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 enlarge | Author: James Frey
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $14.50
You Save: $12.45 (46%)
New (51) Used (22) Collectible (8) from $11.75
Avg. Customer Rating:  119 reviews
Sales Rank: 2813
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 512
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.9 x 1.7
ISBN: 0061573132
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780061573132
ASIN: 0061573132
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Overwhelmingly Depressing August 26, 2008
James Frey is a very talented writer. His style is identifiable, and some of his writing is annoying. He oftentimes writes in run on sentences. And he loves repeating phrases within a sentence to make a point. But, he knows how to write characters and how to make them completely believable.
The main characters in this book are fully developed. There are four story lines that weave their way throughout the book never intersecting. Yet in between their stories, theres about a hundred pages of information both about Los Angeles, and about the types of people who are drawn their.
Los Angeles is as much a character as any of the people. It destroys, adulates, taunts and seduces hundreds of people from all walks of life from all over the world.
I wish after he made his point about L.A., that he would have focused more on the main characters and less on random stories. Especially ones that were about nameless, generic people.
That said, I'm a fan.
 it doesn't get worse than this August 23, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Bad, bad, bad. 100% bad. Terrible writing. Not a sentence worth reading on any page. On any page. On any page.
Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey August 22, 2008
I devoured Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey. Having lived in Santa Monica in the early 80's, I liked how he wove interesting facts about LA and the surrounding communities throughout the book. People unfamiliar with the area could find it annoying, since there was fact after fact, but I enjoyed the book and look forward to his next one.
The World as Duped or Entertained? August 18, 2008
Months after the book's release, I am writing a review. The reason for this prolonged response is my skepticism in reading another one of Frey's books. It took me this long to decide to even read the book for obvious reasons.
Somehow the world was duped by James Frey. There is an uneasiness in that, an unacceptability in the unfolding of Frey's story. Our righteousness, our ethics tell us he is not worthy as a result of his major faux pax. Does this "San Andreas Fault Line" crack in the foundation entirely erase the fact that his writing is remarkable, even unforgettable?
Therefore, we must look beyond his untruths in his debut, "A Million Little Pieces," which was an extraordinary piece of literature, fiction or non-fiction. He is a compelling writer, one cannot dispute from the frenzy created even before the truth emerged, in his first and very controversial work.
I didn't want to give him credence either, and didn't run to pick up this book as a result. However, when thought through, credence isn't a requirement for reading his books, and that's the bottom line. His books, fragmented or not, true or not, literary genius or not, are, whether we like it or not, definitively unputdownable. There warrants the only reason why one should read his book(s), and discounts the many other reasons not to.
He is a gifted writer, who just happens to have had a major character flaw unveiled upon the world like a "bright shiny morning" for all to see.
 Spectacular! August 18, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was hesitant to read this book, I had no interest in anything to do with Los Angeles since I knew it only as a vapid one industry town, and only marginally interested in James Frey's writing. So I borrowed it from the NYC Public Library. After reading it, loving it so much I need to own this book, to have the ability to share with others!
This is an extraordinary book filled with heartbreaking tales of ordinary people. It is James Frey's ability to transform the that state and dig deep into the American psyche exposing us to the most unlikable tragic people, but making us care about all of them.
Every mother should give this book to a child lured to California to be in the "Industry". This book reads as a cautionary tale to never follow ones dreams to LA. Figure out how to fulfill your dreams elsewhere.
James Frey, you rocked my world, I now feel empathy towards that wasteland inching into the Pacific and all the saddest lonesome people in LA.
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