Perhaps the most unconventional and literally breathtaking father-son story you'll ever read, My Friend Leonard pulls you immediately and deeply into a relationship as unusual as it is inspiring.
The father figure is Leonard, the high-living, recovering coke addict "West Coast Director of a large Italian-American finance firm" (read: mobster) who helped to keep James Frey clean in A Million Little Pieces. The son is, of course, James, damaged perhaps beyond repair by years of crack and alcohol addiction-and by more than a few cruel tricks of fate.
James embarks on his post-rehab existence in Chicago emotionally devastated, broke, and afraid to get close to other people. But then Leonard comes back into his life, and everything changes. Leonard offers his "son" lucrative-if illegal and slightly dangerous-employment. He teaches James to enjoy life, sober, for the first time. He instructs him in the art of "living boldly," pushes him to pursue his passion for writing, and provides a watchful and supportive veil of protection under which James can get his life together. Both Leonard's and James's careers flourish . . . but then Leonard vanishes. When the reasons behind his mysterious absence are revealed, the book opens up in unexpected emotional ways.
My Friend Leonard showcases a brilliant and energetic young writer rising to important new challenges-displaying surprising warmth, humor, and maturity-without losing his intensity. This book proves that one of the most provocative literary voices of his generation is also one of the most emphatically human.
The father figure is Leonard, the high-living, recovering coke addict "West Coast Director of a large Italian-American finance firm" (read: mobster) who helped to keep James Frey clean in A Million Little Pieces. The son is, of course, James, damaged perhaps beyond repair by years of crack and alcohol addiction-and by more than a few cruel tricks of fate.
James embarks on his post-rehab existence in Chicago emotionally devastated, broke, and afraid to get close to other people. But then Leonard comes back into his life, and everything changes. Leonard offers his "son" lucrative-if illegal and slightly dangerous-employment. He teaches James to enjoy life, sober, for the first time. He instructs him in the art of "living boldly," pushes him to pursue his passion for writing, and provides a watchful and supportive veil of protection under which James can get his life together. Both Leonard's and James's careers flourish . . . but then Leonard vanishes. When the reasons behind his mysterious absence are revealed, the book opens up in unexpected emotional ways.
My Friend Leonard showcases a brilliant and energetic young writer rising to important new challenges-displaying surprising warmth, humor, and maturity-without losing his intensity. This book proves that one of the most provocative literary voices of his generation is also one of the most emphatically human.
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Used availability for James Frey's My Friend Leonard
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
June 2005 : Hardback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 1-57322-315-8 / 9781573223157 (USA edition) Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
May 2005 : Hardback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 0-7195-6115-9 / 978-0-7195-6115-3 (UK edition) Publisher: John Murray Publishers Ltd Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
May 2005 : Hardback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 0-7195-6798-X / 978-0-7195-6798-8 (UK edition) Publisher: John Murray Publishers Ltd Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
2005 : Hardback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey Publisher: Riverhead Availability: Amazon More details... |
Paperback Editions
May 2006 : Paperback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 1-59448-195-4 / 9781594481956 (USA edition) Publisher: Riverhead Trade Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
March 2006 : Paperback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 0-7195-6117-5 / 978-0-7195-6117-7 (UK edition) Publisher: John Murray Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
March 2006 : Paperback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 0-7195-6797-1 / 978-0-7195-6797-1 (UK edition) Publisher: John Murray Publishers Ltd Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
May 2005 : Paperback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 0-7195-6116-7 / 978-0-7195-6116-0 (UK edition) Publisher: John Murray Pub. Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
2005 : Paperback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 0-7394-6299-7 / 978-0-7394-6299-7 (USA edition) Publisher: RIVERHEAD BOOKS/PENGUIN PUTNAM Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1980 : Paperback
| Title: My Friend Leonard: Author(s): James Frey Publisher: Riverhead Books Availability: Amazon More details... |
1969 : Paperback
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey Publisher: Riverhead Trade Availability: Amazon More details... |
Audio Editions
November 2005 : Audio CD
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 1-4193-6254-2 / 978-1-4193-6254-5 (USA edition) Publisher: Recorded Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
2005 : Audio Cassette
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 1-4193-5888-X / 978-1-4193-5888-3 (USA edition) Publisher: Recorded Books Availability: Amazon More details... |
2005 : Audio CD
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey ISBN: 1-4193-5890-1 / 978-1-4193-5890-6 (USA edition) Publisher: Recorded Books Availability: Amazon More details... |
Other Editions
May 2006 : Kindle edition
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey Publisher: Riverhead Availability: Amazon More details... |
March 2006 : Kindle edition
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): James Frey Publisher: John Murray Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
January 2005 : Unknown
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): Publisher: Riverhead Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 2005 : Unknown
| Title: My Friend Leonard Author(s): Publisher: Riverhead Availability: Amazon More details... |
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