what happened
Spring 1996
James Frey starts writing a million little pieces
April 2003
a million little pieces publishes in US by Doubleday and in UK by John Murray
September 2005
Oprah Winfrey chooses a million little pieces for her monthly bookclub
2005
a million little pieces becomes a bestseller. Sells in excess of 4.5 million copies in US alone
2004
James Frey writes my friend leonard
May 2004
a million little pieces publishes in UK by John Murray in paperback
June 2005
my friend leonard publishes in US by Riverhead and in UK by John Murray
8 January 2006
The Smoking Gun website publishes the article: “A Million Little Lies: Exposing James Frey’s Fiction Addiction”
11 January 2006
James Frey appears on Larry King Live on CNN
13 January 2006
Explanatory author note is included in books
26 January 2006
James Frey appears on Oprah Winfrey. No further media appearance
March 2006
my friend leonard publishes in paperback in UK by John Murray
12 September 2006
James Frey and publisher Random House, Inc. reaches a legal settlement in which readers who felt defrauded by a million little pieces would be offered a refund. Few take it up
July 2007
Nan Talese verbally attacks Oprah Winfrey for hypocrisy at a literary convention in Texas
I just read both books in a weeks time.. they are both incredible and James has more in his lifetime already than most of us will ever have. And he survived and worked hard at the life he has now. If he did exagerate some of the story, don’t we all in our daily conversations???
I love the books don’t let anyone take away the pride you have for writing them and the pride in yourself for living them and surviving them.
—Tracey (2008-04-08 06:52:32)
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i absolutely loved both A Million Little pieces and My Friend Leonard.
They were one of the few books that i’ve read all the way through.
i would recommend it to everyone, no matter who they are.
—brooke (2008-05-11 01:11:26)
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The book is a masterpiece. Im not really concerned if aspects were fabricated to enhance the storys impact. The story is so powerful and as somone who has had struggles myself I know that there is often temptation to play stories up a little bit, human nature? The book has helped many people with its rawness and i hope many more will pick it up
—Adam Garratt (2008-05-21 00:26:48)
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A million little peices and my friend leonard were both outstanding books, who cares what people think. james Frey is a genius.
—kelly (2008-05-27 15:45:17)
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Who cares if they are completely true or not…the message is what’s important - i’m sure a million little pieces and my friend leonard have made a difference to a great many people and I was both moved and inspired by both books.
—Jenny (2008-06-04 16:00:20)
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Oprah is a bigot and the reason she was angry was not because some parts of James Frey’s books were dishonest, she didnt care about her readers being duped, she was mad because he lied to Oprah because she thinks shes hot shit cuz she donates money to people and gives away cars. It doesn’t matter wether parts of the book are fabricated or embellished the thing people overlook are that The majority of events are true and even if they arent, that doesnt mean it didnt happen to someone. Its true for someone and aside from that, James Frey has created his own unique style of writing and is more than capable of laying out a story anyone can relate to. Don’t let the media get you down Mr. Frey. You have surely affected the lives of millions (including me) and given people something they can relate to and no matter what certain people may think, that does in fact mean something.
—Travis Fukuda (2008-07-01 04:03:15)
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I know you’ve received a lot of shit about A Million Little Pieces and I know you’ve received a lot of praise also, which makes it hard to know what to write in order to stand out. Personally, I think A Million Little Pieces is one of the best books I have ever read. It broke my heart over and over in the best possible way, if that makes any sense. Regardless of what is fact and what is fiction, its a wonderful story and I admire you so much for all that you’ve been through in your life and still came out standing. I have lost a lot of people in my life and at times felt like there was no way out, your books help people who feel these things over come those fears. You truly are a hero and a fantastic writer. Thank you for writing your books and continuing to do it despite all criticism and cynicism. You are an amazing person. x
—Samantha (2008-07-12 16:10:13)
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I loved A Million Little Pieces. I could give a crap whether or not details have been fabricated. I am reading it for the second time, and it grips me each time I read it. I am in recovery as well, and after 10 years, reading the book brings me back to the same feelings about who I was and who I am now, the confusion, sadness, grief and loss about years wasted. You are and remain one of my favorite writers. I finished Bright Shiny Day in a little over 3 days. Brilliant writing. Thanks for doing what you do, and having the balls to stand up to Oprah and answer her questions…. kudos to you for remaining on the Best Seller’s list for more than 6 months AFTER the Oprah show. I’ll read anything you write. Keep it up.
