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My Friend Leonard
The New York Timesbestselling follow-up to the #1New York TimesbestsellerA Million Little Pieces-the heartrending story of a friendship between a newly-sober James and the charismatic, high-living mobster he met in rehab, Leonard.
A Million Little Pieceswas the first Oprah Book Club pick by a living author in over two years. It instantly became a #1New York Timesbestseller, a #1USA Todaybestseller, and a #1Publishers Weeklybestseller, with over 1.7 million copies in print.
My Friend Leonardpicks up right wherePiecesleaves off. ANew York Timesbestseller in its own right before the Oprah pick,My Friend Leonardis James Frey's story of his friendship with Leonard, the larger-than-life mobster who "adopted" James as he left rehab. Leonard, who offers James lucrative-if illegal, mysterious, and slightly dangerous-employment when he needs it. Leonard, of the secret deals, of the surprising passions that belie his violent career choice, of fantastic generosity and ferocious loyalty. Leonard, who has been holding on to some remarkable secrets, and who has invested in their friendship more than James could ever imagine.
My Friend Leonardis, at its core, about the responsibility that comes with loving someone and going out on any number of limbs to care for them. And it is a book that proves that one of the most provocative literary voices of his generation is also one of the most emphatically human.
A Million Little Pieceswas the first Oprah Book Club pick by a living author in over two years. It instantly became a #1New York Timesbestseller, a #1USA Todaybestseller, and a #1Publishers Weeklybestseller, with over 1.7 million copies in print.
My Friend Leonardpicks up right wherePiecesleaves off. ANew York Timesbestseller in its own right before the Oprah pick,My Friend Leonardis James Frey's story of his friendship with Leonard, the larger-than-life mobster who "adopted" James as he left rehab. Leonard, who offers James lucrative-if illegal, mysterious, and slightly dangerous-employment when he needs it. Leonard, of the secret deals, of the surprising passions that belie his violent career choice, of fantastic generosity and ferocious loyalty. Leonard, who has been holding on to some remarkable secrets, and who has invested in their friendship more than James could ever imagine.
My Friend Leonardis, at its core, about the responsibility that comes with loving someone and going out on any number of limbs to care for them. And it is a book that proves that one of the most provocative literary voices of his generation is also one of the most emphatically human.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
James Frey
167books2,947followersJames Christopher Frey is an American writer and businessman. His first two books, A Million Little Pieces (2003) and My Friend Leonard (2005), were bestsellers marketed as memoirs. Large parts of the stories were later found to be exaggerated or fabricated, sparking a media controversy. His 2008 novel Bright Shiny Morning was also a bestseller.
Frey is the founder and CEO of Full Fathom Five. A transmedia production company, FFF is responsible for the young adult adventure/science fiction series The Lorien Legacies of seven books written by Frey and others, under the collective pen namePittacus Lore.Frey's first book of the series, I Am Number Four (2010), was made into a feature film by DreamWorks Pictures. He is also the CEO of NYXL, an esports organization based in New York.
Frey is the founder and CEO of Full Fathom Five. A transmedia production company, FFF is responsible for the young adult adventure/science fiction series The Lorien Legacies of seven books written by Frey and others, under the collective pen namePittacus Lore.Frey's first book of the series, I Am Number Four (2010), was made into a feature film by DreamWorks Pictures. He is also the CEO of NYXL, an esports organization based in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,819 reviews
May 2, 2016
Should it matter if a memoir is truthful? By asking this question, I guess it’s safe to say I went into James Frey’s My Friend Leonard with some misgivings. The act of memoir writing inherently produces meaning, but that’s not the same as manufacturing meaning, not the same as finding events (which possibly didn’t happen) to fit a pre-determined story. What’s called truth may lie in a fuzzy area of the memoirist’s memory not always accessible as a complete emotional/visual record. That’s why memoirists often take repeated stabs at the same memory as they try to determine what really happened (and what it all meant).
