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What are readers saying about My Friend Leonard?
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-24 10:27:25.
(Language: English)
 
Sad! I found the first book way better but I enjoyed this one regardless.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-22 09:23:03.
(Language: English)
wonderful sequel to a million little pieces. whether real or not, it's stil a crier.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-27 11:53:46.
(Language: English)
I wasn't so sure initially how I felt about "A Million Little Pieces". Iwas having trouble adjusting to James' style of writing. However strangely I couldn't put it down and fell in love with it. This is a brilliant sequel. It's in my opinion better than his first. It wasn't funny as such, as how it was described on the back, it was a beautiful story of a man who has struggled, is struggling, and will continue to struggle, however he also learns to cope with that struggle. It's endearing and in perhaps a less "in your face" way resembles many of our lives..???
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-21 01:26:09.
(Language: English)
I have no idea why the back of it says it's a hilarious story.. It's not even. The parts that were funny were when Leonard would do something and it was just funny. Hilarious is such a strong word to use. Other than that I thought the book in its entirety was beautiful and I do not think for a second that James Frey is a liar. He could be an exaggerator, yes, but if he didn't then everyone who loves him wouldn't feel the same way about the book, and wouldn't love him for the same reasons if they feel that way at all. By the way I have no idea if I'm making any sense because it's 4 in the morning and I can't sleep. I'm that cool.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-07-17 08:58:49.
(Language: English)
I really enjoyed this, if that is the right word, it is a very touching and moving book continuing Jame's story from million little pieces. The only thing i would say is that the end of million little pieces gives away a bit of this book. Other than that i coudn't put it down and i think it is a good example of how wheter it is true or not drinking addictions can have a hold over u or try too. I found parts of it extremly hardbreaking and sad and whether or not the characters were real they were very 'real' to me and i could imagine them and how they looked and acted. I think it is v. well written and it does make u think about life generally and the people we meet in life who can make a difference and make us happy : D
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-06 09:39:52.
(Language: English)
Good Book
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-14 03:00:02.
(Language: English)
5 star, immense book. Couldn't really care what is real and what's embelished, one of the most heart wrenching endings ever.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-03-27 07:35:08.
(Language: English)
Made me cry, a lot, not just a few teardrops. Beautiful.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-21 11:03:48.
(Language: English)
yes i read this one too before i found out it was all fiction but it was still a good book
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-15 11:10:19.
(Language: English)
loved this book, just as much as i loved a million little pieces. the style of writing just flows and at trimes a lol...laugh out loud.....well worth a read
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-06 09:38:47.
(Language: English)
This book was great couldn't put it down
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-05 08:40:02.
(Language: English)
I love James Frey as an author and this book touched me. I laughed, I gasped, I cried. IN my top 5 favorite books without a doubt
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Stacey posted a review at 2010-11-28 11:04:56.
(Language: English)
The follow up to A Million Little pieces...I really like Frey's style of writing, and for that I give this book 3 stars. However, he lied....and that pisses me off!
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-03-05 05:31:43.
(Language: English)
I Love this Book! I read it in 2007, and i cried at the end, which is really werid for me because i had never cried over a book or movie...but this one got me. I remember the tears where falling down, and i was like "what is wrong with me?!?!? i dont do this!" This Book is one of my favorites! Everything in the Book is describe with such detail, that you really feel like your there, and you will never be able 2 forget the story....it becomes apart of your own memories.
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Peachy posted a review at 2010-04-10 09:06:30.
(Language: English)
Yawn... If ever there was a book that triggered me to pick up a cigarette after having quit so many months ago, it would be this one. From the ashtray on the cover to the chronic smoking that takes place by almost all of the characters, reading My Friend Leonard turned out to be an exercise in will power, if nothing else. This is the sequel to Frey's first faux memoir, A Million Little Pieces and although I really enjoyed that novel, this one was rather stale and I had to really push myself to get through it. There have been times where I have embraced it, but in this case the stream of consciousness style of writing felt drawn out and boring. I also found his constant repetition of words and sentences to be annoying. I’m sure this was some poetic or artistic impression intended to make me feel his points more emotively, but I think Frey really missed the mark on this. In my opinion, had he cut the bullshit he could have streamlined the pages to about half, however there wouldn’t be much of a book to read then, since the type face was large and there was a blank page between each chapter. It just felt like he took the cheap way out and wrote another book on the tails of his last success, with no respect for good writing or his readers. It felt like a cash-grab. What I did get out of it were some realistic depictions of what the journey through early sobriety looks like. The severe sweet tooth, propensity to overeat, excessive walking or exercising, and the extremely overpowering and constant craving to use are very accurate dilemmas for the poor soul just out of rehab. I loved the idea of him carrying around this cheap bottle of wine just in case he felt the urge to drink; a reminder and a test, as it were. If you dig deep enough you will find a charming relationship between Frey and his friend Leonard, but this seemed ridiculous and hard to believe more often than not. In the end, My Friend Leonard is about love, loyalty, and resilience, with a strong dose of loss. I know that Frey has since put out Bright Shiny Morning, so I’m really curious to find out if he actually tries with this one... Check out more of my reviews at BookSnakeReviews
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-06-27 03:59:30.
