Michelle's Reviews > Katerina

With a riveting emotional intensity, Katerina is another literary achievement for the controversial bestselling author James Frey. Katerina, aka “model girl” was a stunning flaming haired Scandinavian beauty when she encountered Jay, aka “writer boy” a troubled reckless alcoholic while temporarily working and living in Paris (1992-1993). Katerina was clearly impressed with Jay when the couple met, but refused to leave her contact information adding elements of mystery, intrigue and sizzling romance to the storyline continuing to the novel’s heartfelt conclusion.

It is impossible to not write about Frey’s questionable memoir “A Million Little Pieces” (2005) parts of which Frey admitted was fabricated after the book was selected by Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club. Since its publication the book has been the popular subject matter of endless commentary and essay. This never changes the fact that Frey is a highly skilled and gifted writer that describes addiction in a rarely read seldom seen manner that connects readers to the intense overpowering suffering and hell that defines and illustrates the addictive personality and character.

In the novel “Katerina” Jay was very sick man that woke up in public places after alcoholic black-out binges. The cultural scenic beauty of living in Paris held little interest for him, and the shop owners he frequented to buy coffee and food viewed him with contempt and scorn. Jay recognized his “black heart” that sometimes sang or had stars in it; yet couldn’t escape the wreckage of “unfixable paths” the sadness, sorrow, regret and guilt that seemed to haunt his every move. Inspired by literature, art and his grand affair with the alluring Katerina Jay was offered another chance to move forward in a positive direction.
In 2017, Jay reflected on that period of his life when he lived in Paris and loved Katerina, who contacted him online after decades had passed since they last spoke. Jay became the lucky bestselling wealthy author with a wife and family knowing full well his life could have taken a turn for the worst at any time.

Considering the parts of the storyline where random women eagerly have sexual encounters with Jay especially in filthy bathrooms or against cars in parking lots—these scenarios seemed based more on wishful thinking or fantasy rather than reality, and some of Frey’s professional literary critics haven’t hesitated to low star the book. Frey seems to be an author that is either loved or loathed. As a novel, Katerina is presented in the best forms of autobiographical fictional writing.