I don’t really like the idea of ‘fact checking’ memoirists, but knowing big parts of a memoir have been intentionally falsified changes how I react to a work. When I read the opening about jail time (in Frey’s work) which readers now know didn’t happen, I decided to read this as a fictional memoir and see where it took me. It was engaging. Leonard, a larger-than-life father-figure looms over James’ life after he leaves rehab and is a presence until the very end. I thought it was written in a clear and compelling style. Still, calling it memoir made me wonder about the authenticity of people and events in the memoir (and made me question how vulnerable Frey had made himself by writing the memoir) even though I had decided not to worry about ‘truth.’ For now, I’m giving it three stars, but I’m still thinking…
I don’t really like the idea of ‘fact checking’ memoirists, but knowing big parts of a memoir have been intentionally falsified changes how I react to a work. When I read the opening about jail time (in Frey’s work) which readers now know didn’t happen, I decided to read this as a fictional memoir and see where it took me. It was engaging. Leonard, a larger-than-life father-figure looms over James’ life after he leaves rehab and is a presence until the very end. I thought it was written in a clear and compelling style. Still, calling it memoir made me wonder about the authenticity of people and events in the memoir (and made me question how vulnerable Frey had made himself by writing the memoir) even though I had decided not to worry about ‘truth.’ For now, I’m giving it three stars, but I’m still thinking…
September 24, 2008
I never cared whether Frey's A Million Little Pieces was real or not. The truth is, if you enjoy his writing style, you're sure to be caught up in the environment and especially the characters he creates. I read this in one day on a flight from San Diego to Detroit.
My Friend Leonard pretty much picks up where A Million Little Pieces left off. If you thought it couldn't get any worse, think again. My Friend Leonard follows Frey's post-rehab trials and tribulations, and examines the continuation of the relationship he began building with one of his contacts from rehab. Touching, heartbreaking, and a testament to the strength of human willpower, whether it happened or not.
My Friend Leonard pretty much picks up where A Million Little Pieces left off. If you thought it couldn't get any worse, think again. My Friend Leonard follows Frey's post-rehab trials and tribulations, and examines the continuation of the relationship he began building with one of his contacts from rehab. Touching, heartbreaking, and a testament to the strength of human willpower, whether it happened or not.
January 6, 2008
I picked up "My Friend Leonard" by James Frey. This book is the follow up to "A Million Little Pieces" which is the book that started such a furor last year. The one that the author claimed to be true and the Smoking Gun website discovered was more likely an exaggeration of the truth. Oprah went a lil crazy and everyone trashed the guy. What a lot of people didn't take into account is that "true" or "somewhat true" "A Million Little Pieces" was a great book. A story of the hell of rehabilitaion from drugs and alcohol that rings true whether or not some of the details are fabricated. There's a review of it somewhere in these blogs ) if you care to look for it. But bottom line, I highly recommend taking the time to read it. Now, "My Friend Leonard" picks up the author's life after he gets out of rehab and tells you how his life progressed from then on with the help, often uninvited, of his friend Leonard. Frey's frantic style of writing keeps the pages turning and before you know it the end is happening. The characters in Frey's books just kind of speak to you in a personal way. As I said before, the details that are fabricated don't matter, it's the kernel of truth that seems to shine through that keeps you interested. Leonard is entirely too much of a good thing wrapped in a bad package to be entirely real but it's inconsequential. Because I would give my left leg to have a Leonard and so would most of the people I know. James Frey is a better man for having a Leonard and he knows it. And this is his way of acknowledging it. Good for Mr Frey, I'm fuckin' jealous. I'm also glad he decided to share Leonard with me because it made me smile thinking that if a fuck up like James Frey could find a Leonard (real or not, something helped steer him towards life) than anyone can. Hopeful thoughts aren't necessarily plentiful these days so when a good one comes along snatch it outta the air and keep it for awhile.
I started this book on the bus Sunday and just finished it this afternoon. And I've gotta say, I kinda wish there was more of it to read
I started this book on the bus Sunday and just finished it this afternoon. And I've gotta say, I kinda wish there was more of it to read
April 21, 2008
I normally would reserve the 5 star rating for a book that I think NOONE should miss...but I just have to give this book 5 stars. Some people might like it, some people might think it is just okay. I read it immediately following A Million Little Pieces, and it is a great sequel.
I love Leonard.
