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karkei's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I can hardly conceive that life can be so harsh to one person. My heart goes out to Jude. He’s a character that you constantly want to protect. How privileged we are that most of us may never truly understand the full depths of what Jude has gone through.
I will not pretend to be an angel though. There were many points that I got frustrated at Jude, like “Can’t you see how you are hurting the people you love? Can’t you see how much they are doing for you?” But then, I come back to myself and I feel guilty - I’m no better than JB, all self centered and discounting Jude in his entirety. Or maybe worse, because JB doesn’t actually know what happened to Jude and I do 🥲
I like to think that just with the people who love him though, loving someone is taking all of them. I love Jude and I care for him and hence, I wanted him to see himself as worthy and I wanted him to survive and be happy.
What I originally thought was a story about Jude, however, ends up being a story about Willem. And where do I start with this?
Willem, you are the most patient, kind, loving character.
To Harold and Andy, you also have a special place in my heart.
A Little Life was a book I was scared to pick up because all I heard about it was that it was highly traumatic. While there was trauma, however, this book went way beyond that for me. It is a reminder of how unforgiving but beautiful life can be and how fortunate we should all be for our little lives ❤️
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Child death, and Grief
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Car accident
mochiwaffles'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
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
rea_195'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
4.75
There is a lot to say about this book, so I'll start with the things that i didn't like and end with the things that I did.
Didn't:
1) First thing that I disliked was how much trauma Jude has gone throught and how it ruined the realism of the book. When Jude escaped the home and we find out everything that has happened to him, it just made me sad, confused and pissed. Hasn't he been through enough, what was the point and why did the author decide to do that, because as much as it hurt me, it took me out od the story those parts just felt too unrealistic. It is impossible that in 16 years of his life he hasn't ran into someone decent enough to help him, someone who is not a pedophile and a rapist.
2) Repetitiveness. I know that is the whole point, but some Judes thoughts felt a little too repetitive in the end. It was okay at first, but coming close to the end of the book it was too much for me. We already know Jude, we know how much his work means to him and the way he feels like a whole person there, so I think that those thoughts were a bit unnecessery and the only reason i put this here was because I feel like it would be better to remove some of those parts and replace them with a story of another character.
3) And here is the last part that I didn't like and it's connected with part 2) which is lack of another charachters stories. When the book started, we were immediately introduced to JB, Malcolm and Willem. And through the book that gets lost, we do get more of Willem though, but what about JB and Malcom!!! I was really invested in JBs addiction story and when that part ended he wasn't mentioned anymore that deeply, also we get a brief moments for Malcom and him not being sure about his sexuality and him deciding if he wants to get married, but that's all.
Liked:
I really liked the characters and how complex they were. From the very beginning it feels like they are real people and that you are indeed reading about someones life, someones thoughts, beliefs, dreams and doubts. Because of that, the book feels so raw and real(if you ignore the happy years, chapter 2). And in the end I was so devastated, because of the way it ended and that it ended, meaning that I won't get to read more about the people, characters I fell in love with and just for that reason I know that I'll hold a lot of them near to my heart. Another thing that stood out to me was the pacing and the unknowns of the time. Time wasn't determined by days, years but with events, seasons and holidays. The writing was immaculate, I loved the way the author explained emotions and explored characters. There were a lot of parts that hit very hard and you feel it deeply, but there are also funny moments that make you laugh and some parts that you can relate to. Considering that the book is so long I never felt bored reading it or not wanting to pick it up, I don't know how that's possible, but somehow it is. For me the title represents all lives, because after sometime no one will remember you and it will be like you have never existed at all, but that is not the point, to be remembered, the point is that you got through the bad times and lived your life to the fullest, it was indeed little, but its yours and you should cherish it. Overall I loved the book and I will never forget it.
Graphic: Body horror, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Kidnapping
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
julesfrigault's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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: Body horror, Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Vomit, and Medical content
baumej'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
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Addiction
ka_cam'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
3.75
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
Minor: Dementia
steph_nielson'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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
straykat1206'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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, and Dysphoria
Minor: Vomit
thestarsaresad'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
4.75
I think what truly makes this book great is that it has ALL the moments of life: the good, the bad, the ugly. Good people do good things, good people do bad things, bad people do good things, bad people do bad things. Good people have good things happen to them, good people also have bad things happen to them. Bad people have good things happen to them, bad people also have bad things happen to them. Yanagihara writes life as it actually is, without glossing over the ugly or playing up the good. But mostly, what I loved about this whole journey was seeing just how loved and loving people can be. That's the truest underlying theme.
After taking over a month to read this book, I will say that the amount of time I took to read A Little Life does not equate to how good I found it. Even though I took forever to get into this book and to really enjoy it, it is written so so well. I will say, however, that I don't think I'll be able to read this book again, at least not in the near future. Maybe when it's been years and years and I've completely forgotten what this book is about, then I'll reread it. However, I truly feel that this book is meant to be a one-time read.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Gore, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Kidnapping, and Car accident
Minor: Infidelity, Blood, Dementia, and Abandonment
PLEASE make sure you look over the content warnings before you start. I'm not someone who normally looks at content warnings, and while I don't think it was necessary for me after finishing this book, this was definitely a book full of heavy content. Almost every content warning possible is checked off of the list for this book. What sets it apart for me is that Yanagihara goes into detail for the parts of the book that concern MANY of these content warnings. Even though I know the content warnings here are tiered, I'll provide a list of the content warnings that are most brought up and recurring in this book.