Book Report

The bulk under analysis is the work by Frey mob My Friend Leonard. This prime(a) was spurred by controversial reaction it provoked among the public and literary critics. This novel is, actually, a sequel to the book A Million Little Pieces published a year before. The genre of My Friend Leonard may be defined as a memoir though, as the author himself admits, it contains a certain degree of fictional elements. Frey James is an extraordinary figure in modern American literature. His own biography of a individual who experienced problems with alcoholism, drug addiction, and even being a convicted criminal provides Frey with the manif white-haired material which he successfully employed in the memoir.The of import character of the memoir is obviously authors namesake James who serves period in a prison. afterward jail release James returns to Lilly, his girlfriend, to Chicago but the life out-of-door the prison is far from harmony. James finds his girlfriend dead after committin g a suicide overnight. Being enamored by this dreadful discovery the main character still does not go to seeds he decides to dumbfound in Chicago and takes up job of a bouncer in Chicago pubs. However flavor of rage and the weight of reality makes James be sc ared of relapse thus he appeals to his old friend Leonard.Since their meeting the story assumes its main plotline the relations between two men, the relations which border upon the intimacy and father-son bonds. Leonard is an Italian mobster who offered James to be his stepfather when they both where in rehabilitation I would like you to be my son. Leonard gladly relieves his friend and son and helps him to get him on his feet.As the time lapses the scene of action in concert with the main character transfers from Chicago to Los Angeles. James changes his activity. Now he is a writer. He still maintains wet relationship with Leonardo, who remains his faithful friend and tutelary father. The relations that develop between them are presented from profoundly psychological side. The author aims to show the deep feeling of people who far from ideal figures still are human and exhibit the best example of the relations called friendship.The depiction of feelings expressed to animals is as masterfully penalize as the feelings among humans. Thus while reading the passage where James takes his dog to the hospital to put it to slumber and the farewell scene makes the reader feel the same emotions. The vet inserts the needle, depresses the plunger. Cassius yelps like a little puppy, my lifesize tough pitbull feels the sting, I hold him as his blood courses through his veins I hold him as he stumbles, as he falls, I hold him as he dies. I look into his eyes and I tell him I love him and Ill miss him and Im so so so sorry. He dies in my arms and I hold him and I cry, I cry, I cry.Returning to the main character and his friend Leonard we witness how their relations arise to its peak point and suddenly Leonardo vanishes. After insistent search James finally finds Leonard and learns that Leonard is gay, suffers from AIDS, and lives his last days. James remains with him and spends these few days go on Leonard.Speaking about the mood left after reading the story, it is a deep impression created by its emotionality and at the same time this emotionality at some moments seems exaggerated not typically for that kind of genre. Nevertheless the style does not allow the story turning into melancholy narrative. Frey writes in abruptly simple sentences, often neglects punctuation and thus creates easy reading that develops fluently. As a result we line up favourably distinguishable prose in the genre of memoir but with flavour of captivating fiction.ReferenceFrey James (2005). My Friend Leonard. New York Riverhead.