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Bright Shiny Morning | 
 enlarge | Author: James Frey
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $14.64
You Save: $12.31 (46%)
New (47) Used (11) Collectible (7) from $14.53
Avg. Customer Rating:  112 reviews
Sales Rank: 2450
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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Product Description
One of the most celebrated and controversial authors in America delivers his first novel—a sweeping chronicle of contemporary Los Angeles that is bold, exhilarating, and utterly original. Dozens of characters pass across the reader's sight lines—some never to be seen again—but James Frey lingers on a handful of LA's lost souls and captures the dramatic narrative of their lives: a bright, ambitious young Mexican-American woman who allows her future to be undone by a moment of searing humiliation; a supremely narcissistic action-movie star whose passion for the unattainable object of his affection nearly destroys him; a couple, both nineteen years old, who flee their suffocating hometown and struggle to survive on the fringes of the great city; and an aging Venice Beach alcoholic whose life is turned upside down when a meth-addled teenage girl shows up half-dead outside the restroom he calls home. Throughout this strikingly powerful novel there is the relentless drumbeat of the millions of other stories that, taken as a whole, describe a city, a culture, and an age. A dazzling tour de force, Bright Shiny Morning illuminates the joys, horrors, and unexpected fortunes of life and death in Los Angeles.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 107 more reviews...
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
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.
Holy Cow August 15, 2008
I have to admit I was unsure of buying another book by Mr. Frey. But I was so curious about the book after reading reviews, etc. As a voracious reader, I am particular about spending my "book time" on anyting I don't enjoy. This book....this wonderful book....took me to a place that I've never witnessed. Introduced me to characters that were real and I cared about or despised. This book makes you FEEL. Bravo, Mr. Frey, bravo. Thanks for a crazy, frantic, engrossing ride.
LA Plays Filter for the Country August 12, 2008
James Frey's,Bright Shiny Morning, is a wonderful read that scatters information about this unique City and how it's magnetic lure continues to seduce and destroy. Go west, young man or woman, continues to be the dreamy answer of many and Frey's show and tell spares no punches. It's a tough town that he disects with a host of fictional characters and a ton of factoids and history, all interlaced in a way that keeps the pages turning and the interest level high. This is a better tour guide of what to expect of LA than could ever be found at Fodor's, or even the now defunct LA Confidential. Frey delivers and any reader should be glad to receive.
 Not Much Shiny Here August 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Bright Shiny Morning is the story of four groups of people, broken up by a lot of useless information and the beginnings of other stories that never go anywhere. The four stories include a homeless alcoholic, two teenage runaways from Ohio, a secretly gay movie star in a fake marriage (think Tom Cruise), and a Hispanic girl who works as a nanny. These stories are interesting and James Frey definitely knows how to tell a story. I was immediately dragged into two of the four. The other two I didn't care for because I didn't like the characters.
The rest of the book contains, like I said, a lot of useless information. Does anyone really want to read 20 pages of useless facts about Los Angeles? This is the kind of thing you get as a forward in your email, not spend $25 on. There are also a lot of characters introduced, but then never heard from again. I would have been interested to find out more about the gun salesman or the rape victim who purchased the gun after seeing her assailant at the fast food restaurant. Alas, not in this book.
I will say that the book was difficult to put down. I kept skipping past the useless (in my opinion) pages to get back to the main characters. It is difficult to read at times and not all of the stories have happy endings.
While not a perfect book, it does showcase Mr. Frey's talent and I hope that more is to come.
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