James Frey (1) (1969–)

"American Pitbull" is a photographic exploration into the culture of American Pit Bull dogs and their people, presenting an alternative view of the controversial world revolving around a uniquely American breed of dog and the human beings that live for them. Over a three-year period photographer Marc Joseph traveled the United States photographing Pit Bull dogs, their owners, breeders and "old time dog men," at their homes and yards, and during various events related to the breed. The show more relationships formed with his subjects have helped Joseph to gain full access to a culture known by few outside of their specific community. The fanatical, almost religious devotion that Pit Bull people attribute to their breed is clearly portrayed in Joseph's pictures. Issues of identity are addressed through elements of image, race, pride, and background, while the photographs simultaneously serve to further an understanding of our perceptions of unconditional love, beauty, danger, and strength. Themes of family and shelter are prominent; throughout the series a cast of characters emerges, themselves defining the context of the book. From the elder-statesmen of the Pit Bull world in New England and the Southern United States such as Louis B. Colby and Floyd Boudreaux, to new-school giants the Hip-Hop music scene on the East and West coasts, such as Big Boi from Outkast, and DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, "American Pitbull" clearly goes to the heart of what and why people feel so strongly for these dogs. Writer James Frey ("A Million Little Pieces") contributes an historically informative and personally sensitive essay, that, along with Marc Joseph's photographs, may well change a few minds on this, most misunderstood of all of man's best friends". show less

I have two main issues with this book. The first is the way it treats violence. This book is almost gleefully graphic. Sure, if you’re into unnecessary violence, it might be your thing, but it certainly isn’t mine. I really liked the characters (except the sociopath ones), but I hate the innovative and horrible ways they come up with to kill each other.

Second off, this book is clearly a thinly veiled attempt to make money. This book has been out for less than five months and it already show more has two “companion novellas” for you to buy. Moreover, this book is almost 500 pages and it still needs a sequel somehow (just another thing for you to buy).

I’m not even gonna get into Hunger Games comparisons, because that’s already been done. Suffice to say, this book is basically the Hunger Games, set nowadays and (somehow) more violent. It certainly has its differences, but there are too many similarities for it to be a coincidence.

So just find a different book. This one is a waste of time. show less

First, let me point out that I read this book 2 years after the Oprah scandal, so I read this book as a novel, though one influenced by personal account. Next: I loved this book. I can't remember another book where the narrator so completely drew me in, and the emotional rollercoaster was intense. There were about 100 pages near the beginning where I couldn't make more than 5 pages at a time without crying. Every emotion that James feels is brought incredibly realistically to the page.

I show more won't bother to recount the plot as that is easy to find elsewhere. The other thing I'll discuss is James' style of writing. He capitalizes random words and uses a lot of run-on sentences with missing punctuation. There are also no quotation marks, so conversations have to be read through a bit slowly to keep track of who's talking when. These idiosyncrasies bothered me for the first 10 pages or so, but by then I was so engrossed in the read that I didn't even notice them anymore.

Highly recommended. show less

Lo spunto del romanzo è follemente ambizioso, riportare il figlio di Dio in vita e piazzarlo al centro della civiltà occidentale contemporanea non è uno scherzo. Il rischio di scivolare nel banale e nel ridicolo involontario è altissimo e Frey ci casca in pieno, purtroppo per lui, ma soprattuto per me che ho sborsato una cifra non da poco per comprare il libro (dannazione!).
L'architettura narrativa dell'opera non è male, in ogni capitolo un personaggio diverso si fa carico di show more raccontare in prima persona il proprio rapporto con il nuovo messia, tuttavia nonostante una scrittura esperta e accattivante la sostanza del romanzo è poca cosa.

Il messaggio di Ben Zion, espresso piú con le azioni che a parole, è una sorta di pan-erotismo fricchettone di sapore sessantottino talmente semplicistico e superficiale da risultare quasi reazionario: fate l'amore e non la guerra perché il sesso è il modo migliore di avvicinarsi a Dio. Insomma spassatevela come piú vi piace, senza calpestarvi i piedi a vicenda e vedrete che tutto andrà bene. Niente di nuovo sotto il sole dunque, nessun messaggio rivoluzionario, non a caso l'esempio di Ben ha come conseguenza più evidente la nascita di una specie di una nuova comune hippy in cui la gente di giorno canta, mangia e si sollazza e la notte guarda le stelle e si accoppia (come fanno a mantenersi lo sa solo Dio...).
Copulo ergo sum, per farla breve, e se per disgrazia una donna resta incinta non è un problema, una capatina alla più vicina clinica abortiva e la questione è risolta.

Ma il male e la sofferenza del mondo da dove vengono? Tutta colpa del governo e dei preti, risponde con placido e noncurante qualunquismo il Figlio di Dio. Per non parlare delle plateali contraddizioni in cui cade quando afferma che Dio non esiste (ma allora non si spiega lui chi diavolo sia e come faccia a sapere quello che sa) mentre poi sostiene di essere stato mandato da Dio per far sapere a tutti che Dio non si cura degli uomini, il che fa pensare, al contrario, che Dio esista davvero e si comporti come quell'idiota che, rinchiuso dentro casa, risponde "Non c'è nessuno!" quando qualcuno bussa alla porta.

Tremendo. Una bufala colossale. Rivoglio indietro i miei soldi!

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