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Review
'Vivid, splashy and mesmerising' (Independent )
'Dangerously addictive' (Tatler )
'Picassos and promise, racketeering and respect ... a stark and moving tribute to a complicated but loyal goodfella' (Independent on Sunday )
'An extraordinary tale of life after prison with a dangerous, delightful friend' (Big Issue )
'He takes you inside his world of pain, and it's like a small, brightly lit cell ... Life, Frey tells us, is pretty disturbing and weird when you're out of your head. But try living it sober' (The Spectator )
'When a book proves difficult to put down, you know you're on to a good thing' (Irish News )
'Dangerously addictive' (Tatler )
'Picassos and promise, racketeering and respect ... a stark and moving tribute to a complicated but loyal goodfella' (Independent on Sunday )
'An extraordinary tale of life after prison with a dangerous, delightful friend' (Big Issue )
'He takes you inside his world of pain, and it's like a small, brightly lit cell ... Life, Frey tells us, is pretty disturbing and weird when you're out of your head. But try living it sober' (The Spectator )
'When a book proves difficult to put down, you know you're on to a good thing' (Irish News )
'Beautiful, sad, potent, irresistible'
(Elle )The idea of reading about the road to recovery of someone whose lifestyle I could neither condone nor understand didn't inspire me at all. WRONG!!! Within two pages all prejudice was forgotten and I immediately felt an empathy with the main character.'
(Jane Eyre, Leeds )Bret Easton Ellis on A MILLION LITTLE PIECES
‘A heartbreaking memoir … inspirational and essential’
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
i'm guessing most people will be coming to this book having read "a million pieces", frey's first memoir, and this book picks up where a million pieces left off with frey coming to the end of his prison sentence for his various drug and alcohol fueled activities.
but it would be wrong to assume that this is going to be more of the same. where a million pieces was a fiercely angry and often unpleasantly vivid account of frey's struggles with crack and alcohol, my friend leonard takes a lighter tone as it deals with the subjects of friendship and rebuilding and it's certainly no worse for the change of emphasis.
frey still has a great turn of phrase, a enormously readable style and critically, a story to tell. as the title suggests, at the centre of the book are his friendship with fellow addict and west coast mob boss leonard who he met in rehab, but it also takes in frey's relationship with his girlfriend from rehab lily, and his attempts to assemble some sort of adult life following a decade of alcohol and drug abuse that started in his teens.
one thing that concerned me a little about this book as i started reading was that the last couple of pages of a million little pieces summarise what happens to most of the characters frey meets in rehab, leonard and, in particular, lilly included. yet ultimately that does not massively detract from what happens in this book. this is a book not about what finally happens but about how everyone gets to where they end up, and despite knowing elements of the ending it's none the less powerful - as with great newspaper journalism the headline only whets your appetite for the full story.
through the book, frey tells his and his friends' stories with the same humour, affection and honesty that ran through his first book and it has the same compelling, readable quality. where it lacks the shock value, the warmth more than compensates.
for anyone who hasn't read a million little pieces, go read that first and then come back... you won't regret buying both.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After reading the final page of "A Million Little Pieces" I thought, how is he going to top that?! After starting to read "My Friend Loenard" and becoming addicted to James & his world all over again, it was obvious this book was going to be another WOW read!
I found this book even more compelling and addictive and lovable than his first. The twists it takes are shocking, yet you feel a sympathy and love for the characters still.
I have enjoyed my journey through James' world and I thank him for allowing me in.
There is however one disappointment with this book. In the final pages of "A Million Little Pieces" we learn about what happens after and that spoils it a little when reading "My Friend Leonard" as you know what's going to happen. However, the way in which James writes, makes up for this disappointment.
When's the third?!?!?!?!?
I found this book even more compelling and addictive and lovable than his first. The twists it takes are shocking, yet you feel a sympathy and love for the characters still.
I have enjoyed my journey through James' world and I thank him for allowing me in.
There is however one disappointment with this book. In the final pages of "A Million Little Pieces" we learn about what happens after and that spoils it a little when reading "My Friend Leonard" as you know what's going to happen. However, the way in which James writes, makes up for this disappointment.
When's the third?!?!?!?!?
27 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
James Frey is a controversial figure. His first book, a Million Little Pieces, was quietly received before word of mouth snowballed sales into thousands. The crescendo was reached by the book appearing as part of Oprah's `book club'. Millions read Frey's story of reaching rock bottom, scrabbling and scratching in the dirt before a raw, real redemption. And then success inevitably brought suspicion. Journalists took a cynical comb to the story, and decided that James Frey was a liar. His story didn't stack up. His sufferings were faked, his pains embellished and his difficulties dreamt. Now in addition to being a drug addicted, alcoholic criminal he was a lying, drug addicted, alcoholic criminal. Or worse still, he was just a liar. And for the author of a work of biographical non-fiction that is a problem.