I love Leonard.
I love Leonard.
I cried harder at the end of this book than I have ever cried after a book or movie...maybe it's because I am a pregnant hormonal headcase right now...but I SOBBED.
Then I told my husband about it a couple of hours later and sobbed some more.
I really love this book.
It totally touched me and I loved it.
I love Leonard.
I love Leonard.
I love Leonard.
I cried harder at the end of this book than I have ever cried after a book or movie...maybe it's because I am a pregnant hormonal headcase right now...but I SOBBED.
Then I told my husband about it a couple of hours later and sobbed some more.
I really love this book.
It totally touched me and I loved it.
April 8, 2011
I read A Million Little Pieces by James Frey and I liked it. I devoured it. Despite the controversy that a lot of it was made up. It was made up to make James Frey look like a hardcore badass. But really it turns out that he's just another entitled rich white kid with too much time on his hands and too much money so he does too many drugs then ends up in rehab. Then writes a best selling "memoir" that turns out to be held together by lies and covered up by the convenient death of the majority of the characters. No one to collaborate. Yes in spite of all of this I enjoyed the story although it did make me think of Frey as kind of a pathetic douche.
So when I got an Amazon birthday gift card I eagerly ordered his second "memoir", My Friend Leonard. It's the continuation of his life story. Emphasis on story. It starts with him nearing the end of his three month jail sentence.*
His girlfriend that he met in rehab kills herself before he can get to her. The rest of the story is him trying to stay clean and "hold on." Leonard, the friend he made in rehab, features predominately. He unofficially adopts Frey as his son and becomes his benefactor. Leonard is part of organized crime, so he has large amounts of money that he throws around, mostly at Frey. Frey talks about all the beautiful woman who love him. He talks about impromptu trips, meals, and huge parties all funded by Leonard. Everything lavish and expensive of course. Oh the awesomeness of Frey's awesome awesomeness.
This book was insipid and made me cringe. It seemed like Frey was just trying to seem like a badass again who had rich powerful friends and hot chicks. "Hey guys! Look...look at how freaking amazing I am!! Over here! Oi!" It was the equivalent of the kind of person who gives themselves their own nick name and tries to get it to catch on.
And it makes it worse that there is no proof that Leonard ever existed. So this fantasy is all the more pathetic and douchey. I was willing to over look the smudges of lies around the edges of A Million Little Pieces because the writing was visceral and intense. But My Friend Leonard is a blatant pack of lies. (To be fair, they haven't proved that he didn't exist so maybe it's all true**) And it has made me lose any respect I had for the author.
This is an extremely negative review, I won't apologize for it but I will acknowledge it. I have never been so let down by a book or an author.
*it's been hands down proven that he never spent any time in jail, ever in his life.
**Frey also can't prove Leonard existed either...nothing at all.
So when I got an Amazon birthday gift card I eagerly ordered his second "memoir", My Friend Leonard. It's the continuation of his life story. Emphasis on story. It starts with him nearing the end of his three month jail sentence.*
His girlfriend that he met in rehab kills herself before he can get to her. The rest of the story is him trying to stay clean and "hold on." Leonard, the friend he made in rehab, features predominately. He unofficially adopts Frey as his son and becomes his benefactor. Leonard is part of organized crime, so he has large amounts of money that he throws around, mostly at Frey. Frey talks about all the beautiful woman who love him. He talks about impromptu trips, meals, and huge parties all funded by Leonard. Everything lavish and expensive of course. Oh the awesomeness of Frey's awesome awesomeness.
This book was insipid and made me cringe. It seemed like Frey was just trying to seem like a badass again who had rich powerful friends and hot chicks. "Hey guys! Look...look at how freaking amazing I am!! Over here! Oi!" It was the equivalent of the kind of person who gives themselves their own nick name and tries to get it to catch on.
And it makes it worse that there is no proof that Leonard ever existed. So this fantasy is all the more pathetic and douchey. I was willing to over look the smudges of lies around the edges of A Million Little Pieces because the writing was visceral and intense. But My Friend Leonard is a blatant pack of lies. (To be fair, they haven't proved that he didn't exist so maybe it's all true**) And it has made me lose any respect I had for the author.
