Comments on: The Debate http://www.james-frey.com The work of James Frey Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:03:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Alcab http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-1419 Alcab Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:51:05 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-1419 There's a mistake on page 236. of Bright Shiny Morning He uses the word "falté" in spanish as if it meant "miss" which is a common mistake for a translator, the right word is "extrañé" unless of course he did it on purpose as if the character was mocking the people who speak spanglish, or inappropriate spanish. Did anybody else acknowledged this mistake- or writing strategy- There’s a mistake on page 236. of Bright Shiny Morning He uses the word “falté” in spanish as if it meant “miss” which is a common mistake for a translator, the right word is “extrañé” unless of course he did it on purpose as if the character was mocking the people who speak spanglish, or inappropriate spanish. Did anybody else acknowledged this mistake- or writing strategy-

]]> By: Kat http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-1157 Kat Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:00:50 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-1157 James Frey's A Million Little Pieces came to me 3rd hand from an aunt in Canada (I'm in Scotland). I had never heard of James or his work before I read the book and having just gone on line to see if he had written anything else I have been made aware over the controversy over his work. I just wanted to say this is one of the best books I have ever read regardless of whether parts are fact or fiction. A truly exceptional, inspirational piece of writing. Looking forward to reading more of his work Kat (UK) James Frey’s A Million Little Pieces came to me 3rd hand from an aunt in Canada (I’m in Scotland). I had never heard of James or his work before I read the book and having just gone on line to see if he had written anything else I have been made aware over the controversy over his work. I just wanted to say this is one of the best books I have ever read regardless of whether parts are fact or fiction. A truly exceptional, inspirational piece of writing. Looking forward to reading more of his work
Kat (UK)

]]> By: ula http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-1127 ula Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:40:50 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-1127 I bought "A Million Little Pieces" in an American bookstore in Warsaw, Poland, along with a couple of other books to take on a short holiday. I had no idea what I was getting myself into :) I have read great books in my life. Classics, masterpieces, bestsellers, novels shortlisted for the Booker Prize and books whose covers say NOBEL WINNER or PULITZER PRIZE in capital letters, books that actually won something serious and respectable. Whenever I read them I keep looking for one thing and I hardly ever find it. It's something that got me hooked on reading when I was a kid - a compulsion to find out more and a recognition, a reflection, a resonance - there's me in this story, and this story is in me, it's already in me. "A Million Little Pieces" rings true a million times. It's a story I already know, a story I knew before I even started reading it. Like a piece of beautiful music that seems familiar even though you're hearing it for the first time. However messed up and complicated his journey, James keeps looking for precisely this - for a recognition, a reflection, and a resonance of truth, whether it's in Leonard, in Lilly, in the Tao book, or in a frozen lake. And I guess (to finally come back to the discussion on truth in memoirs) this is where the truth is in "A Million Little Pieces" - in Lilly's eyes, in a frozen lake, in Hank's jacket, in Joanne's kindness. I felt disappointed to find out not all facts in the book were true. But I hope that at least those little things I recognised as true, the things that resonated with me were real - really real. I bought “A Million Little Pieces” in an American bookstore in Warsaw, Poland, along with a couple of other books to take on a short holiday. I had no idea what I was getting myself into :)
I have read great books in my life. Classics, masterpieces, bestsellers, novels shortlisted for the Booker Prize and books whose covers say NOBEL WINNER or PULITZER PRIZE in capital letters, books that actually won something serious and respectable. Whenever I read them I keep looking for one thing and I hardly ever find it. It’s something that got me hooked on reading when I was a kid - a compulsion to find out more and a recognition, a reflection, a resonance - there’s me in this story, and this story is in me, it’s already in me.
“A Million Little Pieces” rings true a million times. It’s a story I already know, a story I knew before I even started reading it. Like a piece of beautiful music that seems familiar even though you’re hearing it for the first time. However messed up and complicated his journey, James keeps looking for precisely this - for a recognition, a reflection, and a resonance of truth, whether it’s in Leonard, in Lilly, in the Tao book, or in a frozen lake. And I guess (to finally come back to the discussion on truth in memoirs) this is where the truth is in “A Million Little Pieces” - in Lilly’s eyes, in a frozen lake, in Hank’s jacket, in Joanne’s kindness.
I felt disappointed to find out not all facts in the book were true. But I hope that at least those little things I recognised as true, the things that resonated with me were real - really real.

]]> By: Andrea Mears http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-1120 Andrea Mears Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:55:19 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-1120 A Million Little Pieces was a very good book, a great read by a good writter. Thank god he stayed clean to be able to write this book. i am at present just starting my friend leonard and am looking forward to the read. thats all i have to say really oh and that i don't mind if some parts of the book are fiction shit happend but i hope most are true andrea uk xxxxxx A Million Little Pieces was a very good book, a great read by a good writter. Thank god he stayed clean to be able to write this book. i am at present just starting my friend leonard and am looking forward to the read.
thats all i have to say really oh and that i don’t mind if some parts of the book are fiction shit happend but i hope most are true
andrea uk xxxxxx

]]> By: Andrea Mears http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-1119 Andrea Mears Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:50:01 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-1119 A Million Little Pieces A Million Little Pieces

]]> By: sunita http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-1117 sunita Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:19:30 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-1117 I agree with you I agree with you

