Literacy Analysis
James Frey does not sugar-coat his feelings, he is very blunt when it comes to description and dialogue. He makes it seem like you are there with him. He is the main character. He also describes his roommates, family members and the workers at the rehab center in great detail. He shares what he thinks of each character but doesn't tell the other character's thoughts. None of the dialogue has quotation marks and there is one line written at a time as each person speaks. It is sometimes hard to tell if a line is something he is thinking, or saying out loud, or if it is something another person in the book is saying to him. You have to know the characters to guess the answer to that. The plot is mainly his time spent in the rehab center and how he works his way from finding himself jacked up on a plane without any recollection of his memory all the way to getting well and leaving the center. Along the way he makes some friends and enemies and we learn about those. They help him to learn about himself too.
One common theme or symbol is the way he writes thoughts and dialogue together. It is confusing but is there so we can sort of see what he is experiencing in the moment. An example of this would be: (pg. 25)
When I enter the Room, they all turn toward me and they stare at me.
Roy smiles.
Welcome to Sawyer.
Thanks.
It's a good place.
I want to leave.
You'll get better here.
Run away.
Trust me, I know.
Get fucked up.
Yeah.
Die.
Let's go to your Room.
It's hard to see but some of those were thoughts he was having about wanting to leave and do more drugs and drinking.
One common theme or symbol is the way he writes thoughts and dialogue together. It is confusing but is there so we can sort of see what he is experiencing in the moment. An example of this would be: (pg. 25)
When I enter the Room, they all turn toward me and they stare at me.
Roy smiles.
Welcome to Sawyer.
Thanks.
It's a good place.
I want to leave.
You'll get better here.
Run away.
Trust me, I know.
Get fucked up.
Yeah.
Die.
Let's go to your Room.
It's hard to see but some of those were thoughts he was having about wanting to leave and do more drugs and drinking.