This is an extremely negative review, I won't apologize for it but I will acknowledge it. I have never been so let down by a book or an author.
*it's been hands down proven that he never spent any time in jail, ever in his life.
**Frey also can't prove Leonard existed either...nothing at all.
October 19, 2016
Years ago I read James Frey's ( now known as heavy on the fiction) memoir A Million Little Pieces as an Oprah Pick. This is the sequel to that book which I bought years ago but after the scandal and fury heaped upon Frey and the denouncement of his first book, I probably just set aside. Anyway, unearthed and read while "weeding out" the crowded library, this is the story of James and his friend Leonard, a much more established and successful conman who after meeting him in rehab (at the end of "Million Pieces" ) adopts him as a son. I actually like Frey's simplistic style of writing, where sentences are not always complete, but still carry conviction, but as one might expect be warned of "jailhouse language." Frey's journey back from addiction is actually pretty interesting. If a story about honor among thieves or a lifelong friendship between mobster types could be called touching this is it. 3.5 stars
August 27, 2007
Whether this book is fact or fiction does not mean crap to me, which was exactly my stance onA Million Little Pieces.It was just a good book. James reminds me a lot of someone I know and in some ways, of myself and some of my family members. His friendship with Leonard, albeit ridiculous, was very special and the stories in this book made me laugh and cry. If you read A Million Little Pieces you already knew what Leonard's demise was, but that certainly didn't make it any less heart-breaking when it came around again. I enjoyed this book and despite the controversy, I enjoy Frey as a writer.
December 17, 2021
I always have a habit to read reviews after I've read the book and I'm very glad I didn't change that this time. It got to my attention that this book was second in a memoiresce series and I'm glad I didn't knew that. It was no problem jumping into this second one without reading the first but if I had known it was more of a memoir and not a fiction that I thought it was it would probably have ruined my reading experience. It wasn't a bad memoir if I would have read it as such but I found reading it as an fiction made me just following along on the ride without must deeper thought of it and I thought it was a very intriguing read. Not always an easy read but a good one
July 1, 2007
I thought this one was so much more far-fetched than A Million Little Pieces. If I doubted Pieces, this one I downright didn't believe. Once again it should have been promoted as fiction, although actually I think it may have been promoted as such. I thought Pieces was better because it described so much struggling to get to where he got, and My Friend Leonard was pretty much "here I am, la-di-da" with good things happening all the time and a good ending and everyone is happy ever after. Totally unbelievable.
April 25, 2021
Yawn...
If ever there was a book that triggered me to pick up a cigarette after having quit so many months ago, it would be this one. From the ashtray on the cover to the chronic smoking that takes place by almost all of the characters, reading My Friend Leonard turned out to be an exercise in will power, if nothing else.
This is the sequel to Frey's first faux memoir,A Million Little Piecesand although I really enjoyed that novel, this one was rather stale and I had to really push myself to get through it. There have been times where I have embraced it, but in this case the stream of consciousness style of writing felt drawn out and boring. I also found his constant repetition of words and sentences to be annoying. I’m sure this was some poetic or artistic impression intended to make me feel his points more emotively, but I think Frey really missed the mark on this.
In my opinion, had he cut the bullshit he could have streamlined the pages to about half, however there wouldn’t be much of a book to read then, since the type face was large and there was a blank page between each chapter. It just felt like he took the cheap way out and wrote another book on the tails of his last success, with no respect for good writing or his readers. It felt like a cash-grab.
What I did get out of it were some realistic depictions of what the journey through early sobriety looks like. The severe sweet tooth, propensity to overeat, excessive walking or exercising, and the extremely overpowering and constant craving to use are very accurate dilemmas for the poor soul just out of rehab. I loved the idea of him carrying around this cheap bottle of wine just in case he felt the urge to drink; a reminder and a test, as it were.
If you dig deep enough you will find a charming relationship between Frey and his friend Leonard, but this seemed ridiculous and hard to believe more often than not. In the end, My Friend Leonard is about love, loyalty, and resilience, with a strong dose of loss.
I know that Frey has since put outBright Shiny Morning,so I’m really curious to find out if he actually tries with this one...
