Bright Shiny Morning
The third book from James Frey, ‘Bright Shiny Morning will be published this August.
What’s it about?
Welcome to LA. City of contradictions.
It is home to movie stars and down-and-outs. Palm-lined beaches and gridlock. Shopping sprees and gun sprees.
Bright Shiny Morning takes a wild ride through the ultimate metropolis, where glittering excess rubs shoulders with seedy depravity. Frey’s trademark filmic snapshots zoom in on the parallel lives of diverse characters, bringing their egos and ideals, hopes and despairs, anxieties and absurdities vividly to life.
Some suffer, like the otherworldly wino who tries to save a spoilt teenage runaway. Others gain, like the canny talent agent who turns sexual harassment to blackmailing advantage. Some are loaded, or grounded, and have luck on their side. Others, like the countless actresses-turned-hookers, or schoolboys-turned-gangsters, are doomed.
Listen to an extract:
Preorder the book from Amazon.co.uk
Preorder the book from Waterstones.com
I manager a store of Waterstones in Essex, England and received (after begging my John Murray rep) a proof copy of James’ new fiction work. AMAZING!!
Such a talented writer and I’m so happy james didn’t disappear after the success of Million Little and Leonard. This book will be huge and I will do everything in my area as I can for it to receive the respect, sales and support that it truly deserves.
—Kelly Dixon (2008-05-06 22:39:13)
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Seriously? Are you on a section? I just do not understand.
How widely read are you? You work in a bookshop so you must have read some outstanding pieces of literature. Yet, you choose to promote this rather dull and badly written book. So again, I have to ask, are you recieving treatment?
Not only that, but also seemed to praise his other work, which, both are hideous. AMLP is an insult to the written word. An adomination. Do yourself a favour and read something that is both beautiful and amazing, for example something that won the nobel prize for lit, or the booker…. Anything, but the ghastly creations of Mr Frey.
—GK (2008-07-31 21:30:52)
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Ok, we get the point, you don’t like the guy, so that would be why you… go to his website to leave semi-litereate, yest unjustly pretentious messages? Wow, you must be so fulfilled in your life! But of course, you only read beautiful books that won the booker or the nobel prize! How silly of me to question someone of your obvious and boundless intellect, in fact I should be thanking you for enlightening us intellectual pigmys with the might of your brain power. Whoa, we truly are blessed by the shining light of a well read cretin.
It’s ‘abomination’ not ‘admonination’ idiot. Or don’t you have to be able to spell to win the booker?
—Steve (2008-08-05 18:54:54)
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I totally agree Steve. I am someone who reads Literature at University and to be honest your comments on this truly talented author are beyond ridiculous. You clearly are not intelligent enough to grasp modern works of art.
It is also ‘abominable’ that you only read books that have won awards, how sad; you are missing out on so many beautiful novels. James Frey is an outstanding raw talent and I eagerly wait for the next novel.
—Abby (2008-08-09 04:21:12)
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Bright Shiny Morning is brilliant! James Frey is such an interesting author and Bright Shiny Morning is another great accomplishment. His comment on LA is extreme and occasionally difficult to read but this just adds to the intense and powerful nature of the book.
I have no doubt that this book will cause as much of a stir as Frey’s previous efforts.
—James W (2008-05-08 15:29:27)
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Just finished reading. Loved it, really loved it. Thought it was a crazy tapestry of life, truth, fiction, non. I’ve been a fan since Pieces…
—Jennifer (2008-05-21 06:41:24)
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Just finished…. just wonderful exciting writing interesting characters great stories sending you all my stars
especially liked the listing of hospitalized soldiers
—Dolores McNelis (2008-05-26 22:10:47)
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Finished reading it a couple days ago and Mr. Frey, you are just an amazing story teller.
—Lucy (2008-05-29 15:21:16)
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“Ditto”
—Ann Mader-Flowers (2008-06-27 23:49:17)
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So many characters in one book.
James Frey is one talented man.
—Keenan (2008-06-02 05:18:44)
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after living in LA and eventually having to get out of the day to day LA experience - i have to say, James Frey is so right on with hiw account of the places, characters and overall experience! only half way done and can’t wait to finish!
—abby (2008-06-02 22:09:47)
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I’m so glad there is another book to look forward to. I can’t wait!!!
—Jenny (2008-06-04 15:50:57)
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wow. ok so i loved the book. it was AMAZNG! the stories and the truth that you tell in uncanny. the story evokes all kinds of emotions and its sad but yet happy and kinda twisted. i loved it!