—Renee (2008-07-22 19:33:51)
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The only thing your critics exposed was their ignorance. When I read The Bell Jar, I didn’t question whether every word written was fact. I don’t really care, but I can guess what I’d find if I did. I want to enjoy what I read and be engaged and if real experience can be translated into words that move and resonate then I am happy to be enthralled by fact mixed up with purposeful fiction. A Million Little Pieces is a brilliant piece of writing which could not have been written without the experiences of the life behind it. I dare them to question every newspaper article, scrutinize every autobiography, examine every documentary and I wonder how many flawless works they would find. What they ‘exposed’ is inherent in dramatic narrative, whatever its form. Anyone read Julius Caesar’s Gallic Wars? Now there’s a man who knew how to dramatize his own life!
—Sarah (2008-08-05 09:35:51)
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Fabulous! A million little pieces and my friend Leonard… fabulous! I loved the James Frey in the books as soon as I started to read the first one and I loved both you and Leonard in the next! Love your style, not just your writing but your style. Well don! Both my son and I are huge fans but it took me ten mins. to stop sobbing after the second one!
—cath (2008-08-14 15:47:25)
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I borrowed this book from a friend. I have decided to but my own copy. Words cannot describe how I felt when I read this book. It truely pulled at my heart strings. The way the book has been written is fantastic. They style to me is original. James Frey you are an exceptional person.
—Zoe (2008-09-07 10:55:45)
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It does not matter how much is true and how much fabrication it still opens one’s eyes to the horrors of addiction and how really underneath it all addicts are vulnerable people who are harshly judged. It also shows the pain that recovering addicts go through to try and stay sober and one should admire them. Oprah Winfry for all the good she might have done is sanctimonious and self-opnionated. She might condemn this book but she can’t do a simple thing like keeping her weight under control so she has no placing judging
—Cathy (2008-10-02 00:07:05)
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I think the point is that this book would never had been published if it had been fiction.
Publishers would simply have rejected it. It was the fact that it was all a true story which made it appealing.
He could have made quite a bit of money from telling a few little porky pies!
—Clairey Loo (2008-10-08 17:13:30)
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I have just finished reading a million little pieces. What a GREAT read. I do not understand the aggro around whether it is all true or not. Frew challenges conventional thinking, whilst teasing our consciences about the way we view a lot of things in life. If any book achieves that for me, I really don’t care whether he “enlarged” the truth somewhat. I am now on my way to buy My friend Leornard. Thanks James
—Lydia Tanyanyiwa (2008-10-13 15:12:52)
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I was completly mesmerised by your book a million little pieces, I could not put it down and have recomended it to almost everyone!! I am currently reading My friend Lenoard and is proving to be just as good as a million little pieces!! I cannot wait to go and purchase Bright shiny morning…. your books are inspirational…. Just one question are you thinking of making your movies by any chance????? lol!!!!!!
Brilliant……. Keep it up!!!!!
—Joanna Harvey (2008-10-28 14:31:06)
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Hi, I’m wondering if you really read the comments. I’m reading “A Million Little Pieces” and it’s beautiful. I’m still at school, and my English teacher had us choose a book to read from a list, and I picked yours. I love it, I’m hooked! Oh, and just so you know, my teacher once recommended the book to a woman through a website, and she read it and wanted to see my teacher in person. She told him that the story was so shocking that after she read it, she stopped smoking for good! It must be wonderful for someone to be able to do that to a person through writing. Your book is amazing and gripping, and I hope you read this because maybe you don’t read your comments. Congratulations, all the way from Lebanon.
—Petra (2008-11-01 08:36:38)
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What’s crazy to me about all the fuss is that the stuff that matters most in the book would be impossible to fabricate (i.e. your internal states). Fuck the haters, indeed.
The word is tiny compared to what you’ve done, but congratulations on your sobriety James. And thanks for an incredible book.
—James (2008-11-06 22:57:30)
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