Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

Una vita come tante by Hanya Yanagihara

270 reviews

jessedithgc's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Cursing, and Medical content

eaupaline's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Honestly the more reviews I read about this book the more I realized I don't really liked it.

My feelings about this novel are rather mixed. Overall I liked the writing, the character and the deep sense of nostalgia that I had when reading it. I thought it said a lot of beautiful things about friendship and love, too. The characters feel close to us and we see them grow for so long that it's difficult not to get attached - my favorite were probably Malcolm, although we don't see that much of him, and Andy.

What troubles me though is the extremely graphic scenes of violence, and how deep we delve into Jude's past. It sometimes felt like trauma porn or voyeurism and I really don't think being that explicit was absolutely necessary and the only right way to convey the misery of this character's childhood. 
It's a very personal feeling but at some points reading about his past almost felt like a trahison, Jude's character being so secretive and dignified, it felt as if I was discovering his past without his consent, and I thought it was weird and clumsy. 
I didn't get this feeling until some point in Jude's story though.

The whole part about the monastery was okay to read, the part with Brother Luke a little less, and the one with Dr Traylor just had me roll my eyes.

It really seems so far-fetched and grotesque sometimes that by the 3/4 of the book I was eager to finish it. It's not that the depictions where unbearable - they barely are bearable - but I kept asking myself what was the point of being that gruesome. It's a shame though. It's an interesting book, but it could have been shorter, more well-thought, more intelligent, more sincrere. It's basically a disappointement for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child death, Infidelity, and Racism

luciaeve's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug 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, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

rantsandreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

A Little Life is a deeply haunting novel, filled with wounded characters, stunning prose and an unforgiving story that digs into your heart like a weight you can't shake. It mirrors the relentless battle of living with PTSD, depression, dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation, the feeling of carrying a pain so profound that each day is a fight to simply exist. While my own struggles seem small compared to Jude’s, I connected with the way this novel portrays a life marked by what feels like constant suffering.

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.

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Content Warnings

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

challenging 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

cerysvy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

fenny94's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

One of my favourite books of all time. Would caution others to only start this when you are in a healthy place emotionally and psychologically because of the seriousness of the subject material.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

baumej's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

• 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

A Little Life was…….. tough to read. I had a hard time deciding how I felt about the book, so much so that I’m coming to this review about two weeks after finishing. I think what’s so challenging about deciding how I feel about this book is the fact that Yanagihara’s prose is one of a kind. There are several passages in the book that verbalized feelings that I had never before put to words, that were so beautiful they had me tearing up. Unfortunately the main character Jude’s story is just… unbelievable. Truly I had a hard time believing that his life was something that could actually happen to someone in the world. It broke my enjoyment of the book several times and had me feeling that the author was just exemplifying the trope of gay people as vessels of trauma. I could not handle it and had several eye rolls reading this. So, I’m still trying to decide how I feel about this book. I loved parts of it, I hated other parts.

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Content Warnings

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

xiaoban's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

ariannecone's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

5.0

Estoy devastada pero lo he amado mucho no tengo palabras 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria