Perhaps the most unconventional and literally breathtaking father-son story you'll ever read, My Friend Leonard pulls you immediately and deeply into a relationship as unusual as it is inspiring.
The father figure is Leonard, the high-living, recovering coke addict "West Coast Director of a large Italian-American finance firm" (read: mobster) who helped to keep James Frey clean in A Million Little Pieces. The son is, of course, James, damaged perhaps beyond repair by years of crack and alcohol addiction-and by more than a few cruel tricks of fate.
James embarks on his post-rehab existence in Chicago emotionally devastated, broke, and afraid to get close to other people. But then Leonard comes back into his life, and everything changes. Leonard offers his "son" lucrative-if illegal and slightly dangerous-employment. He teaches James to enjoy life, sober, for the first time. He instructs him in the art of "living boldly," pushes him to pursue his passion for writing, and provides a watchful and supportive veil of protection under which James can get his life together. Both Leonard's and James's careers flourish . . . but then Leonard vanishes. When the reasons behind his mysterious absence are revealed, the book opens up in unexpected emotional ways.
My Friend Leonard showcases a brilliant and energetic young writer rising to important new challenges-displaying surprising warmth, humor, and maturity-without losing his intensity. This book proves that one of the most provocative literary voices of his generation is also one of the most emphatically human.
Megan M. (MeganM) from LINCOLN, NE wrote on 4/26/2007...
3 member(s) found this review helpful.
A much better read than A Million Little Pieces. If you even remotely liked Frey's first book, give this one a try. You will be pleasantly suprised!
Linda R. (Angeleyes) from WASHINGTON, WV wrote on 7/4/2008...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A continuation of the main characters life after A Million Little Pieces, this book is a good read. It reminds us that even though life might be hard, it is worth living and friends are what make the world go 'round.
Pam C. (decafaholic) from CAMDEN, AR wrote on 7/27/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
I read this one a year after reading Frey's "A Million Little Pieces." It's a page-turner-lots of surprises in store. It took me through the whole range of human emotions. Before this one, I had never bawled my eyes out over a book, but this one did it to me. It is a beautiful, perfect ending to Frey's story.
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Pamela K. (pamjamking) from BLACKSHEAR, GA wrote on 4/18/2008...
This is a wonderful book!! Once I started it, I could not put it down. It's almost like you are reading about people you truly know. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an addicted person in their family. It is very insightful into the mind of a "user"...
Sheri B. (sheribookworm) from TORRINGTON, CT wrote on 3/26/2008...
This is a very, very well written book. If you enjoyed A Million Little Pieces, you will not be dispointed by this one.
Nancy S. from NAZARETH, PA wrote on 6/3/2007...
Very good book, didn't enjoy it as much as A Million Little Pieces, but a nice, easy read, good story, perfect ending.
Angie C. (westtxangie) from STAMFORD, TX wrote on 5/13/2007...
This isn't a bad read: it's entertaining, though after James Frey's "outing" on Oprah for not writing a strictly factual autobiography, it's probably not completely true. I read it in two days, so it's an easy read.
Sara F. (sarafischertx) from MANSFIELD, TX wrote on 4/3/2007...
Great followup to Million Little Pieces.
Mary Elizabeth H. from BATON ROUGE, LA wrote on 3/28/2007...
Almost as good as the first - A Million Little Pieces.
Susan B. (Gracieb) from GROSSE POINTE, MI wrote on 3/12/2007...
I had read James Frey's first book, and had bought and started "My Friend Leonard" prior to learning about James Frey's fraud - so I put this book down and have refused to read it. But someone may be interested.
Teresa M. (coolmom62) from MILFORD, CT wrote on 3/10/2007...
I LOVED this book! I could not put it down! AMAZING!
Jennifer S. (GoBadgers) from EAST LANSING, MI wrote on 2/26/2007...
This is a great book even if you don't like James Frey and his issues. You should read " A Million Little Pieces" first.