The life he created for himself comes on the backs of addicts, and others in need. It is these people, who are most vulnerable to such treachery, who line up to buy his books, and maybe get the chance to say a word of thanks for his “honesty”. And he smiles, all the while knowing that it was all a lie.
Some of you may argue that he created this life of lies to break in to the maximum security prison known as the world of publishing. I say that such reasoning is completely flawed. Yes, the world of publishing is a brutal one. The rules are many, and the road to success does not depend solely on your talent. Anyone who has put pen to paper knows the path is littered with rejected novels. So, in no way, do I feel sympathy for James, and his alter ego. On the contrary, I see him for the pathetic person he is. He couldn’t get in through the front door, so he broke in through the basement window. And, for that, I have nothing but contempt for him, and anyone else who tread the same shallow waters.
Let this sad affair be a lesson to all. Life is tragic enough without having some half-wit try to milk it even further. I do hope, for his sake, that he gets some real help for his own addiction. And maybe, one day, with enough of this help, he’ll know what it’s like to be clean and sober. Until then, I hope he spends every cent of his earnings on lawyers who are lining up to defend his lies.
The sad part is that there is a movie in the works. Nothing like Hollywood to get behind a work of complete fiction, authored by a complete phony.
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.