Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - Een klein leven

I might edit in more of my thoughts later; But for now, I will say this book is pure trauma porn and I hate it. And I know “trauma porn” has been a term thrown around a lot, but I’m not saying that to dismiss a character’s suffering. It’s not that I don’t believe anyone can’t suffer that much. However, I think it is trauma porn simply because everything that happens in the book serves to provide more and more suffering. And I think that’s lazy writing.

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.

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mereldnr's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad slow-paced

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? It's complicated

4.5

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xiaoban's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

Did I like this book? Yes.
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

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jd_jinkies's review against another edition

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Trauma porn, through and through.

I think to truly enjoy this novel, there's no way you could have any real life experiences with sexual/physical/emotional trauma.

There is so much that could have been good about this, but it is completely overshadowed by the author's incessant need to traumatize the everliving fuck out of the main character.

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oscarlavista's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense

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

Unrelenting tragedy and heartbreak. I don't think I could ever recommend this to anyone but I also think everyone should find the time to read it.
It's slow, it trudges, and it hits so hard right in the heart. It's awful. I knew it would be, but I was so compelled to give it the time it deserved. It's simply a modern classic that should never be experienced by anyone.

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