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rantsandreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The story follows Jude and his friends, focusing on his unbearable trauma and the deep wounds left behind by his past. Jude’s life is filled with horrors that feel insurmountable, and yet, there are moments of friendship and love that remind us of the fleeting happiness that can make the pain worth enduring. Still, like in life, the fight to overcome your demons isn’t always a battle that can be won.
What moved me the most was the perspective of parental figures near the end, an exquisitely painful reminder of the weight of care and loss. It was both devastating and beautiful, leaving me emotionally drained but appreciative of the journey. I cried—oh how I cried for nearly everyone through out this nearly impossible to read story. I had to continuously remind myself that it was fictional.
I am happy to have finished this book, but its impact will stay with me. Some stories imprint themselves onto your soul, and this one is unforgettable, much like the shadows we all carry.
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
rachel_emily22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
leiloooni's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
emilyg433's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
ojmoores's review against another edition
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
miasativa13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The novel steps into “trauma porn” territory, however, somewhere just past the middle of the book; this is also the point where passages about the protagonist’s misery and self-hatred become rather repetitive. It is still a rather beautifully written book, but the plot points are what begin to ruin it gradually so that a 5-star book is steadily whittled down to 3.75 (at least, in my opinion).
I myself did not cry reading this book, but I know dozens of others have—and I believe it’s a sign of a skilled writer that they have been able to weave something so emotionally provocative. I disagree with others who say that this book should not have been written at all because its main purpose is to “manipulate” its readers—I believe the author’s intention to emotionally “destroy” readers from the get-go is a legitimate artistic experiment that explores the ways words and stories can be formed to resonate strongly with their audience. If you are someone who appreciates the skill and technique involved in writing literary fiction, then you could find this an interesting, enjoyable book to read.
Reading this book personally reminded me of my experience reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and The World According to Garp by John Irving. If you enjoyed these 2 books, you may just enjoy A Little Life.
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
ammonsmp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
esme1903's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Self harm
mercimarci's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
While this is not a book you pick up entirely willingly; it is one you read and becomes a part of you—literally it’s been months and my heart still hurts for Jude. I mainly picked up Hanya Yanagihara’s “A Little Life” simply for the controversy that took place some years ago when it started gaining popularity on TikTok. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect except that many considered it nothing but senseless “trauma-porn,” but that isn’t really the case at all. A Little Life follows the lives of four college friends Willem, JB, Malcolm, and with a primary focus on Jude St. Francis, an attorney with a tragic past, with a narrative that delves into the significance of friendships, the effects of trauma, and the search for identity and purpose in the face of immense suffering. This book set out what was promised. It was intense, unvarnished, horrifying, and devastating in the best possible ways. It took me a while to finish this book because of the triggering content, but I still really enjoyed it. I did not anticipate experiencing this much agony or ugly sobbing. Even the characters I detested, I adored for how ravishingly raw they were portrayed.
Plot 🎬
The plot, I wouldn’t say was anything unique. It’s about college friends trying to make it in the big city with an insane amount of trauma, but Yanagihara’s writing, her way of describing the utter pain of these characters, has a gorgeous charm to it. For the most part, being human, we have an innate morbid curiosity seeking out the broken, the deepest darkest evils this world could conjure. No matter how difficult it was for me to read through all of that or how harsh the narrative got, I was drawn in and didn’t want to stop until I was one with the words. It is in itself another experience to live through, that one cannot simply back away.
Dialogue, Pacing, and Structure 💬
Overall, I had no issue with the pacing, dialogue, or structure from a technical point of view. The dialogue was nothing particularly grand but I partially read this through an audio book and the narrator had done such a wonderful job and portrayed Jude so delicately. I loved it. If anyone is interested here is the link to her channel; http://www.youtube.com/@celinabastida.... I know some people criticize this book for its extremely long paragraphs but I believe that is the point to draw out these events and it doesn’t necessarily have to break off to be able to show the present and the past. It is a sheer reflection of personhood where time doesn’t pause; everything can and may occur all at once, calamitous or harmless. There are no page breaks in life, and sometimes it takes an effort to hit head-on and hold up.
Personal Impact & Final thoughts… 🤔💭💀
I really have connected with these characters, particularly Jude and his story. It is such a tragedy. And even though this is a work of fiction, the ideas are not. This is a reality for many and no matter how scary, utterly appalling, and painful, stories like this, fiction or not, should be told.
This is not a read just for anyone though, it is a lot of heavy themes and topics regarding around the trauma of child abuse, sexual abuse/assault, self harm and much much more that are written in great detail. So please, if you find topics sensitive I wouldn’t really recommend this book. But if you believe you are strong enough I would really recommend checking this out. It is beautifully crafted and will stay with you whether you want it to or not.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, and Violence
lois_w's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Yanagihara's writing means the reader grows with the characters and the tragic past of Jude provokes very high emotions.
I felt myself morally conflicted over Jude's decisions and choices. The darkness of the book reflects the huge struggles within Jude.
There is really no criticism I can give this book the present glances combined with the flashbacks truly made the reader FEEL.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail