|
Post by xenagoddess on Dec 18, 2005 16:20:41 GMT -5
I just finished "A million little pieces" by James Frey. I could not put it down. It is a very raw look at someone trying to recover from drug addiction. Very intense but made me think a lot about the nature of addiction.
|
|
|
Post by kamason44 on Jan 7, 2006 19:55:48 GMT -5
I also read A Million Little Pieces - wow! I finished the sequel My Friend Leonard last week - another good read.
Currently, I'm about halfway through Jarhead. It's interesting...but I'm not sure if I'm going to see the movie. I want to hurry up and finish this book so I can start HP #5!! Speaking of HP, I saw his "birthplace" (a cafe) this past November in Edinburgh, Scotland. Funny thing was when I was approaching the cafe, there were children in school uniforms (I immediately thought of Hogwarts!). :-)
|
|
|
Post by xenagoddess on Jan 8, 2006 9:38:53 GMT -5
I got "my friend Leonard" as a Christmas present. I just finished it a few days ago. It wasn't as compelling as AMLP but I enjoyed seeing how his life played out after leaving Rehab and his relationship with Leonard.
|
|
|
Post by sulee on Jan 8, 2006 10:03:32 GMT -5
I just read Middlesex...amazing...couldn't put it down. Compelling, unusual, complex story line that was beautifully woven together.
|
|
|
Post by xenagoddess on Jan 8, 2006 18:12:26 GMT -5
Yeah I read that about a year ago. I enjoyed it as well. A very interesting story line. I liked it.
|
|
|
Post by keliCAN on Jan 15, 2006 3:42:50 GMT -5
I had A Million Little Pieces on my to-read list -- until I heard that Frey tried first to get the book published as a novel and, after it was rejected numerous times as fiction, a publisher said it would sell better as a memoir so it was published as such. Not only did he embellish some minor scrapes with the law, it has been said that he made up the story about being close to some girl who died, something he used as an excuse for his drinking and drugging, but that the girl's parents deny that she ever knew him or that he was ever involved with her in any way.
Has anyone heard about this? How factual do you believe this story is? As a reader, do you think it makes any difference?
|
|
|
Post by xenagoddess on Jan 15, 2006 12:35:12 GMT -5
I would still read it. Even if he published it under false pretenses it is a great read and a very compelling story. Most fiction is a little non-fiction, and most non-fiction is a little fiction. It just would have been better if he had been honest about it. The story really made me look at the nature of addictive behavior and that, in and of itself, has informed my struggle with sugar addiction.
|
|
|
Post by HippoMommy on Jan 15, 2006 12:52:03 GMT -5
I read AMLP some time ago -- a friend gave it to me when it was first published. Honestly, I don't mind if it's "entirely factual" or parts are "embellished." It has the ring of truth, from the uneven writing (complete with grammatical errors, etc) to some "so strange they must be true" events in the story-line. I did enjoy it very much. It gave me greater empathy for those who struggle with drug addictions, and I, too, did find reasons to apply it to my own challenges around food. Well worth reading, regardless of whether it's a true memoir or partly-fictionalized. That said, it would be nice if he'd been honest about the nature of the text, if only to avoid the kind of attention that will tarnish the work's reputation. OTOH, was it PT Barnum who said there's no such thing as bad publicity?
|
|
|
Post by tanya on Jan 15, 2006 15:06:44 GMT -5
It's been attributed to both Barnum and George Cohan. PT Barnum is alleged to have said "there's a sucker born every minute," however, which Frey has definitely proven. ;D
[edit: I should probably clarify that I don't mean the readers]
|
|
|
Post by keliCAN on Jan 15, 2006 23:44:34 GMT -5
Thanks Xena and Hippo -- earlier this evening, the friend who initially recommended this book to me said pretty much the same thing you two did.
|
|
KimB
Corebie
Posts: 39
|
Post by KimB on Mar 29, 2006 10:29:39 GMT -5
I'm currently reading the third book in the Swans War series by Sean Russel. But, I want to strongly second Tanya's suggestion of anything by Gregory Maguire! I don't think anything he's written comes close to his masterpiece, Wicked, but all of his books are very good reads.
And I would also second Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. I think Tanya and I have very similar tastes in books.
|
|
|
Post by nightsinge on Mar 29, 2006 13:58:05 GMT -5
Hi Kim B and everyone. I haven't yet read Anansi Boys, but DP and I loved American Gods. I'll be getting the former for her birthday. For all you Harry Potter and juvenile fic fans, have you read the Philip Pullman books? They list as young adult but the themes are pretty in-depth: life, death, good, evil, etc. His books have won all kinds of awards and many of my adult friends are reading them. I read The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife and am on the third, The Amber Spyglass just now.
|
|
|
Post by HippoMommy on Mar 30, 2006 0:23:04 GMT -5
In the juvenile fiction category, my 7 year old DSS just finished reading The Golden Hour (okay we read it aloud to him), and it was very enjoyable.
|
|
|
Post by mary on Mar 30, 2006 14:30:46 GMT -5
Our book club just finished 'Adventure Diva's' by Holly Morris Very interesting non fiction. Holly and her crew have gone around the world, finding women who have made a mark in society, in many ways defying cultural and political establishments. It is also a NPR series. I highly recommend it!
|
|
|
Post by katherinehealy07 on Jan 12, 2007 23:03:48 GMT -5
4th of July by James Patterson.... I love James Patterson I have read all his books! I am currently reading Judge and Jury and have Cross his latest on hold @ the library
|
|