—Elise (2008-06-06 16:54:04)
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Also a Waterstone’s Manager. I was so looking forward to reading this proof as I really enjoyed Million and Leonard but I have to say its left me really miffed! I loved Esperanza, Joe, Dylan and Maddie but I kept being distracted away from them with all the stats and really had to fight to finish. Very disappointed hope the next ones better.
—H (2008-06-16 19:03:58)
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1. Donna Says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 am
James
I haven’t been peaceful within myself since I left LA in 1994 until I read bright shiny M. You leave you remember the great times the high times the hot times, the rewards and in my case awards.
I’d forgotten that I was tormented the last 5 years I was there. Tormented by the rat wheel’s big and small, and my fellow rodents always spinning. I reached the top of my field was and still am successful if money counts but I roam the east coast trying to accept a quieter life and until now old ghosts were pulling. Thank you for the gut shaking reminder.
You are so entertaining I will get your other books.
All the best to you,and f— them, they’re only characters in the LA slideshow sideshow.
DW
Watercolor fills the sky
Golden heroes drive on by
Here in the land where a man can lose his heart
You got fame on one side and blame on the other
The rich run fast and the poor run for cover
There’s always a new face on the boulevard
Another moon is on the rise
Another soul has jumped the gun
A million alibis are burning in the sun
Out here where the earth moves beneath your feet
Here where you drown if you can’t compete
Here where they eat their children just for fun
But the sound of the city don’t hit so hard
When you’re out there looking for the missing card
Reaching for the brass ring
THE DANCE GOES ON
IS ANYBODY LISTENING
THE DANCE GOES ON
Bodies hard and glistening
THE DANCE GOES ON
AND WE JUST KEEP SPINNING…
ON AND ON AND ON
THE DANCE GOES ON
(c)1999 Donna Weiss Music Inc.BMI, Moonwindow musicBMI
Kim Carnes, Donna Weiss/the dance goes on
—D (2008-07-02 19:22:44)
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Could not put Morning down, read it over July 4th wkend. Pulitzer Prize perhaps - should be considered. Love that you write about real people involved in all the grit and humanity that is day to day real life. Was blown away by Pieces - not only its content but the way you broke all the rules on format: finally. Keep writing. I know whatever, it will be an adventure to read and worth every moment spent reading it.
—Gloria (2008-07-09 17:17:42)
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James, I’m about halfway though my proof of Bright Shiny Morning and thouroughly loving it. It’s great to hear your voice again, and to be back in your company once more. I work for Waterstone’s bookstore in Liverpool and I was hoping to be in your company in real life at the end of July but I’ve heard today that you’ve had to cancel your visit - we don’t know why, but I hope all is well with you and yours. I pushed to get the event at our store, and had bagged the job of looking after you for the evening - really disappointed we don’t get to meet for real. Maybe another time, eh? I absolutley adored Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard and have taken no notice whatsoever of the Oprah nonsense. Yours is a clear, true voice that speaks to many and that’s the bit that comes through over everything. You did good. I wish you luck and I’ll hopefully get to tell you all this face to face at some point in the future - maybe when the paperback comes out…? Peace and love to you, Sarah x
—sarah hughes (2008-07-09 21:09:05)
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Please keep writing, and I will continue to be one of your legion of fans. Bright Shiny Morning…awesome, just like the others. Just want to say ‘thanks’. Jay, British Columbia, Canada
—Jay (2008-07-11 13:37:01)
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Bright Shiny Morning was amazing. I love the way you write. I’ve never been interested in books until I read yours. I want to read more about the people in Bright Shiny Morning. More importantly I really want to read more stories to come. Thank you for being an amazing writer.
—Sara (2008-07-13 14:38:49)
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James,
I really liked “Bright Shiny Morning.” The characters were very believable even when displaying outlandish behavior. I loved the multiple layers of facts interspersed with fiction to truly depict your original writing style. Would love to know more about Eperanza, Dylan and Maddie and Amberton. (Not so much Amberton as the other three).
One other thing — there is a typo on page 55. Tammy and Earl, (should be Carl), like hundreds of thousands of people…
—Teri McNamara (2008-07-16 16:11:56)
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Why do I have to listen to an extract on this page? I want to read one.
—Michael Hughes (2008-08-02 15:46:06)
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Michael, there are extracts to read in the “News & Events” section.
—JS (2008-08-04 07:54:23)
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