November 2, 2005

A Million Little Pieces

I don't usually keep up with the books that Oprah recommends anymore, but this one got such heartfelt praise from "O" and her staff that I finished watching the episode and drove directly to Barnes & Noble to buy the book.

The writing style is quintessential minimalism—nothing is over-described and repetition is a staple of the narrative. I like this style anyway, my favorite author, Chuck Palahniuk, teaches minimalist writing online.

The story is gripping and gritty. No one who has read this book has wanted to put it down. Dave said he was on an airplane with his hand pressed to his mouth in horror at some of the passages. It's the true story of James Frey, a man who was consumed by his addictions to drugs and alcohol, and found himself a broken and battered man in rehab.

It's not your typical "addict sees the light" tale. There's no cheating and nothing feels false. It's out in paperback, so grab a copy and share it with a few friends. Heads up for graphic (painful to read) scenes and a generous helping of profanity.

By Tara @ 08:26 AM

Comments

Ta, I just was reading more of this at breakfast today. Sooooo good. It isn't nearly as pithy mentally as a Palahniuk book can be, but emotionally this is very intense.

Posted by Dave at 10:16 AM on November 2, 2005

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