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cerysvy'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? No
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
captdummy'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
mollymccreedy's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
This book should not be recommended lightly and people should absolutely be informed of what they're getting into before reading it.
At the time, I thought this was the best novel I had ever read, and I have a deep love and appreciation for that view, but the more I sit with this book and listen to what others have to say, I understand and appreciate how deeply troubling and harmful this book is. I was sobbing every 20 pages (no lie) and it took me MONTHS to get though this. It broke me in so many ways and it took me a long time to pick up another book after finishing this one.
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
I would absolutely not recommend this book to just anyone. Heck, I wouldn't recommend it to 99% of the people I know. I read this book not realizing what it was about and what the author has said about talk therapy. The description of this book is horribly misleading and the more I sit with the knowledge of what I read, the more I realize how deeply upsetting and deeply problematic this book is.selimhannah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
brittastrophee's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
farahbear's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
For instance, her main character Jude is suffering but he has a support system. Most notably, his adoptive father Harold is there for him. But after noticing that Jude is in an abusive relationship, Harold just so happens to let him go back to his apartment to potentially get hurt again?? When it’s out of his character to do that? You could argue it’s a mistake, but I think because of how it’s written, it comes off only as a plot device to get Jude to suffer more.
Yanagihara is very careless with the reader’s emotions, her style is strong, but because of her atrocious plot structure and her attempts to make Jude a straw man, she ultimately sends a dangerous message to her audience. Additionally, she proudly claims that she has not done any research and it shows. This is especially concerning given that Jude is disabled while she herself is not. And I think if you’re going to write about a character that isn’t of your own community, you owe it to that community to write about them with respect.
Maybe I would’ve given this book 3 stars at the beginning, but once you get to the halfway mark, she neglects certain characters and starts to relentlessly hammer in her pessimism. You end up exhausted. She ultimately ends up sounding cartoonish as well, all in her attempt to tell the reader to give up. Some of Jude’s trauma is just tacked on too, compared to her previous attempts to flesh him out. And she proceeds to do this, and be repetitive, just to illustrate that some people (like Jude) aren’t worth saving. By the end, you feel apathetic, and I don’t think that’s a good thing.
Maybe I’m too optimistic, but I don’t want to ever EVER think that way about anyone and their suffering. I want to believe people can get better. In fact, despite how much suffering, I know people can. I’ve had serious depressive episodes, but usually, when I get to that point, I just want help. Relief. And that isn’t in the form of suicide. Most people are afraid.
So overall, it’s the book’s message that I can’t get behind.
Only credit I will give to the author is that her writing style is fairly accessible. But otherwise just fuck this book.
I urge anyone interested in this story to just not bother, and read something else. If you want a depressing read, I think there’s better books out there.
What makes a book good isn’t because of the depression and trauma involved. A book has to have downs and UPS. Otherwise, it’s not even an interesting story. I once wrote a play with almost the same level of trauma for class, and my screenwriting professor had to remind me that there’s need to be high points for a story to work. I think I didn’t get it at the time, because I used to equate pain with intellectualism. But I do understand now.
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Trafficking, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia and Sexism
jjajangmel'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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
madchandler's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
xiaoban'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
4.5
Would I recommend it? Never.
All of the reviews that preceded this one insinuated so much pain and sorrow and even though I prepared myself, this one still managed to DESTROY me. This was the first book I have finished in a few months and it was undoubtedly the saddest book I have ever come across. Outside of the insane (and excessive) trauma and triggers, this one of the most comprehensive novels about loneliness, friendship, and chosen family that one can read in a lifetime.
It is undeniably gripping from the first chapter to the last chapter. The first hundredish pages gives such a solid introduction to four main characters that you become invested in each of their lives, rooting for them individually and dying to know more about their history/dynamic as a group. What starts out as a genuine love for each character quickly morphs into a sick, anxiety about the painful truths of their friendships and lives
The first time they said the phrase "A Little Life" I was like "oh lol they did the thing!" And then second time they said it the context made me physically recoil so violently I needed a shower
Surprisingly, I found myself really enjoying the overall lack of plot and dialogue throughout the book. If we are being honest, I will probably never give this book a reread.
Although this book has left a physical ache in my chest, I have an great appreciation for the author’s ability to write complex characters and present a realistic portrayal of the effects heavy trauma can have on an individual.
TLDR: Hanya Yanagihara made me very sad
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
ambersbooksandbakes'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Eating disorder, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail