucked up for that many years that he and the white palace would eventually cross paths.

I really liked the sequel "My Friend Leonard" however. I dunno how much of it was actually factual, but it was a really well-written, poignant story. A real tear-jerker, that one. And if it is all true, then hats off to Frey for dealing with that much emotional trauma and coming out ok.

Oh, and fuck Oprah for making a federal case about it; so what if the guy took a few creative liberties, it's still a decent read. Talk about crucifying the guy, sheesh...

ZodiacKiller

[malefiacrum]

I thought it was utter crap personally...

Anyone here read "Speed/Kentucky Ham" by William S. Bourroughs Junior?

[ZodiacKiller]

^ Excellent! Thanks for chiming in with your in-depth review!

ZK

[malefiacrum]

hahaha, you like that? I guess I wasn't very elaborate....Ophra recommended it, there 'nuff said!
That better?!;)

[ZodiacKiller]

Works for me, man....I was just messin' witcha, anyway.lol

ZK

[malefiacrum]

Oh I know you were, 's all cool ;)