My Friend Leonard

2004 · Book · James Frey

“On my first day in jail, a three hundred pound man named Porterhouse hit me in the back of the head with a metal tray.”

This father-son story pulls you into a relationship as unusual as it is inspiring. The "father" is Leonard, the high-living, recovering coke addict mobster who helped to keep Frey clean in his previous book, A Million Little Pieces. The "son" is James, damaged perhaps beyond repair by years of addiction and by cruel tricks of fate. James embarks on his post-rehab existence emotionally devastated and afraid to get close to other people. But then Leonard comes back into his life, and everything changes. Leonard offers 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 writing, and provides watchful and supportive protection. Both Leonard's and James's careers flourish--but then Leonard vanishes. When the reasons are revealed, the book opens up in unexpected emotional ways.--From publisher description by James Frey