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A Million Little Pieces Hardcover – April 15, 2003

3.9 out of 5 stars 2,230 customer reviews

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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 383 pages
  • Publisher: Nan A. Talese; First edition (April 15, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385507755
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385507752
  • Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 1.3 x 9.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2,230 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #500,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

Format: Paperback
I have worked with alcoholics and addicts for many, many years, and I worked for the Hazelden Foundation, the treatment program the author indicates he attended. His description of the events in treatment never could have happened. All treatment centers are strictly regulated by a licensing board called the Joint Commission as well by state laws. What James Frey describes is in gross violation of these strict standards of accreditation. The treatment center would have been severely disciplined or shut down. Hazelden is one of the finest treatment centers in the world and is the pioneer of treatment as we know it today. Their treatment program is centered on respecting the dignity of each patient and preserving the safety of all who are admitted.

James Frey would not have been admitted into treatment in such terrible medical condition without first being sent to a hospital for care and then admitted only after the hospital staff granted medical clearance. He wouldn't have been given stitches in his face at the treatment center, because treatment centers aren't licensed to give that level of medical care. Yes, recovering people can use anesthetic. Anesthetic is not an addictive drug, so no one needs to endure painful dental work or stitches or surgery without masking the pain. Pain medications (which are addictive) are used when necessary, such as after major surgery.

There are no men in white coats with syringes tackling people who misbehave. People in treatment don't behave in ways the author describes. People are mostly kind, caring and thoughtful. Disagreements are generally mild in nature, and mood-swings are usually the worst we must contend with. When someone behaves in an unacceptable manner, they are asked to change their behavior or be discharged.
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Format: Paperback
Having read Another Day in Paradise by Eddie Little, it became very obvious to me that James is living vicariously through Eddie's book. You must read Eddie's book and then you will see how clearly AMLP parallels the Little book. From the same basic characters to their almost identical pasts, I found myself becoming angered at this blatant rip-off. Lilly IS Rosie, right down to the description of the gang rape scenes in both books. As a result, I just do not believe anything in James book actually happened, other than the fact that he spent time in a rehab facility. It was all a fantasy based in large part on Eddie Little's book.

Another tip-off - on Oprah's site there is an interview with James and someone asked him the significance of the scribbles at the start of each chapter. James stated that he had wanted to start each chapter with a full page of pure black, but it would have been cost-prohibitive. Hmmmmm, Another Day in Paradise starts each chapter with a page printed half in black. Coincidence, no?

This is just so wrong.
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Format: Paperback
It's true. Most of the positive reviews come from people working for the publisher and the author. It's an industry practice as Amazon is one of the best places to sell books and advertize them. Take a look at the following reviews from 2003, and reviews from 2005. Why would anyone spend 2.5, going on 3 years posting the same review under different names if they did not have a vested interest in the sales of this book.

Readers Addiction, April 17, 2003
Reviewer:Helen L. Motley (Ohio) - See all my reviews
I was up 'til midnight reading Frey's Million Little Pieces. I woke again at 4am and read until my alarm went off.

Solid five star book, December 1, 2005
Reviewer:Donna Freuhaf (Pell Lake, WI) - See all my reviews
I was up 'til midnight reading Frey's Million Little Pieces. I woke again at 4am and read until my alarm went off.
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Absorbing, fresh, and never cliched, April 17, 2003
Reviewer:
James Frey has been getting a ton of press and hype over his debut work, and rightly deserved.

Harrowing and enlightening, bright and dark all at once, October 4, 2005
Reviewer:Thomas Watkins (Freemont, CA) - See all my reviews
James Frey has been getting a ton of press and hype over his A MILLION LITTLE PIECES, and rightly deserved
______________________________________________
Please try this book, December 10, 2005
Reviewer:L.N. (Oxford, MS) - See all my reviews
After having read James Frey's debut novel, my answer is an unequivocal and resounding yes.

A writer for a generation?
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4 Comments 116 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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Format: Paperback
I finished this book last week, and even before all of this smoking gun talk came on the scene I had a hard time swallowing a lot of this story.

I have a brother who was an addict so I could relate to a lot of Frey's descriptions of what it's like to be an addict. I also appreciated that there was no denial that he was a drug addict. My problem was the arrogance! This guy portrayed himself as always right. It NEVER stopped. He also portrayed himself as the toughest guy that ever existed. It's like he is still a 23 year old kid who just likes to brag to everyone how tough he was and how no one would ever dare mess with him. You can tell thats how he still demands respect. When he wrote this book it was like he was thinking of who would be playing him in the movie. Whoever the lucky actor is better make sure to say in his Academy Award speech that James Frey is a true inspiration to us all or else Frey will make sure to be there to kick his ass and once again prove how tough of a guy he really is.

I wanted to go through this journey w/ James Frey and I just realized I could not because he was so closed minded. Great he got through it and I am happy for him, but I found him to be very closed minded and insulting to others, like my brother, who got through his addictions by AA and a higher power. How dare he say that is just replacing another addiction for another?? How dare he judge what has worked for so many others?

Then how ridiculous it is to be on a plane w/ 4 front teeth missing, a huge gash in his cheek, piss, blood, vomit all over himself, how is that possibly allowed no matter what?? Also, root canal and caps in one sitting and no type of medication? Skipping meeting, playing cards in lecture, etc.?? I mean please!
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