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Disappointing. A sham of a writer
“The guy had such promise, and, as w/A Million Little Pieces, this book has evidence galore that he is a clever writer with a sharp eye for language--and, one might be tempted to add, a sharp sensitivity to character. This is where one would be deceived. The characters are thin cliches, beautifully written ones, for sure. This turns out to be a sham of a novel. ”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-09-15. -
0 of 1 members found this review helpful.
The guy can write
“James Frey can flat out write. No doubt about that. Bright Shiny Morning is a page turner. That said, I found it difficult to get past the cliched characters for whom I found little compassion or empathy. The factoid riffs went on too long and the repetitive "Fun, fun, fun, fun fun" declarations announcing a run of facts became quickly annoying. Even with stock characters and purported facts about LA to help create the framework for the city, what emerges from Frey's presentation of Los Angeles is as cliched as its characters: a place that is over-crowded, freeway dominated, gang infested, shallow, show-biz infatuated, multi-ethnic, and a mecca for lost souls. While these observations may be true, at least to some degree, there is no new insight or new presentation of these viewpoints but rather a repeating of age-old criticisms from LA bashers dating back at least six decades. The book is worth reading for Frey's considerable way with words but it has little else to recommend it. ”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-09-08. -
1 of 2 members found this review helpful.
James Frey delivers AGAIN!
“I adored A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard and thought he really got the shaft from Oprah. So I was delighted to see that he did not give up with his new book. I loved the variety of characters and how he left each chapter hanging...what would happen next. Loved the historical tidbits on LA. It really brought it to life. He is a remarkable story teller. I will read all he produces.”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-09-06. -
Bright Shiny Morning
“To read this review in its entirety, please visit TheDailyContributor.com! "Bright Shiny Morning" is the first novel by author James Frey. Yes, that James Frey, he of Oprah-built-him-up-to-break-him-down notoriety. Not that he wants to be recognized that way, of course. Unfortunately, the relentless shadow of the controversy surrounding his memoirs is inescapable. It's what made him a household name. It's also what has plagued Frey's career for over three years now. Those surprised by of the tenacity of the controversy's staying power can find the evidence in any of a number of reviews to this fictional debut, now out in paperback: cracks about this not being his first "novel" abound, as do the pathetic, borderline-embarrassing compliments on his even having the cajones to write again. Since Frey has signed a multimillion dollar three-book deal with HarperCollins, one can only hope that reviews of his future books will be able to skip rehashing the gossip in order to concentrate on the novels at hand. This time around, however, a preoccupation with his reputation might not have been such a bad thing: without all the promised publicity surrounding Frey's publishing woes, I have to wonder if this novel would have ever seen the light of day...”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-08-26. -
bright shiny masterpiece
“I enjoyed Frey's earlier works because of their vivid descriptions, vibrant characters and unpredictable plot twists But this novel blew me away. I found myself re-reading passages just to let the words sink in. I wound up reading whole sections aloud to my husband because I felt so compelled to share the masterful turns of phrase. The characters are unforgettable. Frey is a master and one of the best authors of our time. The mark of a classic novel is that it has the power to change the reader. Bright Shiny Morning did that for me.”
An amazon user wrote this on 2009-08-23.
