James Bone of The Times in New York
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The disgraced author of A Million Little Pieces has been rehabilitated with a new book contract despite confessing that he fabricated parts of his bestselling memoir of drug addiction and redemption.
James Frey’s next book will be a “kaleidoscopic” novel about modern-day Los Angeles titled Bright Shiny Morning — and this time it will be marketed as fiction.
“I’m very happy for James. It’s a fresh start,” said Nan Talese, who published the discredited memoir at her imprint at Doubleday, provoking a class action lawsuit from outraged readers.
A Million Little Pieces surged to the top of bestseller lists in 2005 when Oprah Winfrey picked it as the first non-fiction work for her influential book club, calling it “a gut-wrenching memoir that is raw and so real”.
The book purported to recount Frey’s descent into drug addiction and prison and his subsequent redemption.
The former screenwriter wrote a second memoir, My Friend Leonard, that also became a No 1 bestseller.
America’s literary world was rocked by the revelation that A Million Little Pieces contained wild exaggerations — news that broke at the same time that J. T. Leroy’s autobiographical novels about his upbringing as an HIV-infected boy prostitute were exposed as a hoax.
The Smoking Gun, an investigative website, unearthed police records showing that Frey had wildly embellished his supposed criminal career, jail terms and status as an outlaw “wanted in three states”. The investigation contradicted the writer’s claim to have served a three-month prison sentence for possession of crack cocaine, incited a riot, and assaulted a police officer in Ohio with his car.
The 1992 police report, discovered by the website, said that Frey was found drunk in his car without a driving licence but did not have any crack, or assault the police, or spend three months in prison. “He was polite and co-operative at all times. He was later released on $733 cash bond,” it says.
Opray Winfrey declared that she had been “duped” and grilled him on her television programme. Frey was contrite and promised to add a disclaimer to later editions of the book to acknowledge that parts were made up.
The author was dumped by his literary agent and Riverhead Books, which published My Friend Leonard, cancelled a two-book deal worth a reported seven figures that included Bright Shiny Morning.
Doubleday’s parent, Random House, facing a class action suit, agreed to refund readers who bought A Million Little Pieces. Since his public shaming, Frey, who now lives in New York, has stayed out of the headlines as he works on the new novel.
But readers remain fascinated by A Million Little Pieces, which continues to sell at least 1,000 copies a week, according to Nielsen BookScan. The Library Journal ranks it the No 11 non-fiction book most borrowed in US libraries.
Frey, 38, got a new agent this year when he met Eric Simonoff at a dinner party for the Indian novelist Vikram Chandra, whom he also represents.
HarperCollins, which is owned by the same company as The Times, said that it would publish Bright Shiny Morning next summer. The book is understood to follow the lives of a collection of Los Angeles characters, ranging from a male movie star to a Mexican maid and a homeless man from Venice Beach.
Jonathan Burnham, HarperCollins publisher, called Frey “an immensely talented writer who has written a truly extraordinary and original novel, one of great breadth and ambition”. Mr Burnham conceded that he would have felt differently had Frey written another memoir, but said he remained a great admirer of A Million Little Pieces. “Whatever view one might hold of what happened with that book, I was deeply struck by the writing,” he said.
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Can't wait for the new book. Still hope "Pieces" will see the big screen.
Carrie, Kingman, AZ
James Frey is a very talented writer, his writing draws you in and you can't put the book down until it's done. I don't care that some of it (or most of it?) is fiction - we're being lied to all of the time in this country, I'd rather have the lying in the form of a deeply engrossing novel.
lauren julia, denver, colorado
A Million Little Pieces is my favorite book to date. I love his writing style. He writes just like people have real conversations. There is a wonderful flow that keeps you captivated. I couldn' t put the book down. I just finished My Friend Leonard and I will read anything that he writes in the future.
Guendalina Joseph, Rancho Cucamonga. Ca
Guendalina, Rancho Cucamonga, Ca
My husband bought me A Million Little Pieces as a birthday gift (prior to the outcry that came months later) and I was truly engrossed in the book. You see, I am a recovering addict myself. I could relate, on many levels, with James' 'journey' you might say. Though our lives were 'different' they are the 'same'.
I was extremely disheartened when I heard what he had done, however, he is human. And I also feel that Oprah had felt she neede to redeem herself and her 'personna' with the American public. God forbid she lose a viewer! God forbid her 'reputation' get scoured - face it, she's out to sell herself and everything associated with her name just like James wanted to sell his story and his book. Noe more, no less!
Yes, I will buy his new book. Really hoping my husband buys it for my birthday on October 17th!!! :)
Mitzi, Johnston, Rhode Island
I have not found any books since A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard that have kept my attention the way that those books did. I could not put them down, nor could I rave enough about them to my friends. The man was a drug addict. Could anyone honestly expect his accounts to be 100% accurate?? I think that is hard enough for many non-drug addicts. I will be first in line to buy any book he writes because he is an amazing writer.
julie, cleveland heights, oh
I loved both of James Frey's books and don't really understand why people are treating him the way they are. I watched the show where Oprah went after him. The books are incredibly touching and would assist anyone who is surviving addiction or knows someone close to them who is surviving addiction. I do understand there are some fabrications but, that is what sells. You have to keep the reader interested. Every movie out there is "based on a true story" and yet people don't seem to wonder how much is based on that story. James Frey has really taken a beating and he has stood up, been honest, and taken much mroe than he deserved. I certainly would support James Frey in his next novel. He has a beautiful style of writing and is one of my favourite authors.
Kathleen Parker, London, Ontario
I loved A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard and I will happily read this new one by James. Oprah doesn't like controversy, yet yesterday she glorified OJ Simpson's book by having the Goldmans on her show. She stated she believed that OJ was guilty and that she 'would not' read his book, yet she sure wanted the ratings by having them on her show! What a hypocrite she is!
CHARDKAY, NEW BALTIMORE, MICHIGAN
A Million Little Pieces was wonderful and Mr. Frey did not deserve to be "eviserated" by Oprah Winfrey.
I am looking forward to the new book which I will gladly purchase.
I sincerely hope he will continue his good work.
Barbara Colombo, Carol Stream, Illinois, USA
I decided to read the book " A milion little pieces" after everything had already happened with Oprah. The book itself changed my life!!! With each turn of the page, it was no longer a book ,but a journey in which I walked beside James. I felt his emotions as if they were coursing through my body, I felt his pain as if I was searching for my next drink. It is the most beautiful and raw story. I cried, laughed, became angry and desperate. Keep in mind, I knew from the beginning what everyone was saying about his fabrications, and how upset they were. I, for, one believe we should be thanking him for giving us the honor of reading such a life altering book. It was for me and those I have shared it with. I walk with you James Frey... through a million little pieces, and I walked with you while meeting your friend Leonard. Thankyou for giving me that honor.
Diane Gehrling, worth , US, IL
the rich get richer
fran, camarillo, ca
His memoir A Million Little Pieces was wonderfully written and he did not deserve to be "eviserated" by Oprah Winfrey.
She was only interested in her own reputation.
I am looking forward to the new book, which I will gladly purchase.
Keep up the good work!
Barbara Colombo, Carol Stream, Illinois, U