A Million Little Pieces

by James Frey

Introduction and Acquisition: On the bookshelf of my best friend/hostess, who insists she never re-reads a book. I of course had heard of the book, it having been embroiled in the scandal that this "purely-factual", Oprah-endorsed memoir had a few too many embellishments for its defenders' comfort.

Time and Circumstance: End of June 2007, in Southern California. I had just finished the book I was reading, and so picked that one up, just to satiate my curiosity.


What was cool: Holy Cow, that's some seriously powerful writing. From the start it was Bam! socked you right in the jaw with is pared down language, simple succinct rawness. It's one of those books that hooks you from the start, and only after a few pages do you wake up and realize the world you've been living the past few minutes was only on the page. He's a great writer, a very masculine writer, and some scenes graphic enough that I just had to skip them.


What sucked: For a memoir it was a little too "neat" in its tidy arcs and nicely rounded metaphroical backgrounds. Let's see, the detailed description of the storm coinciding with his rage that bubbles up, finally free from the numbness of alcohol and narcotics. A little too forced. The biggest suckiest thing is that this amazing, powerful writer will forever be branded in such a negative way that many people will miss out on experiencing the gift he has. I am amused how we, the media-brainwashed public, suddenly bought the idea that there are standards of integrity in literature especially biographies, and great writing and story telling is now suddenly judged on its factual accuracy. Please, people, it's a story, not a history lesson or accounting sheet. Didja really just pick up the book to seek out the facts? Or did you honestly vye for a great, mesmerizing story?

Leftover Thoughts: Great story. I know there is another book called "My Friend Leonard" that's the sequel, and I'm not dying to pick it up. Maybe, some day. Again, he's a great, powerful writer. I'm really hoping he can pick himself up out of this mess - a good publicist? - so we can see more of this man's great talent.

The Diana Chronicles

by Tina Brown

• Introduction and Acquisition

In a few weeks the 10th Anniversary of Diana's death will be celebrated, so of course there are loads of speculative press about it, and her. Tina Brown, the opportunistic gossip editor, used just this opportunity to publish yet another book about Diana and her death. Barnes & Nobel had a coupon for the newly released book, so I took advantage of it.

• Time and Circumstance

June 2007. A few last weeks of freedom, between school and work. Having just got back from Japan, am planning to go to spend a week in L.A., and desired something irrelevant and fluffy to read on the plane.

• What's cool

The book definitely had its juicy gossipy slant, highlighting all the sex and infidelity in it (no drugs or alcohol for Lady Di). Diana is painted interestingly as an innocent victim as far as the marriage breakdown and her royal family relations go, yet as a intuitive manipulative schemer with the media. One sympathizes with her. We see a complex picture of innocence and manipulation, victim and predator, uneducated and wily. The book remained interesting as we are fed juicy bits, gossipy "factoids" from the mouths of those who were not meant to be seen - the servants, butlers, maids, security guards.

• What kinda sucks

It had its obvious slant, so while one reads to believe and allows the author its literary license, the focus on sex becomes a little laughable, and some passages quoting the Prince and his at-the-time mistress in a lover's conversation is somewhat embarrassing to read, embarrassing for them and a little shameful that the book would record word for word an intimate conversation meant for no one else but the two parties involved. It is those small bits that dilute the book's authenticity and honesty, integrity.

• Leftover Thoughts

Well, the reader can never be separated from the book review, and we all go into these things with our own biases. I amusingly enough found some answers and even sense of camaraderie with some of the scenarios in the book, dealing with my own life. So in that rather personal sense, I found the book to have continued to haunt me even after I had put the pages down. It is the end of June, and the anniversary of Diana's death is still two months away. Tony Blair, who got into office just before her death, officially resigned from his post two days ago. Or maybe it was today. So I know my eyes and ears will perk up at any mention of Diana or her royal relations, which I know will be plentiful in the weeks to come. This book, plus the smashing success of the movie The Queen, has placed the British royals into the spotlight again.