If ever there was a book that triggered me to pick up a cigarette after having quit so many months ago, it would be this one. From the ashtray on the cover to the chronic smoking that takes place by almost all of the characters, reading My Friend Leonard turned out to be an exercise in will power, if nothing else.
This is the sequel to Frey's first faux memoir,A Million Little Piecesand although I really enjoyed that novel, this one was rather stale and I had to really push myself to get through it. There have been times where I have embraced it, but in this case the stream of consciousness style of writing felt drawn out and boring. I also found his constant repetition of words and sentences to be annoying. I’m sure this was some poetic or artistic impression intended to make me feel his points more emotively, but I think Frey really missed the mark on this.
In my opinion, had he cut the bullshit he could have streamlined the pages to about half, however there wouldn’t be much of a book to read then, since the type face was large and there was a blank page between each chapter. It just felt like he took the cheap way out and wrote another book on the tails of his last success, with no respect for good writing or his readers. It felt like a cash-grab.
What I did get out of it were some realistic depictions of what the journey through early sobriety looks like. The severe sweet tooth, propensity to overeat, excessive walking or exercising, and the extremely overpowering and constant craving to use are very accurate dilemmas for the poor soul just out of rehab. I loved the idea of him carrying around this cheap bottle of wine just in case he felt the urge to drink; a reminder and a test, as it were.
If you dig deep enough you will find a charming relationship between Frey and his friend Leonard, but this seemed ridiculous and hard to believe more often than not. In the end, My Friend Leonard is about love, loyalty, and resilience, with a strong dose of loss.
I know that Frey has since put outBright Shiny Morning,so I’m really curious to find out if he actually tries with this one...
February 16, 2019
Five stars simply for the last 30-40 pages of this book which never fails to make me cry like a baby.
April 16, 2012
Not sure what possessed me to add a book to my "to read" list that has an ashtray on it. I didn't even get past the first chapter. Awful sophomoric writing in a robotic manner. Waste of my time.
December 2, 2011
I am so fucking behind on everything in my life. Here are my "private notes" I made for myself like a zillion weeks ago when I actually read this book. I though I'd have time to make them into an actual review, and maybe one day I will. Until then, here's some scribbley nonsense.
The quirky style gets in the way of the story with this one, unlike inA Million Little Pieces,where it meshed and pulled you in. Here it's overdone and kind of cripples the prose, makes it plodding and harder to read, not musical like he clearly wants. The story's good, and sad, but also maudlin and overdramatic and way too fairytale-is (if you can suspend your disbelief enough to call a story about recovering mobsters and suicidal women and despair and despair and despair fairytale-ish). Sorry, James. Not so good this time.
The quirky style gets in the way of the story with this one, unlike inA Million Little Pieces,where it meshed and pulled you in. Here it's overdone and kind of cripples the prose, makes it plodding and harder to read, not musical like he clearly wants. The story's good, and sad, but also maudlin and overdramatic and way too fairytale-is (if you can suspend your disbelief enough to call a story about recovering mobsters and suicidal women and despair and despair and despair fairytale-ish). Sorry, James. Not so good this time.
April 6, 2019
a bit too disjointed for me, but otherwise it is such a bad-ass tale about a bad-ass person
p23: i walk as quickly as i can down the street, i walk jog run walk as fast my lungs allow.
p23: i walk as quickly as i can down the street, i walk jog run walk as fast my lungs allow.
October 23, 2017
I finished this book with tears in my eyes...
This book is sad, so sad and real. Although, I enjoyed million little pieced way more but I can't deny that I enjoyed this one as well.
With James Frey it is never about the style... It is always about the courage, the courage to stand up naked in front of the world and tell a story of shame and failures.
Lots of love for those who suffer from addiction all over the world. You have my sympathy, you will always do!
This book is sad, so sad and real. Although, I enjoyed million little pieced way more but I can't deny that I enjoyed this one as well.
With James Frey it is never about the style... It is always about the courage, the courage to stand up naked in front of the world and tell a story of shame and failures.
Lots of love for those who suffer from addiction all over the world. You have my sympathy, you will always do!
