"My Friend Leonard," by James Frey, Non-Fiction 920 Frey

My Friend Leonard, by James Frey

Non-Fiction 920 Frey

This book is a follow-up of sorts to Frey's previous book, A Million Little Pieces, which was pretty phenomenal. I wasn't disappointed in the slightest with My Friend Leonard. It follows Frey's life after rehab. He goes to jail for a few months on drug charges, then is released to find that life has changed a lot since he first went into rehab and jail. He is an alcohol and crack addict, yet manages to stay clean and sober through some difficult times. Frey keeps in touch with his friend from rehab, Leonard, who is involved with the mafia, and is a father figure to Frey.

James Frey's strengths lie in his gripping descriptions, and overall realism. Though the book carries the reader through some fairly scary events, there is an underlying optimism throughout.