(Language: English)
"MY SON!" I'll never hear those words again without thinking about this book. :)
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-09-12 11:10:59.
(Language: English)
"My Friend Leonard" is yet another successful novel by James Frey. It is a very touching story which focuses on Frey's inner struggle and his ability to cope with unfortunate events and with his decision to refrain from using drugs and alcohol. Leonard is an extraordinary character that has made a great impact on Frey's life. The novel's writing style is very distinct and easy to read. Everything flows together! As far as James Frey and the whole controversy about his book "A Million Little Pieces" goes... I support him 100 percent! Oprah was two-faced on the whole situation. I will not get into that because if I do it will not be very pleasant.
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A Reader posted a review at 2007-08-29 06:32:55.
(Language: English)
I was a bit reluctant at first to read this book. After all, author James Frey was catapulted into infamy via his previous output, the autobiographical A Million Little Pieces, wherein quite a few facts he wrote turned out to be false and conflicting. Though, I think the exposure of his fraud worked to his advantage; the publicity alone was loud and included a very cross Queen Oprah. Strangely, getting caught up in all the hoopla apparently made me excited enough to get my hands on Frey's next novel. Like the first one, it still is autobiographical but the similarity ends there. My Friend Leonard focuses more on how a life learns to pick up the pieces of a shattered life; he fights the temptations of alcohol and drug use every single day under the fatherly eye of Leonard, a fellow rehab companion who just happened to be a very connected mob kingpin. I couldn't help but feel amazingly hopeful for Frey as he transcends the stigma of being an ex-addict and pursues his dreams. There is also an underlying sense of loyalty in him and it is in this virtue that makes him admirable and, at times, even inspirational.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-10-27 10:37:05.
(Language: English)
again the grammar in this book drove me nuts just like the first book did but after awhile i barely noticed it anymore. still good though
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-07 08:37:30.
(Language: English)
Just as good as the first, Frey is good, but he's not Eggers
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A Reader posted a review at 2011-07-31 09:37:41.
(Language: English)
Another single sitting book.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-03-28 04:14:28.
(Language: English)
loved it !!!! inspiring and enlightening
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-11-20 07:31:23.
(Language: English)
As a sequel to A Million Little Pieces, I wondered if this would have anything worthwhile to say or whether it would prove to be just a limp attempt to cash in on the success of its predecessor. After a slowish start, it certainly did find its feet and developed into another most moving story. Leonard is a superb character; you couldn't make him up from scratch yet he feels like a fictional creation. Ex-cocaine addict and alcoholic, ultra-rich criminal mastermind, art connoisseur, bon viveur and self- appointed adoptive father to James, he is very much larger than life. In this role, he pops into James' life, taking him out for lavish meals and dispensing good-natured fatherly wisdom. Meanwhile, James struggles with the inevitable flatness of post-addiction life, drifting through jobs and relationships whilst he finds his feet as a writer. Although the denouement is spoiled somewhat by A Million Little Pieces, there is a twist in the tail and another neat - quite novelistic - conclusion. The prose style is spare, almost journal-like, but the book still retains a novel-like feel. After the controversy surrounding the made-up bits in A Million Little Pieces, one wonders how much is true and how much is made-up in My Friend Leonard; but if anything that increases its appeal as a read. Now we are in the era of the 'fake memoir': a 'true' story with fictionalised bits; but in former times we had the roman à clef: a 'novel' based on real life. Ultimately, is there really any difference? Is it a good read? - that's what matters. And with My Friend Leonard the answer is yes.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-04 09:47:11.
(Language: English)
Love ittttttt! the end was awsome and it was a great "pair" of books to read!
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