A recent article, published on The Smoking Gun website, here, has splashed the spotlight of truth on yet another con artist, who had tried to hide underneath the umbrella of “artistic embellishment”. I’m speaking, of course, of A Million Little Pieces, and My Friend Leonard author, James Frey. And, although, these works of “non-fiction” have sold over a million copies, and have drawn an equal amount of fans to his signings, it cannot be denied that Frey is nothing more than a liar.
My first encounter with Mr. Frey came via his appearance on The Oprah Winfrey show. Yes, I did watch Oprah that day, only because I thought it was a rerun of the Jennifer Aniston episode. Okay, now I’m lying. I watch Oprah. Anyway, I found the teaser trailer to be very intriguing. A young man, whose life had spun out of control from the abuse of drugs, and alcohol, drew me in enough that I had to stop writing, and devote the next hour to watching this sad story unfold.
I have to say that as Mr. Frey retold his exploits, questions came to mind as to how accurate such situations could be. I was particularly interested in how a person, with a hole in their cheek, missing teeth, covered in blood, urine, and vomit, found themselves “coming to” on an airplane? I mean really, how in the hell does anyone go through boarding, not to mention security, in such a condition? But, for the sake of wanting to hear more, I suspended my disbelief.
For his part, the story he told was interesting and, at the same time, repulsive. James, in his words, had brought his body to the very edge of destruction. He, then, went on to impart to the stunned Oprah audience, the details of his miraculous life altering recovery. That day, faith in the human condition was again restored for those of us lucky enough to be glued to our televisions. James Frey had beaten the odds, and his book, for those of us who needed such inspiration, was touted as holding the key to overcoming our own destructive habits. I mean, really, it came with Oprah’s seal of approval.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Aaman
If the Publishers knew, as I'm pretty sure they did, this is egregious satire and prankness on the public.
What's next - Dr Atkins did not follow a low-carb lifestyle?
Bill Gates uses Linux?
2 - Jenifer Gonzales
I was afraid this was going to happen. Looks like the James Frey backlash is just beginning. I don’t know what to believe. Perhaps he embellished his experience in rehab, perhaps he made up the whole story, but at any rate, it’s getting a lot of people to take a look at their own lives and make changes for the better. I just hate to think that he lied about ALL of it. How could he? He’s still an excellent writer nonetheless. And it seems that whenever anyone has a modicum of success, there are those who try to squash it b/c they’re jealous. Still, I believe in him and all that he went through. I've never really been one to believe everything I read on Smoking Gun anyway.
3 - Andy Marsh
Dr. Phil is really a vet!
4 - Aaman
Care to refute any of the points in the Smoking Gun report?
5 - El Bicho
Jen,
no one is saying he made it ALL up and without reading it, I wouldn't comment on his talents as a writer, but how can you believe everything he went through? I have read his description of being on a plane and no airline is going to let a guy covered in numerous body fluids fly looking like that.
"it seems that whenever anyone has a modicum of success, there are those who try to squash it b/c they're jealous."
While I agree that does happen, where's your proof in this instance? The problem is that the book is being sold as non-fiction, which from the evidence presented by TSG appears doubtful.
I think art can be just as powerful as the truth, so I don't understand why publishers wouldn't accept it as fiction, especially if it's as compelling as you say.
6 - Jenifer Gonzales
I'm not going to try to refute any the points made in the Smoking Gun report. It seems the authors did their research, and in a way, I'm not surprised.
What I should have said is that I was deeply affected by the book and his appearance on Oprah, and it would be sad to learn that any, some, most or all of it was made up.
My brother is just like James in the book. He even has the same name. I've recommended all my friends and family read the book to get a little more insight into my brother's head. If it turns out that Frey has duped us all, it would be a shame. That's all I'm saying.
7 - Joseph Johaneman
As a person in recovery, I was extremely angry at first when I heard about Mr. Frey's lies. But then I remembered the old adage: How can you tell when an addict is lying? His lips are moving.
