Bright Shiny Morning

I’ve been listening to this book in my car for the last week. I love audiobooks for many reasons, but especially because I find it pleasurable to walk out to the car to do errands, and know that someone will be reading a story just for me. Generally, I read and listen to mystery novels, but sometimes an audiobook of another genre will catch my eye, and I’ll give it a shot. After all, I can always return it if the first disc or so doesn’t make me want to take the CD inside and keep listening.

I was curious about Bright Shiny Morning, because it was written by James Frey, and James Frey is little Jimmy Frey who lived down the street on Chalfant Rd. in Shaker Heights. He is the same age as my oldest son, and they shared a friend, named Clay, who lived around the corner on Stockholm Rd.. The three boys were all born in September of 1969, and all knew each other from preschool days until the Freys moved to Michigan. Jimmy’s mom and Clay’s mom decided to keep their sons in preschool an extra year. I sent my son on to kindergarten, so the three were never in the same grade in school. Still I remember a little boy, named Jimmy, with a head full of blonde curls, who lived down the street with his older brother, Bobby, and his parents, Lynne and Bob.

When A Million Little Pieces came out, I was sure it was that little boy all grown up. I researched a bit, and learned that yes, James Frey was born in Cleveland on September 12, 1969. I picked up the book, and leafed through, and sure enough, there was a mention of his best friend, Clay. I was excited when the book was chosen by Oprah, and when he was interviewed by Oprah. I told my son that the book getting all the attention was by little Jimmy Frey who lived down the street. He didn’t remember him at first, but my description sparked his memory. Then scandal struck! The book was published as a memoir and parts of it were fiction. People were very upset, particularly Oprah, who first defended the author, and then berated him in front of more than millions on her TV show.

My feeling about all of this was that when you know the guy is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic, why would you think everything he wrote is true? Why would you be shocked to discover inconsistencies and outright untruths in his book? Why would you think he was telling the truth when he marketed it as a memoir. And if you liked the book when it was a memoir, why would the fact that it was actually fiction, change your opinion?

When Bright Shiny Morning, the third book by James Frey came out, I read a very positive review in The Plain Dealer, so when I saw the audiobook in the library, I picked it up. At first, I found it confusing. It’s one of those books that jumps around. There’s no straight line plot to follow, and in between the vignettes of various people, are historical facts about Los Angeles, statistics about its roads, its weather, its gangs, its various ethnic areas and their origin, and much much more. Umm, I thought, I don’t really want to listen to this, but then I got caught up in the people and their stories, and wanted to hear more, always a good sign with an audiobook. These are little stories of people, mixed into a delicious stew of characters, but four stories are continuing, and their characters are the ones that kept me listening.

There is Old Man Joe, only 39, but looking 75. He just changed overnight from young to old, and stayed that way. Old Man Joe is an alcoholic, who lives on the street. He would be homeless, but he’s been given a bathroom to sleep in, behind a taco restaurant. He cleans it, and stores his chablis, his drink of choice and few precious things there. It is his home. Joe’s life changes when a young girl comes into it, and he suddenly becomes her knight in old, worn, rags, defending her with his trash can lid shield. Tragedy and chaos result, ripping Joe out of his routine.

We also met Amberton Parker, famous action hero movie star, married with children, leading a secret life, that becomes not so secret when he falls in love with an agent, who used to be a football star. We are taken into the life of Amberton and his wife, Casey, a life of luxury and wealth, their children, little nanny raised trophies, part of the effort to hide their mutual secrets. We, the readers, or in my case, listeners, are taken into this world, and get a picture of how these stars manage their private lives.

I recently met someone online who used to be a nanny for a family with famous parents. From her reports, there is a lot of truth in the lives of Amberton and Casey Parker, even though they are made up characters.

Then there are Dylan and Mattie, running away from unhappy lives in small town Ohio. Not sure what they are running towards, only knowing it has to be better, happier, less miserable, than the lives they are leaving behind. But complications keep coming, and when they finally accept the permanent complication that is on its way, and seem to be ready to move on together, their past catches up with them, and leaves one of them, and us, hanging.

My favorite character, Ezperanza, is born of Mexican illegal parents just as they cross the border. Born with a good mind, a sweet disposition, and a physical characteristic that seems to be standing in the way of the life she is capable of attaining. Her story made me smile, because her parents love her unconditionally, and because there seems to be so much to her as a person, whether she is pretending to be an ignorant illegal domestic, or is kidding around with her employer’s son or her co-workers at an office supply store. Her bouts of depression simply give her more dimension and make her real. Unlike some of the reviewers I’ve read, I don’t find Ezperanza too good to be true. She has a kind, loving, shy personality, and is not quick to anger, but her anger is expressed, and her feelings are very real.

As the last disc went into my car’s CD player, I became apprehensive. This has happened before. No one wants a good story to end, particularly one that doesn’t tie up the loose ends in a nice bow. I knew I would be left wanting more, and I was.

Has Old Man Joe learned his lesson? Will he ignore the next damsel in distress? Will he lock his bathroom door, and leave any knock unanswered? Is Mattie going to be raising her child alone? Will she be able to make it on her own? Is Dylan alive, will he return, battered but eager to be with Mattie? Will Amberton leave the closet, leave Casey, find happiness with someone or will he and Casey go on with their make-believe life? It looked like the latter was underway, enabled by those around them. How about Ezperanza and Doug? Will her parents accept this disinherited, rich Anglo nerd? Do the two of them have a chance to make a life together?

I want to know the answers to my questions, but this isn’t the kind of book that will have a sequel, and James Frey isn’t the kind of author who is planning for it to be a series. Still, when I feel this way at the end of a book, I know that it was a successful read (or listen in this case), and for that I thank the author, who used to be little Jimmy Frey, who lived up the street, and now is James Frey, the controversial author, and as far as I’m concerned a very good writer.