My Friend Leonard image
My Friend Leonard Frey, James Edition: 2005 Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated Number of Pages: 368 ISBN10: 1573223158 ISBN13: 9781573223157 Dimensions: 6.25" w x 9.25" l x 1.25" h Weight: 1.34 lbs. Binding: Trade Cloth Language: English List Price: 24.95

Description

"Leonard is the best friend James Frey has ever had. When James was bent on self-destruction, it was Leonard-high-living, highly charismatic mobster - who saved his life. When James faced tremendous obstacles, both emotional and practical, to putting his life back together, Leonard offered support and his considerable, sometimes unmentionable influence and protection." "So when James is released f..."Leonard is the best friend James Frey has ever had. When James was bent on self-destruction, it was Leonard-high-living, highly charismatic mobster - who saved his life. When James faced tremendous obstacles, both emotional and practical, to putting his life back together, Leonard offered support and his considerable, sometimes unmentionable influence and protection." "So when James is released from a stint in jail only to be rocked by a particularly cruel twist of fate, it's to Leonard that he turns for help. Leonard, of the outsized personality, who greets James as "My Son" at the top of his lungs when he rushes into his life to instruct him in the art of "living boldly." Leonard, who offers James lucrative - if illegal, mysterious, and slightly dangerous - employment when he needs it. Leonard, of the secret deals, of the surprising passions that belie his violent career choice, of fantastic generosity and ferocious loyalty. Leonard, who has more invested in their friendship than James could ever imagine."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights ReservedJames Frey is the author of A Million Little Pieces. Originally from Cleveland, he now lives in New York City with his wife and their daughter.From the author of the New York Times bestseller A Million Little Pieces comes this heartbreaking, hilarious, and inspiring story of friendship. Leonard is the best friend James Frey has ever had. When James was bent on self-destruction, it was Leonard-high-living, highly charismatic mobster-who saved his life. When James faced tremendous obstacles, both emotional and practical, to putting his life back together, Leonard offered support and his considerable, sometimes unmentionable influence and protection. So when James is released from a stint in jail only to be rocked by a particularly cruel twist of fate, it's to Leonard that he turns for help. Leonard, of the outsized personality, who greets James as "My Son" at the top of his lungs when he rushes into his life to instruct him in the art of "living boldly." Leonard, who offers James lucrative-if illegal, mysterious, and slightly dangerous-employment when he needs it. Leonard, of the secret deals, of the surprising passions that belie his violent career choice, of fantastic generosity and ferocious loyalty. Leonard, who has more invested in their friendship than James could ever imagine. Written with all the style and energy that are now hallmarks of Frey's work, My Friend Leonard showcases a brilliantly talented young writer rising to important new challenges-displaying surprising warmth, humor, and maturity without losing his intensity. My Friend Leonard is, at its core, about the responsibility that comes with loving someone and going out on any number of limbs to care for them. And it is a book that proves that one of the most provocative literary voices of his generation is also one of the most emphatically human.Perhaps the most unconventional and literally breathtaking father-son story you'll ever read, My Friend Leonardpulls 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 Leonardshowcases 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.From the author of the bestselling "A Million Little Pieces" comes the story of his friendship with a highly unorthodox father figure, the high-living, recovering coke addict, "West Coast Director of a large Italian-American finance firm" (read: mobster). (more) (less)

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