Of course, this isn't true of most recovering alcoholics and addicts. But there are some who never let go of the old attitudes and behaviors. So, whatever. I had planned on reading this book, but unless they reshelf it as fiction, I don't see myself picking it up now.
8 - T
I feel very sad for the thousands of people who looked towards James as some sort of example of what can be done. I know most of them will come to his defence, but, the day will come when he will have no choice but to go public. I wonder if he will blame his actions on his addiction?
Does he even have an addiction besides to his own ego? I can't see how someone who claimed to have been binging on every substance known to man can just walk away clean?
What a discredit to those who have to deal with addiction every day!
9 - Aaman
Still Number 1 on Amazon
10 - Andy Marsh
This could end up kicking sales up!
11 - Andy Marsh
Like people slowing down to look at an accident...
12 - T
Way to use my article Andy! I'm proud of you, now bring me your notepad and I will give you another gold star sticker!
13 - Jenifer Gonzales
Coincidentally, I bought My Friend Leonard on Amazon today. But not through the link on this piece. It was sold out at a lot of the bookstores here in Seattle this past weekend. I am really looking forward to it -- fiction or non-fiction!
And you're right, Andy, this will probably boost sales even more. Go figure!
14 - El Bicho
Jen, I hope you don't let the truth of the book's creation have any effect on your experience with it because that was true for you.
15 - Aaman
Maybe they'll put it under fiction now
16 - T
Jennifer, just know that your hard earned money is helping promote a fraud. Plus, I'm sure some of it will be going towards his defence funds.
As for his writing "talents", I would argue that he has no talent. I'm sure his editor cleaned up the manuscript as much as possible, you know, a pig in a pretty dress is still a pig.
I have seen nothing literary about his writing. Especially not enough to warrent two books. How strong can the second effort be when the first is based on nothing but lies?
I think some, if not most, people were swayed to like his writing because they wanted to believe in him. I would have loved to seen the fiction version of his manuscript before the changes, lets see what talents lay in that one.
17 - Jenifer Gonzales
Eh, my money wasn't that "hard earned" today. I wasted most of my time commenting on this piece while pretending to work. Just like James pretended to be an addict. And now I am done.
18 - Andy Marsh
T Stoddart - I hadn't even realized I did that...ain't I clever??? HA!
19 - Jeff
As far as his writing ability goes, the story of 'A Million Little Pieces' is interesting - - - but the writing is terrible. Look no further than his AWFUL screenplay - 1998's 'Kissing A Fool' with David Schwimmer. Screenwriting software can concoct a better screenplay than that turd of a film. Should have known better in 2003 when I dished out $22.95 for the "Million Little Pieces' hardcover. Mullet-headed, wine cooler sipping, fratboy poser, you owe me $22.95!
20 - Silas Kain
I finished the book over the holidays and loved it. If it is fiction, it's well done. If it's truth, it's a compelling story.
21 - Sister Ray
Embellishing your wild outlaw druggie days is one thing when you're just among friends, but it's another to write a big memoir and cry to Oprah about them.
22 - wheelo
this memoir was SO cheesy!it was like reading a script for a really really awful b-movie...or spoof.my friend tricked me into reading it...i thought she liked it...when really she just wanted me to be as annoyed as she was.in the end, i found myself wanting james to just give in to the damn "fury". i could go on, but then i'd have my own article :o) people...even as fiction this isn't worth the read. as non-fiction? pathetic ramblings of an egomaniac. save your money.
23 - Scott Butki
Oh this whole thing pushes some buttons for me as I've always when reading memoir how much is fictionalized because my fear is that it is - as allegedly is the case here - way too much.
24 - ApRiL
The book was great, I could give a shit less whether he pulled it out of his ass or its an actual memior, it was well written....being a 18 year old recovering addict it was compelling and rang very true in my eyes so I could care less about all the shit thats flying around. it gave me a lot of hope... peace
25 - Scott Butki
A new development on all of this:
Not only are there questions about how much of Frey's book is fake but now the whole identity of another trendy popular writer, JT LeRoy, is also getting busted for lying and deceit.
A story about it is here.