I couldn't wait for this book to come out, considering that Frey's "
Bright Shiny Morning (P.S.)" is one of my very few all-time favorite books. I ordered both the $50 leather-bound book and the $10 Kindle edition because I wanted to have the story with me wherever I went; to read it whenever I wanted; to savor it whenever I needed.
Well, it didn't quite pan out that way.
My anticipation was met with a colossal disappointment at the third-rate writing (absolutely uncharacteristic of Frey's, by the way,) embarrassingly indulgent themes, underdeveloped characters (another very odd thing coming from Frey) and overtly preachy agenda. I thought the idea behind the book was brilliant (i.e. love conquers all and organized religion is the source of all evil) but the execution was painfully lacking.
The story is about Ben Zion Avrohom, whom Frey goes to explain, is "also known as Ben Jones, also known as the Prophet, also known as the Son, also known as the Messiah, also known as the Lord God."
Throughout the book, "Ben Jones" reminded me a lot of Jim Jones of Jonestown. It was very disturbing. But I digress...
The book is divided into 16 small chapters, each of which is the story of Ben told from the perspective of a distinct character that meets Ben and is changed by him. There are 12 characters, analogues to the 12 apostles in the Bible, and one of them narrates three chapters.
Amongst the colorful (yet sadly austere and underdeveloped,) narrating characters are a Dominican prostitute, a construction supervisor, an ER surgeon, Ben's sister, Ben's mother, a born-again homosexual Christian evangelical, a rabbi, a derelict, an FBI agent, an evangelical pastor, a priest, an obese white woman from upstate NY, and a Black Public Defender. There is also a recurring character that doesn't narrate and that is Ben's brother, Jacob.
Ben himself didn't have a chapter, although I'm sure there was plenty of writing materials in NYC, where he hung out.
Anyway ...
Through the eyes of this eclectic group of people we get to learn what Ben thinks of government, religion, money, the Gods, Jesus, race, sex, homosexuality, all sexuality, abortion, death, Heaven, Hell, guns, drugs, and of course, the Holy Bible and the Words of God.
It sounds all great in theory, but the way it was written was, in a way, insulting. Not in a blasphemous sort of way, but in an intellectual sort of way. Maybe Frey wanted to book to be so banal to poke fun at the Holy Bible? I'll never know. All I know is it didn't work for me.
The long and short of it is this: God wants us to live and act on all our desires and needs and "love" and engage in orgies because in the end ... LOVE IS RELIGION.
I think Frey should have focused more on his writing and his characters rather than the design of the book, which by the way is beautiful. If you're a James Frey fan, you will either love this book or really hate it. If you don't know who James Frey is or haven't read any of his books, run for your life. Read "
Bright Shiny Morning (P.S.)" instead.
If you do decide to get the book, get the eBook edition first just to make sure you like it. If you love it, buy the leather-bound, Bible look-alike edition. Great for collectors.
I'll give the book this, though. It had the most appropriate title. Because very much like the Bible (old and new), The Koran and all the other "holy" books, it is a waste of paper and ink and a crime against the environment.
I guess "skip it" would be my recommendation.