I loved a Million Little Pieces. I loved how someone completely messed up could produce a work of such harrowing, yet moving beauty. I loved the style, how the prose was as rough and jagged and real as the author. I loved how even someone who had messed up their lives really badly could be saved. For someone suffering from his own demons it was a message I needed and absorbed. So when it seemed that the story was fake it ruined the message. The raw truth, the honesty and plunging lows had made me love the book. The revelation that it was fiction made me think twice. And so I had stayed away from My Friend Leonard, the follow up to a Million Little Pieces. It was over a year after its release before I would come to read it.
I realised that Frey's dishonesty was going to be an issue from the book by juxtaposing the `disclaimer' on the first few pages with the opening line. In the disclaimer Frey explains that the book is a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, and in particular that "I did not spend 90 days in jail and Porterhouse is a fictional character." This is then followed by Chapter 1. "On my first day in jail, a three hundred pound man named Porterhouse hit me in the back of the head with a metal tray." But I decided to read on.
And now I am glad I did. Because not only is My Friend Leonard a fine book, it enabled me to appreciate his original, and so-far best work, without thinking the worst of the author.
The book covers the period of Frey's life from leaving the rehabilitation centre, through prison and over the following years as he slowly rebuilds a seemingly irreparable life. We last saw Frey stabilising at the rehab centre, but this was stabilisation from a desperate position. Over the course of My Friend Leonard we see how Frey manages to overcome the manifest temptations to return to his former life of addiction, and forges a new life. It is a book that shows the importance of friendship, the lengths people can go to help others, and just how resilient man can be even when faced with the most impossible tragedies and difficulties.
I loved a Million Little Pieces. I loved how someone completely messed up could produce a work of such harrowing, yet moving beauty. I loved the style, how the prose was as rough and jagged and real as the author. I loved how even someone who had messed up their lives really badly could be saved. For someone suffering from his own demons it was a message I needed and absorbed. So when it seemed that the story was fake it ruined the message. The raw truth, the honesty and plunging lows had made me love the book. The revelation that it was fiction made me think twice. And so I had stayed away from My Friend Leonard, the follow up to a Million Little Pieces. It was over a year after its release before I would come to read it.
I realised that Frey's dishonesty was going to be an issue from the book by juxtaposing the `disclaimer' on the first few pages with the opening line. In the disclaimer Frey explains that the book is a mixture of fiction and non-fiction, and in particular that "I did not spend 90 days in jail and Porterhouse is a fictional character." This is then followed by Chapter 1. "On my first day in jail, a three hundred pound man named Porterhouse hit me in the back of the head with a metal tray." But I decided to read on.
And now I am glad I did. Because not only is My Friend Leonard a fine book, it enabled me to appreciate his original, and so-far best work, without thinking the worst of the author.
The book covers the period of Frey's life from leaving the rehabilitation centre, through prison and over the following years as he slowly rebuilds a seemingly irreparable life. We last saw Frey stabilising at the rehab centre, but this was stabilisation from a desperate position. Over the course of My Friend Leonard we see how Frey manages to overcome the manifest temptations to return to his former life of addiction, and forges a new life. It is a book that shows the importance of friendship, the lengths people can go to help others, and just how resilient man can be even when faced with the most impossible tragedies and difficulties.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The first book with an ending that can make me cry
The title says much of what I want to say. This book is not only a beautiful and wonderful read, but also an educational one too - I believe Leonard can teach all of us something... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. E. C. Low
My Friend Leonard, James Frey
A superb sequel to a million little pieces and a must read as it follows on from Frey's first great book. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Simon Hatfield
Fantastic Book
This book was fantastic. It was just as good as the first book "a million little pieces" and left you wishing that you had a friend like Leonard too. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Sam
My friend leonard
A fantastic book!! I would definately recommend this book. Very well written. James Frey is a strong willed, determined young man.
Published 9 months ago by EmH
My Friend Leonard
I'll presume that you want to read this book because you read Frey's last book and liked it, and you're already open-minded enough to appreciate (or forgive) his writing style,... Read more
Published 12 months ago by David Brookes
Uplifting, heartbreaking, fantastic
James Frey is an amazing writer. Both parts of his autobiography are incredibly moving, positive pieces of work. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Mr. Neil D. Armour
My Friend Leonard
When I read the final page of 'A Million Little Pieces' and closed the book, I murmured ''wow''. I had to know what comes next. My Friend Leonard is an amazing read. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Rinz
A good follow up
This is the follow up to James Freys previous novel. James was an addict of a number of things and I expect this is challenging for anyone and am sure this book gave him some... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Bennoir
My Friend Leonard
This is one of the best books I have ever read - simply brilliant! Gripping from page 1. Biggest problem was not being able to put it down and never wanting it to end..... Read more
Published 20 months ago by T. Burrage
Nothing short of brilliant!
I couldn't wait to read this book after reading A Million Little Pieces, in fact i ordered it before i finished the first book. Read more
Published 22 months ago by J. Higgins
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