]]> By: Max http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-1058 Max Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:39:48 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-1058 I started A million pieces because of the reviews, and because I was surprised by this polemic around the book. American culture is an enigma for a European (sorry I am French)... this obsession about truth is impossible to understand for me. Nothing is never white or black… I do not know anything about drugs and alcohol addiction, but I must have some different kind of addiction and I do not even know it. Is it a memory book? A novel? I do not care. The point for me is the real pleasure I take reading it. I love to spend time with you James. I started to love my diary subway trip since I started reading you. I do not want to go down... I do not want to let you, lily and Leonard... I do not even want this book to finish. Strangely, you make me feel good because your world is so dark but so optimistic… I do believe that this book is helping many people and I can understand why. Again for me more that the content, the important about this book is his quality. It is a masterpiece as a novel or as a biography… you can write the truth about yourself and some of us have probably a much worst story to tell but who can write like James Frey… Thanks James, I forgot that reading could be such a pleasure. Max I started A million pieces because of the reviews, and because I was surprised by this polemic around the book. American culture is an enigma for a European (sorry I am French)… this obsession about truth is impossible to understand for me. Nothing is never white or black… I do not know anything about drugs and alcohol addiction, but I must have some different kind of addiction and I do not even know it. Is it a memory book? A novel? I do not care. The point for me is the real pleasure I take reading it. I love to spend time with you James. I started to love my diary subway trip since I started reading you. I do not want to go down… I do not want to let you, lily and Leonard… I do not even want this book to finish. Strangely, you make me feel good because your world is so dark but so optimistic…
I do believe that this book is helping many people and I can understand why. Again for me more that the content, the important about this book is his quality. It is a masterpiece as a novel or as a biography… you can write the truth about yourself and some of us have probably a much worst story to tell but who can write like James Frey…
Thanks James, I forgot that reading could be such a pleasure.

Max

]]> By: Jacob Brunette http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-1049 Jacob Brunette Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:12:53 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-1049 i love your books and hope to see more soon regards Jacob i love your books and hope to see more soon
regards
Jacob

]]> By: Rachel http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-969 Rachel Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:11:32 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-969 Oprah can shove it up her ass. I don’t care if the books are true or not. They are gripping tales of addiction and heart break. I couldn’t put either of them down. James wrote amazing books. I found "My Friend Leonard" at a bookstore on sale. It was bright pink with an ashtray on the front. It looked liked and sounded like something interesting. I read the book for a grade 11 English project and I could just not put it down. I loved it. I was laughing, crying and smiling all at once. I loved his book. Loved it. This book was about a struggle. I had heard of "A Million Little Pieces" but I had not read it. When James finds out that Lilly is dead, I felt over whelmed. I cried. Then as he journeys through life, and learns from Leonard, I fell in love with Leonard. He was so sweet, and I loved how well he took care of James. The ending came as a complete shock. I really felt for James. Losing Leonard would have been the end for me. The things Leonard left for him, also broke my heart. The very end was so sweet when him and Snapper spread his ashes on the course. I cried solid for the last 10 pages. From the very beginning I was drawn into his book. That to me shows that he is a gifted writer. Once I had put the book down, I recommended it to all my friends, and made them all read it. I actually just finished reading "A Million Little Pieces" today, and I knew that I needed to come on your site and just tell you that I think your absolutely brilliant. I loved every word you wrote, and every style you choose to write it. I am currently waiting to get your new book and I’m looking forward to read it. James Frey, your books were the best I have ever read. Oprah can shove it up her ass.
I don’t care if the books are true or not. They are gripping tales of addiction and heart break. I couldn’t put either of them down.
James wrote amazing books.
I found “My Friend Leonard” at a bookstore on sale. It was bright pink with an ashtray on the front. It looked liked and sounded like something interesting. I read the book for a grade 11 English project and I could just not put it down. I loved it. I was laughing, crying and smiling all at once. I loved his book. Loved it. This book was about a struggle. I had heard of “A Million Little Pieces” but I had not read it. When James finds out that Lilly is dead, I felt over whelmed. I cried. Then as he journeys through life, and learns from Leonard, I fell in love with Leonard. He was so sweet, and I loved how well he took care of James. The ending came as a complete shock. I really felt for James. Losing Leonard would have been the end for me. The things Leonard left for him, also broke my heart. The very end was so sweet when him and Snapper spread his ashes on the course. I cried solid for the last 10 pages. From the very beginning I was drawn into his book. That to me shows that he is a gifted writer. Once I had put the book down, I recommended it to all my friends, and made them all read it. I actually just finished reading “A Million Little Pieces” today, and I knew that I needed to come on your site and just tell you that I think your absolutely brilliant. I loved every word you wrote, and every style you choose to write it. I am currently waiting to get your new book and I’m looking forward to read it.

James Frey, your books were the best I have ever read.

]]> By: Addler http://www.james-frey.com/debate/#comment-839 Addler Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:12:48 +0000 http://aptstudio.com/james-frey/debate/#comment-839 Elizabeth, if you like this style of writing, try the scottish/UK author "Irvine Welsh". Author of "Trainspotting" (an absolute classic!!!!), "Maribou Stork nightmares", "E for Ecstacy" and 1/2 dozen other brilliant books. James writes VERY, VERY similar to Irvine Welsh, both in style, prose and topics although Irvine Welsh HAS lived this life and creates charicatures that are unforgetable and timeless. Irvine Welsh is the Kerouc/Hunke for the Chemical Generation. have a look for his books.... Elizabeth, if you like this style of writing, try the scottish/UK author “Irvine Welsh”. Author of “Trainspotting” (an absolute classic!!!!), “Maribou Stork nightmares”, “E for Ecstacy” and 1/2 dozen other brilliant books. James writes VERY, VERY similar to Irvine Welsh, both in style, prose and topics although Irvine Welsh HAS lived this life and creates charicatures that are unforgetable and timeless. Irvine Welsh is the Kerouc/Hunke for the Chemical Generation. have a look for his books….

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