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koranmc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
rbleiweis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Had to take a few hours after finishing the book before I sat down to review because the last chapter was genuinely beautiful — maybe Yanagihara’s best of the entire novel. It certainly moved (manipulated?) me to tears. She is undeniably a talented writer, it’s a shame she is so obsessed with trauma, self-harm, and sadism.
This is a book for people who do not believe in therapy (written by one of those people ). The Cheesecake Factory-length menu of horrific traumas placed on the shoulders of a single character is not only perverse and merciless, it’s fantastical and ridiculous. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, pedophilia, forced prostitution, kidnapping, torture, disease, PTSD, starvation, and self-harm (I think I got them all but I am genuinely not sure) of course exist, but all in one person? Give me a fucking break!
I think a good book exists within the behemoth she published, but I can see no good reason for its length beyond trying to plunge you into the same depression as her tortured lead. The ending is so inevitable that countless undulations of hope and despair do no more than waste your time. Maybe the worst of it all is that Jude is somehow, after 800+ pages, an underdeveloped character. He is wholly and completely defined by his trauma -- because that is what Yanagihara intended. She’d probably argue that he is also defined by those who love him — meaning the by and large saintlike secondary characters lacking nuance of their own. It concerns me that the love she wants you to take away from this book (and sob over) only exists in the context of life support (an observation I’m repeating from this piece that I can’t get out of my head).
Finally, the profundity of Howard and others coming to terms with their own selfishness in trying to keep alive someone who does not want to be is drastically undermined when you realize Yanagihara is doing the very same thing without apology. In fact, it’s seemingly her style — a steadfast determination to avoid levity and force her readers to face the “monstrous” world we live in. It’s concerning to me that so many people have confused this for depth.
TL;DR — don’t buy this hype on this book and if you do, consider therapy <3
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
evalolitah'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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, 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, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
theaah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, and Grief
chethawleyz'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: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
Just….read the warnings. And believe them.kari_f's review against another edition
4.5
Check the trigger warnings because this book has all of them. Okay, may not ALL of them, but most of them.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
virylove'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
Main Take: Don't let the trauma of your youth hold you back from the beauty of your present.
Thoughts: Life doesn't end at 30, there is still so much to see and explore. Life is long. Jude please, I beg talk to someone. A great representation of PTSD and the importance of talking and communicating openly.
Actions: Process your trauma it's HEALTHY! Don't let your past steal your present or taint your future.
Notes: TRIGGERING if you want to reread careful as the self harm was triggering. If you reread remember the speaker switches and is hard to identify at times.
Graphic: Child abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Torture
This book contains graphic and frequent depictions of self harm and suicidal ideationfoxgame'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
I was not prepared for how confronting this book would be. There was every type of abuse covered in more than enough detail - physical, verbal, drug, sexual, self harm (animal if you’re vegan).
But the writing draws you in and outlines the story through a third person narrative, either Willem or Jude but also from Harold as a dialogue perspective. This was beautifully written and it fractured, broke and warmed my heart in its rollercoaster journey. I do not think I am the same person I was before I read this book.
But it is not an easy read, especially being the mother of primary school aged boys. Especially as knowing that parts of this fiction is some people’s reality.
I am glad I read this book. But I don’t think I could read it again knowing what happens.
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
maluulam'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
Cinco minutos
É surpreendente a forma como é possível se conectar com os personagens e sentir com eles cada experiência. Além de mudar sua perspectiva dependendo de quem está narrando a história.
Esse livro com certeza vai deixar Jude e Willem, com sua linda e emocionante história, por muuuuito tempo na minha memória.
Uma Vida Pequena mostra os mínimos detalhes e, uma das minhas coisas preferidas no livro, os momentos do dia a dia de uma amizade maravilhosa. Que faz com que mesmo apenas "cinco muitos" façam toda a diferença.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
aadilh'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: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment