A Million Little Pieces
By James Frey
- Release Date: 2003-04-15
- Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A gripping memoir about the nature of addiction and the meaning of recovery from a bold and talented literary voice. “Anyone who has ever felt broken and wished for a better life will find inspiration in Frey’s story.” —People
“A great story.... You can't help but cheer his victory.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review
By the time he entered a drug and alcohol treatment facility, James Frey had taken his addictions to near-deadly extremes. He had so thoroughly ravaged his body that the facility’s doctors were shocked he was still alive. The ensuing torments of detoxification and withdrawal, and the never-ending urge to use chemicals, are captured with a vitality and directness that recalls the seminal eye-opening power of William Burroughs’s Junky.
But A Million Little Pieces refuses to fit any mold of drug literature. Inside the clinic, James is surrounded by patients as troubled as he is—including a judge, a mobster, a one-time world-champion boxer, and a fragile former prostitute to whom he is not allowed to speak—but their friendship and advice strikes James as stronger and truer than the clinic’s droning dogma of How to Recover. James refuses to consider himself a victim of anything but his own bad decisions, and insists on accepting sole accountability for the person he has been and the person he may become—which runs directly counter to his counselors' recipes for recovery.
James has to fight to find his own way to confront the consequences of the life he has lived so far, and to determine what future, if any, he holds. It is this fight, told with the charismatic energy and power of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, that is at the heart of A Million Little Pieces: the fight between one young man’s will and the ever-tempting chemical trip to oblivion, the fight to survive on his own terms, for reasons close to his own heart. "
Reviews
Not for me
1By ClosetCountryToo much of the same stuff over and overRaw and unnerving masterpiece
5By Jillian BerriosIncredible insight into the life of an addict, the impact on a family dealing with an addict, and hope for those dealing with addiction. Absolutely stunning.A million little pieces
5By LPNsk19Amazing read!! I could not put this book down! I would read this again and again!!!This book was gripping and captivating from start to finish
5By kaykaybean13So many of us can relate to this authors struggle and what a decision made during a poorly chosen time would manage to do to him for the majority of his life. I first read this when he first released it and it changed my heart, mind and soul for the very best. This book has undoubtedly RESONATED with millions. Frey’s genuineness,willingness to overcome his justifications, excuses and blame he points very quickly and loaded accusations with out wanted to take on what he has created that has caused the fallout and his current situation. First honest, raw, relatable narrative of its time and it was the pioneer of the internal battles that come along with addictions and the unfortunate less than SUB PAR rehabilitations and help anyone in this situation has to intervene, heal and redirect the mind set into other productive and healthy steps needed to rebuild their lives. There’s an exact portrait of just how little is provided for those fighting this battle and it’s come to several substance abuse specialists therapists and physicians that there needs to be serious, committed and devoted passes for the patients that gives them unwavering support and encouragement to keep fighting this dilenba. There needs to be more focus on rehab places community service and volunteerism as well as therapy and holistic approaches to heal this soul from the poison that have now taken hold of their minds, chased all their support systems away due to continued relapse and it’s a subject that actually did get America and other countries taking and more supporting of those still warring against these drugs that have stolen their lives and dreams of the future.Moving
5By libro libraThis book is one that you better have hours to dedicate to when you start reading because you won’t want to put it down! I loved it!!Why is this book still labeled as a memoir!!??
1By Bs svI’m VERY upset. I just purchased this book after reading the free sample only to find that it is NOT a true story. I am struggling with addiction myself and it is heartbreaking that someone would make up such a hard thing to go through. Maybe I should write a book. I have actually TRUTHFULLY went through this stuff.Opens the spirit
5By triborosnicotineI really enjoyed this book. I wish it never ended !I LOVE IT!
5By Juliofrank83I could not but this book down! This is an in-depth look at the author;s life at a rebalititation center. There he makes friends, and recalls parts of his life. Triumph over tragedy, indeed!A Million Little Pieces
5By It Actually Works !I love love loved this book!Help me
4By GiantscorpianI downloaded the sample, fell in love with it, but now when I try to buy it, it says it's being modified. I been trying later for a couple of days now, idk what to do, anyone can help me please?!