Read
March 27, 2015One hell of a bad book.
July 3, 2024
3.5⭐️, the writing is so interesting, and I don’t even mean the plot but the physical words written on the page and the grammar rules that aren’t followed add to the book and its minor craziness
March 1, 2022
This reminded me of the worst things a writer can be: exploitative, narcissistic, lazy, disingenuous, saccharine, a vulture of the heart and human suffering, and a bad liar. It made me hate briefly the whole endeavour of writing.
April 19, 2019
Basically a second part to a million little pieces. Much better read than I expected. As long as you remember it's a story not a memoir. Actually had me tearing up at the end!
May 12, 2021
Outstanding writing. Despite the lack of commas and other traditional grammar I felt this down to my toes. James resonates with me as a person who teeters on all kinds of addictions
January 18, 2020
This book didnt have much events take place like in a million little peices but i still enjoyed it it was filled with true emotion and empathy and it makes you feel what its like to have a true friend.Definitely would recommend.
July 16, 2017
This one was a bit much. Yes it was a good story and there were some relatable moments on the temptations of addiction and recovery from it. But this time around it seemed much more of an attempt to portray a successful life after rehab by building up larger than life characters and situations that didn't register as real. It tried too hard.
For what it was though I did like the story. Who wouldn't? Who wouldn't want to hang out with a guy like Leonard and meet girls like Allison and Brooke? But it was the fact that he turned down money at various points among many other examples. Frey was a little too perfectly fake. The good-guy big ego responses of self determination and strength against temptation didn't seem human enough. Frey got it right with the thought patterns of addiction inA Million Little Piecesbut this one didn't have much past the Hollywood story which is done better in other places.
For what it was though I did like the story. Who wouldn't? Who wouldn't want to hang out with a guy like Leonard and meet girls like Allison and Brooke? But it was the fact that he turned down money at various points among many other examples. Frey was a little too perfectly fake. The good-guy big ego responses of self determination and strength against temptation didn't seem human enough. Frey got it right with the thought patterns of addiction inA Million Little Piecesbut this one didn't have much past the Hollywood story which is done better in other places.
April 21, 2009
I rate this audiobook 3 stars but close to 4.
A sequel that is a must-read, and I recommend this book, but not nearly as much as Little Pieces.
*SPOILERs in this review.*
The reader of this audiobook was really outstanding. One of the best I've heard and I've heard a lot.
The story picks up at the end of the a million little pieces. It outlines extensively how blessed our hero, James, really is. He gets tons of help from friends, family and his not so mysterious benefactor mafia friend Leonard. What a life James lives! And what a life Leonard lives as well! Amazing. It is hard to feel sorry for them except for the suicide of Lilly. Crushing. But he doesn't really delve into the depth of his grief there. Not really. It is hard for me to relate then. The story about Leonard is a great one. Unfortunately, I actually guessed (wasn't sure though) some of the 'surprises' about him and the ending... sorry.
The back stories about James love life is a bit of a bore - I have to say it. Well-written but just not that compelling.
I LOVED the story about the Sons of Cholo and Cassius and was heartbroken at his demise.
My two favorite Leonard advice quotes?
The secret to success in Hollywood:
"Be Bold. Be FUCKING BOLD!"
What is the meaning of life?
"Anything you want it to be, my son."
---
RIP Leonard.
A sequel that is a must-read, and I recommend this book, but not nearly as much as Little Pieces.
*SPOILERs in this review.*
The reader of this audiobook was really outstanding. One of the best I've heard and I've heard a lot.
The story picks up at the end of the a million little pieces. It outlines extensively how blessed our hero, James, really is. He gets tons of help from friends, family and his not so mysterious benefactor mafia friend Leonard. What a life James lives! And what a life Leonard lives as well! Amazing. It is hard to feel sorry for them except for the suicide of Lilly. Crushing. But he doesn't really delve into the depth of his grief there. Not really. It is hard for me to relate then. The story about Leonard is a great one. Unfortunately, I actually guessed (wasn't sure though) some of the 'surprises' about him and the ending... sorry.
The back stories about James love life is a bit of a bore - I have to say it. Well-written but just not that compelling.
