gjv's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book. His candid descriptions of drug addiction and the recovery process were truly fascinating. But knowing that some of the events weren't true bothered me. Some say that that's creative license, and I say that's fine, but he marketed the book as a memoir, which to me implies that everything is as true as he can remember, and only the unimportant details (like what someone was wearing or the exact wording of dialogue) are fudged. Frey admitted, after someone called him out on it, that some of the significant events in the book weren't true, which detracted from the impact of the whole book for me, not knowing what really happened and what didn't. I also wasn't a fan of his stylistic choice to capitalize certain nouns (like "People," "Room," etc.), use no quotation marks on dialogue, and not indent his paragraphs. I probably would have let it slide if he had just capitalized Addict, Addiction, Criminal, and that sort of thing, but he capitalized so many unimportant objects that it was distracting. The lack of quotation marks and indentations simply made it difficult to read, difficult to sink myself into the story. I had to read actively so I could differentiate dialogue from narration and identify who was speaking. If you think you're willing to look past the writing style, it's a good book, but--fair warning--definitely not to be read while eating. I have a fairly strong stomach, but there were a few scenes where I had to put the book down until I was done eating, and afterwards I could only read a few lines at a time, shutting the book and closing my eyes for a few seconds in between.
zzkat's review against another edition
5.0
Despite the fiction issue surrounding the book, I could really identify with the author's account of the inner feeling of addiction...the desperation to kill the feeling, the need to be filled up with something, that incessant mental churn and need need need that turns you inside out. For that, I found it valuable. But beyond that, I just really enjoyed it as a book, once I got into the unusual writing style.
caryambler's review against another edition
4.0
Don't care if it wasn't entirely true, still liked it!
kendyl180's review against another edition
3.0
2.5-3 ⭐️ Good quick read. Interesting take on addiction and recovery. Took a bit to get used to the writing style, but made the reading go quickly. Seemed to lend to the chaos of addiction. Read some about the controversy that followed the publication (which I somehow completely missed at the time) and that made some of the more dramatic seeming pieces of the book make more sense.
leannaaker's review against another edition
This was an interesting read. I am actually glad I listened to this on audiobook, as it was very repetitive. I think it was a better listen than it would have been a read. Even still, it was a very stilted style that could have used some glossing up with editing.
The controversy over this book (that Frey fabricated some of it but gave the impression it was mostly all true), doesn't matter much to me. It was still an enjoyable read.
I particularly enjoyed the bits about the Tao de Ching...as I felt the same way (unreligious, but moved by the passages in it).
The controversy over this book (that Frey fabricated some of it but gave the impression it was mostly all true), doesn't matter much to me. It was still an enjoyable read.
I particularly enjoyed the bits about the Tao de Ching...as I felt the same way (unreligious, but moved by the passages in it).
bookdataszup's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
5.0
radiojen's review against another edition
4.0
Ever since I found out Oprah was duped by this guy, I've wanted to read the book. I wish I knew how much of it was true and how much of it was embellishment.
James is a drug addict and an alcoholic. We go with him to rehab - through the highs and lows. He does not hold back when describing the events of this story. We sit in the dental chair with him when he endures the root canal without any novocain. (Incidentally, I happened to be reading that part of the book while I was waiting to see the dentist -- not good timing.)
This is a guy I did not like at all at the beginning of the book, but grew very fond of by the end of the novel.
Without giving too much away, I don't care if this is fiction or non-fiction. It's a great story. Very raw. The stream-of-consciousness writing can be a bit tough to follow. He also doesn't use quotation marks when someone is speaking.
James is a drug addict and an alcoholic. We go with him to rehab - through the highs and lows. He does not hold back when describing the events of this story. We sit in the dental chair with him when he endures the root canal without any novocain. (Incidentally, I happened to be reading that part of the book while I was waiting to see the dentist -- not good timing.)
This is a guy I did not like at all at the beginning of the book, but grew very fond of by the end of the novel.
Without giving too much away, I don't care if this is fiction or non-fiction. It's a great story. Very raw. The stream-of-consciousness writing can be a bit tough to follow. He also doesn't use quotation marks when someone is speaking.
chrismologos's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
stonefruitbutch's review against another edition
5.0
Despite the controversy that drowned this book, I absolutely adored it. I devoured Frey's writing from page one. Take out that fact that it was incredibly loosely based on a true story, the tone and voice of Frey's character was unlike any other I have ever come across. His way of telling his story was unique and that's what brought me into his world. One of my favorites.