Bright Shiny Morning
by James Frey
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Book Reviews of Bright Shiny Morning
Book Review: Fast read with a few buts
Summary: 4 Stars
I couldn't care less that Frey's controversial book, "A Million Little Pieces" took the book reading fan club by storm. This drama just created an eagerness for me to openly support him anyway. In fact his embellishments in telling his story were just what made me run out to be one of the first in my circle to read his new book. If you're upset about Frey's past, get over it - and don't go to any 12 Step meetings; you'll be shocked! Frey's ability to sort out the absurd and poignant at the same time is really quite masterful. Here are the buts: I could have easily and more happily done without the use of foul language. Frey's use of colorful speech is thoroughly unnecessary and shows a lack of creativity while poorly filling in precious space that could have been used to further expand on the main characters. Frey's too good of a storyteller to stoop this low. Also, I find myself holding my breath to finish a sentence as they all tend to run together without punctuation. I can't hold my breath that long!Book Review: I hated this book
Summary: 1 Stars
I hate this book. I don't say this very often. I've read thousands of books in my life, from Burgess to Bradbury, from Starship Troopers to The Sun Also Rises. But I have never had cause to hate a book before. I truly despised Bright Shiny Morning. The feeling it left me with was disjointed despair. Imagine you are a kid in a classroom. The teacher asks you a question. You give the wrong answer. She smacks you on the head with a wooden ruler. You are asked another question. You're right this time. She smacks you on the head with the ruler. She doesn't smack you after every answer. She doesn't even smack you every time you are wrong. She is totally inconsistent with her punishments and it never ends until the school year ends.
This is what Bright Shiny Morning is like. Undeserved, unending punishment. Disjointed inconsistency. Brutal. And it continues until the very end.
Do the human race a favor. Buy the book, but please, buy it used. And then burn it.
Book Review: Spectacular!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was hesitant to read this book, I had no interest in anything to do with Los Angeles since I knew it only as a vapid one industry town, and only marginally interested in James Frey's writing. So I borrowed it from the NYC Public Library. After reading it, loving it so much I need to own this book, to have the ability to share with others!
This is an extraordinary book filled with heartbreaking tales of ordinary people. It is James Frey's ability to transform the that state and dig deep into the American psyche exposing us to the most unlikable tragic people, but making us care about all of them.
Every mother should give this book to a child lured to California to be in the "Industry". This book reads as a cautionary tale to never follow ones dreams to LA. Figure out how to fulfill your dreams elsewhere.
James Frey, you rocked my world, I now feel empathy towards that wasteland inching into the Pacific and all the saddest lonesome people in LA.
Book Review: Overwhelmingly Depressing
Summary: 4 Stars
James Frey is a very talented writer. His style is identifiable, and some of his writing is annoying. He oftentimes writes in run on sentences. And he loves repeating phrases within a sentence to make a point. But, he knows how to write characters and how to make them completely believable.
The main characters in this book are fully developed. There are four story lines that weave their way throughout the book never intersecting. Yet in between their stories, theres about a hundred pages of information both about Los Angeles, and about the types of people who are drawn their.
Los Angeles is as much a character as any of the people. It destroys, adulates, taunts and seduces hundreds of people from all walks of life from all over the world.
I wish after he made his point about L.A., that he would have focused more on the main characters and less on random stories. Especially ones that were about nameless, generic people.
That said, I'm a fan.
Book Review: Fantastic!
Summary: 4 Stars
I'm on page 321. I stayed inside all day to read it. I love this book. I was born in Los Angeles, at Vermont and Sunset and have lived there most of my life. I am a published and award winning writer. You don't have to believe me, it's true. Frey has managed to take an almost unknowable city and touch its many pulses. I am a super-critical reader and there was only one sentence so far that gave me pause. I logged on to try and figure out why he did what he did with the language. Usually, I wouldn't like the fused sentences and other weird grammar and usage issues, but in this book, I don't find it an impediment at all. I didn't read A Million Pieces and I didn't follow the controversy that followed. Just didn't care enough, I guess. One more time, I love this book. Does anyone want to discuss (Or James, if you read this can you make a post) about the language usage. Does it show how our lives are fused in this giant city? Is there more to it? Less? I am really curious.