I LOVED the story about the Sons of Cholo and Cassius and was heartbroken at his demise.
My two favorite Leonard advice quotes?
The secret to success in Hollywood:
"Be Bold. Be FUCKING BOLD!"
What is the meaning of life?
"Anything you want it to be, my son."
---
RIP Leonard.
Read
October 3, 2019Before I dive in, I'll mention that following the questions to its authenticity as a memoir, I read this book as fiction.
I found this one pretty boring, I'm afraid. It's my first book by James Frey, so I'm new to his style of writing, but the punctuation and talk-style (don't know the 'official' name for it) writing quite bugs me.
It started out good, I thought. With the first few chapters having a significant death, but then after that I didn't feel like anything new was added to the plot. It did show that there's hope for everyone, a message I appreciated in how James got his life together after prison and rehab, a thing not too many people manage to do. I appreciated that immensely.
I, however, found it all redundant. We get it, you and Leonard are close, Leonard is shady. Also, the ending felt rather forced to me. That sudden 'plot twist'. There was no groundwork put down for Leonard being gay, and the only 'signs' James mentions are liking white and enjoying fashion? What? I felt like it was thrown in far too hastily.
I may sample a bit more of James Frey to see whether the style is the same in all his books, so if you read this and think there's something by him I should check out, please point me in that direction:)
I found this one pretty boring, I'm afraid. It's my first book by James Frey, so I'm new to his style of writing, but the punctuation and talk-style (don't know the 'official' name for it) writing quite bugs me.
It started out good, I thought. With the first few chapters having a significant death, but then after that I didn't feel like anything new was added to the plot. It did show that there's hope for everyone, a message I appreciated in how James got his life together after prison and rehab, a thing not too many people manage to do. I appreciated that immensely.
I, however, found it all redundant. We get it, you and Leonard are close, Leonard is shady. Also, the ending felt rather forced to me. That sudden 'plot twist'. There was no groundwork put down for Leonard being gay, and the only 'signs' James mentions are liking white and enjoying fashion? What? I felt like it was thrown in far too hastily.
I may sample a bit more of James Frey to see whether the style is the same in all his books, so if you read this and think there's something by him I should check out, please point me in that direction:)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2014
I read both this and Million Little Pieces back when the hoax was first revealed. "Hoax" probably seems like overly strong language to those of you who like Frey.
My theory is this: James Frey had some problems with drugs and alcohol in High school and college, bad enough that he went to rehab. But he also was a fabulist who spent a lot of time watching old movies--film noir and things like the Godfather, reading, especially books about crime and gangsters, and watching old TV shows. He first shopped Million Little Pieces as a novel and couldn't get it published, so decided to jump on the memoir fad gravy train. This is a fairly common pattern with questionable books, such as "Communion", by Whitley Streiber.
I think that Leonard is his fantasy father. Leonard is always there when Frey needs a friend, a job, some money. He takes Frey and his friends out to lavish dinners, where everybody gorges themselves on food to make up for the booze and drugs they have sworn off of. Leonard doesn't ask much in return.
Remember that the vast majority of the characters in Frey's 'memoirs "have conveniently died or disappeared.
My theory is this: James Frey had some problems with drugs and alcohol in High school and college, bad enough that he went to rehab. But he also was a fabulist who spent a lot of time watching old movies--film noir and things like the Godfather, reading, especially books about crime and gangsters, and watching old TV shows. He first shopped Million Little Pieces as a novel and couldn't get it published, so decided to jump on the memoir fad gravy train. This is a fairly common pattern with questionable books, such as "Communion", by Whitley Streiber.
I think that Leonard is his fantasy father. Leonard is always there when Frey needs a friend, a job, some money. He takes Frey and his friends out to lavish dinners, where everybody gorges themselves on food to make up for the booze and drugs they have sworn off of. Leonard doesn't ask much in return.
Remember that the vast majority of the characters in Frey's 'memoirs "have conveniently died or disappeared.
