A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

This is one of the most raw and real books I've ever read. It'a memoir, though there has be controversy about pieces of it not being true, so it's categorized as both a memoir and fiction.

A Million Little Pieces is a memoir about James Frey's time in rehab as an addict. I will warn you right now, that this book is incredibly rough. It's a dark story, and you feel the struggle. It is an easy reading level, but has a LOT of profanity. It is however, one of the most real stories about addiction I've read. Addiction isn't pretty, and neither are the stories of those who face it, so I wasn't surprised to find that it's portrayal was so raw.
The story opens with Frey waking up on a flight to Chicago with his face beaten to a pulp, and no recollection of how he got there. He ends up being checked into a rehab clinic by his parents, and this book is his story of his time there.
One of the hardest scenes to read, was the one where he goes in to get his teeth fixed. Because he is a rehab patient, he cannot be given any pain killers or go under anesthesia. He undergoes two root canals, two caps, and a filling with nothing but a tennis ball to squeeze. His recollection of this experience had me squirming in my seat. I was gritting my teeth, and my muscles were tense.

I was honestly surprised that I was able to make it through this book. Profanity, and crudeness is usually enough for me to turn down a book, but I guess I'm a little more lenient on memoirs. I think the author has a right to portray their life in a way they see fit, and as a drug and alcohol addict, his life was a cesspool. It reminded me of  the show "Orange is the New Black," in that it wasn't being crude for the sake of being crude, but rather to portray just how much his life sucked.
Now, to be fair, Frey is a highly controversial topic in the literary sphere. His writing has been under the microscope since the reveal of this book not being 100% a memoir. I understand both sides of the controversy, and will openly admit, this is not for everyone. If you are interested, here is a link to describe the controversy of his book, and ultimately his writing. apparently he copied the Hunger Games. That didn't bother me because, dare I say it, Hunger Games wasn't for me.
If you are in for a dark, and yet redeemed story of an addict on the verge of death, and aren't afraid of the dark corners addiction hides, then this book might be for you.
I didn't LOVE this book, but I wouldn't say it was horrible. It was an easy read, and kept my attention on the bus. I would give this a 6/10. I might read it again, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but it was an average read. I was able to feel the emotion and put myself into the scene, so I would say the writing was amiable. There were only a few times I realized I was reading and not actually walking along side him.

Until Next Time,

H.