by Alvira Litvyak

Created on: April 13, 2007   Last Updated: December 10, 2010

Nobody can take it from me

James Frey's "Million Little Pieces" was the only one of the many books I've read for the past three years that made me cry, laugh and feel sorrow and joy for its character. Nothing around existed when I held this book in my hands: there was no outside world, I was LIVING the book not reading it. It's a bibliographical book of an alcoholic and drug addict who overcame his addictions. He fell down and was able to come back to a normal life, to stand up from the very bottom. Bottom, that is shocking, poignant and overwhelming. After finishing the book I was pondering upon the great power this book could bring to other people lives. I thought that this power would even be more significant for those who struggled with addictions and needed to know they were not alone.

I was even more stunned when I decided to read review on the "Million Little Pieces" and discovered the scandal this book entailed. I didn't know there was a reveal of fabricated facts that were presented in the book. Allegedly James Frey's imprisonment was not as long as he purported in the book. There were some other facts that, of course, attracted public attention. I don't know how far people could go in celebrating their flawlessness by finding others imperfections but I think some fiction aspects in James Frey's work can't take the power of the book. He was amazingly strong in his decision to make the long way from drug addict to the sober that lives fulfilling happy life. He was told that he wouldn't be able to do so if he didn't participate in Alcoholic Anonymous meetings. He wouldn't be able to struggle by himself without religion, without believing in God, but he believed in his own willpower and he did overcome his addiction.

I can not underestimate how inspirational this book can be for those drug addicts who don't believe in God. Where they can find the power to overcome an addiction? Why does the AA concept have to be the only options for them? I think there are some alternatives and James Frey was the unprecedented example of the alternative dealing with the drug problem. Isn't that the most meaningful purport of the "Million Little Pieces"? I guess those who call James Frey a liar don't get that significance. Why would some created facts about longevity of imprisonment take away that powerful essence of the book?

I still believe in James Frey's sincerity, I still admire his pure personality. His book helps me realize how strong a person can be by making his own decisions and by adhering to them. I am still very grateful to James Frey for sharing his experience of struggle with others because now I know a person can handle anything in life no matter how devastating it can be.

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