July 31, 2007
It always takes me a while to get into James Frey's style of writing, but once I get past it I'm sucked into the books. Sadly, I'm willing to overlook the fact that he made parts of the book up because it's a good read; that said, I found the plot to be totally predictable in the way that only fictional stories can be. Life just doesn't arc that way, and it doesn't operate in a sea of cliches like this book does. It is distracting as you're reading to realize that the improbable parts are likely made up, and therefore detract from the authenticity of the reading experience.
It's a good yarn, though you do come away from it feeling that the author is arrogant and must have been clouded by that arrogance if he thought people would find the book realistic. I don't feel bad for the choices he made in his life, and overall come away feeling as though he's been a very selfish person, including in the writing of this book.
The saddest part is, the REAL story probably would have been good enough. In the end, why not just write what really happened? No one believes the other stuff anyway.
It's a good yarn, though you do come away from it feeling that the author is arrogant and must have been clouded by that arrogance if he thought people would find the book realistic. I don't feel bad for the choices he made in his life, and overall come away feeling as though he's been a very selfish person, including in the writing of this book.
The saddest part is, the REAL story probably would have been good enough. In the end, why not just write what really happened? No one believes the other stuff anyway.
June 19, 2011
Did I cry with this book? Yes. Would I have cried if I hadn't read "A Million Little Pieces" first? Probably not. The point is, I cried and you will too if you understand the depth of their relationship.
Frey's writing is a little distracting, especially since there are no "paragraphs," per se, and because he tends to have sentences that aren't completely sentences. Either way, you eventually get into the story and the writing loses its grip on you.
The story is one you have to have understood prior to reading the book. It continues where "A Million Little Pieces" left off and ends leaving you...well, in a million little pieces. No one can dislike the character Leonard, and even if he is fictional, I could care less.
Frey's writing is a little distracting, especially since there are no "paragraphs," per se, and because he tends to have sentences that aren't completely sentences. Either way, you eventually get into the story and the writing loses its grip on you.
The story is one you have to have understood prior to reading the book. It continues where "A Million Little Pieces" left off and ends leaving you...well, in a million little pieces. No one can dislike the character Leonard, and even if he is fictional, I could care less.
August 9, 2008
I loved "A Million Little Pieces" and was really nonplussed by the drama that ensued, when it turned out to be not quite a memoir. My feeling was that it was a great book either way. Who cares if he embellished?
So imagine my surprise as I delved into "My Friend Leonard" and found myself unable to shake the feeling that I was being deceived. I couldn't help but wonder, how much of what I was reading was the truth?
Fortunately, the story and characters (particularly the glorious Leonard) were so engaging, I was able to move past my skepticism and let my hair down to a fantastic read.
FYI, I cried like a baby. I challenge you not to do the same!
So imagine my surprise as I delved into "My Friend Leonard" and found myself unable to shake the feeling that I was being deceived. I couldn't help but wonder, how much of what I was reading was the truth?
Fortunately, the story and characters (particularly the glorious Leonard) were so engaging, I was able to move past my skepticism and let my hair down to a fantastic read.
FYI, I cried like a baby. I challenge you not to do the same!
June 6, 2016
My biggest misgiving is that I read this book before reading A Million Little Pieces. I think my connection with and understanding of characters would have been deeper had I read the first part.
Regardless, I enjoyed this book. It was poignant, deep, emotionally coercive. The disconnected thoughts and his consciousness, that a lot of readers found troublesome, made it easier for me to connect with the protagonist. His loss was so powerful and profound. It was beautiful, in a tragic way.
But I have still given the book only 3 stars because the book did not have enough character development or details of his relationship with Leonard or Allison, for me to give it a higher rating.
Regardless, I enjoyed this book. It was poignant, deep, emotionally coercive. The disconnected thoughts and his consciousness, that a lot of readers found troublesome, made it easier for me to connect with the protagonist. His loss was so powerful and profound. It was beautiful, in a tragic way.
But I have still given the book only 3 stars because the book did not have enough character development or details of his relationship with Leonard or Allison, for me to give it a higher rating.
June 2, 2008
That was really powerful! I think this was even better than A Million Little Pieces. It was incredibly moving but still quite disturbing and hard to put down but still not suspenseful. He writes in such an interesting manner. I cried through most of this book.
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