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November 22, 2008 4:28:57 AM CST

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Shiny Morning No New Dawn for Frey

Posted May 13, 08 7:23 AM CDT in Arts & Living 

(Newser) – The flap over James Frey's memoir-that-really-wasn't was bound to cast some clouds over his new novel Bright Shiny Morning. But lack of believability continues to be a key issue for the author with his "execrable" new book of two-dimensional characters in a city that bears little resemblance to LA, writes David L. Ulin in the Los Angeles Times.

The fake memoir A Million Little Pieces that triggered major problems for the author at least highlighted some writing skill, zings Ulin. "Whatever else his failings as a writer, Frey was once able to move his readers," Ulin writes. "It's just one of the ironies of this new book that his fictionalized memoir is a better novel than Bright Shiny Morning could ever hope to be."

Source Los Angeles Times

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This photo released by HarperCollins shows the cover of "Bright Shiny Morning," by James Frey.   (AP Photo/Terry Richardson,HarperCollins)
This photo released by HarperCollins shows James Frey, author of "Bright Shiny Morning".   (AP Photo/Terry Richardson,HarperCollins)
James Frey poses for a portrait outside a cafe in New York in this March 24, 2003 file photo.   (AP Photo/Gino Domenico)
This file photo shows Oprah Winfrey, right, on Jan. 26, 2006, during her live television interview with James Frey, author of "A Million Little Pieces," in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Harpo Productions, George Burns)
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James Frey discusses "Bright Shiny Morning."   (Harper1817)

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Los Angeles • memoir • book reviews • novel • fiction • James Frey • A Million Little Pieces


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