“And we are put on earth a little space …”
I just finished James Frey’s bestselling book on addiction and rehab (A Million Little Pieces) and though no one asked me for a review, I’m going to write one. This book was all the rage (appropriate word, since Frey was jacked up on fury throughout the 430 pages) amongst my female friends. Oprah devoted an entire show to the book. People said they couldn’t put it down, were hooked, devoured it, etc. For most of the read, I had zero sympathy for feckless James. He rejected the 12 steps of AA, and bitterly refused to accept the “higher power”/God that anonymous alcoholics swear by. It was hard for me to side with someone who so diametrically opposes what I believe - that the purpose of life - and love - is to wholly surrender to something greater than ourselves. All else is narcissistic and masterbatory. Frey never really grew up in the course of the book; he simply turned his fury on the substances he’d abused, rather than on himself. To grow, you must pass through rage to forgiveness and peace. You don’t just dwell with it forever. Frey claims you just “hold on” to stay sober … like some baby holding his breath until he gets what he wants.
I hope he grows up before his next book (now in bookstores, My Friend Leonard).
“And we are put on earth a little space that we may learn to bear the beams of love.”
-Wm. Blake
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Funny - folks keep wanting to say that AA doesn’t work so that they won’t have to buy into the God thing. Rational Recovery, Moderation Management -these things keep showing up, and then disappearing.
I reckon it’s like what Satan said - “I’d rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven”.
BTW - I agree with what you said about the purpose of life. I never get obsessive and fearful when I’m thinking about what I can do for somebody else; it’s only when I start thinking “what’s in it for ME?” that I get unhappy
Comment by Fat Charlie the Archangel — 12/30/2005 @ 3:37 pm
I’m one of those people who couldn’t put it down. I thought it was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I was very surprised by the fact that only 15% of those that try AA and the Twelve Steps are sober for more than a year. It’s a horrible disease.
Comment by Caitlin — 12/30/2005 @ 11:06 pm
The Problem I have with this Book, after reading about half of my Mother’s copy, is that I can’t get past the silly Typography. Why all the capitals? What’s wrong with quotation marks? And how about a few paragraph indentations?
I think it’s disrespectful to the reader. Maybe that’s the point–it’s in keeping with the narrator’s attitude.
Comment by Sage — 12/31/2005 @ 1:31 pm
a must read?
Comment by CoachH — 1/1/2006 @ 7:37 am
Fat Charlie you are spot on.
My wife and I have discussed this book ad nauseam and have come to the conclusion that this guy thinks about himself too much.
Comment by JOCKO — 1/4/2006 @ 1:56 pm