milli3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
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? N/A
4.25
warisha07's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
SPOILERS!!!
beautiful and devastating. this one was fucking brutal. got me crying and having full-on BREAKDOWNS...and the ending left me feeling like someone was reaching down my throat and squeezing my heart as hard as they could, and then I felt extremely numb, and then the numbness turned into giddiness, and now I am back to sad again.
Wrote so so so so beautifully I will never forget it, and I aspire to write the brilliant way Hanya Yanagihara does.
Fucking shit, what else is there to say. I could give a full in-depth review of each character but that would mean revisiting this book and I am NOT in the mental state to do that. Took me a month and a week to finish this and a part of me is proud I finally read and finished this book as it's been on my tbr for more than a year.
Like am I even glad I read this book because I thought the bad parts were over but the ending fucking crushed me to bits and I am not okay. It was easily the worst and hardest part in terms of how emotional it was, I literally couldn't breathe and I really didn't think I'd have that strong an emotional reaction. Willem dying just took the cake for me, and then Harold announcing Jude's suicide sent me to the fucking dark side for a bit as I cried my entire heart out. I feel like the only thing that was missing was Malcolm, and honestly, I feel like we could've dived more into JB's character as well. While friendship was a huge subject of this book, it was mostly shared between particular characters rather than the four friends, like I was expecting.
A powerful and exquisitely written book, however, the trigger warnings list is an absolute must to dive into beforehand.
MAN I FINISHED A LITTLE LIFE.
beautiful and devastating. this one was fucking brutal. got me crying and having full-on BREAKDOWNS...and the ending left me feeling like someone was reaching down my throat and squeezing my heart as hard as they could, and then I felt extremely numb, and then the numbness turned into giddiness, and now I am back to sad again.
Wrote so so so so beautifully I will never forget it, and I aspire to write the brilliant way Hanya Yanagihara does.
Fucking shit, what else is there to say. I could give a full in-depth review of each character but that would mean revisiting this book and I am NOT in the mental state to do that. Took me a month and a week to finish this and a part of me is proud I finally read and finished this book as it's been on my tbr for more than a year.
Like am I even glad I read this book because I thought the bad parts were over but the ending fucking crushed me to bits and I am not okay. It was easily the worst and hardest part in terms of how emotional it was, I literally couldn't breathe and I really didn't think I'd have that strong an emotional reaction. Willem dying just took the cake for me, and then Harold announcing Jude's suicide sent me to the fucking dark side for a bit as I cried my entire heart out. I feel like the only thing that was missing was Malcolm, and honestly, I feel like we could've dived more into JB's character as well. While friendship was a huge subject of this book, it was mostly shared between particular characters rather than the four friends, like I was expecting.
A powerful and exquisitely written book, however, the trigger warnings list is an absolute must to dive into beforehand.
MAN I FINISHED A LITTLE LIFE.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Rape, Torture, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Sexual violence, and Medical content
Minor: Vomit, Addiction, and Abandonment
zoebeketova's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
olivetoread's review against another edition
4.0
Unforgettable characters, who I won't forget. For me, the lavish lifestyles were a little distracting
bethany01's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cekg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
septimusmith's review against another edition
5.0
Is this the saddest book I've ever read? Probably.
Is it the best one I've read? Most probably, yes.
This is a devastating, heartbreaking, and very, very sad story. I mean, there are "happy times", but most of the plot is depressing and deeply disturbing for me (I assume for others too). So, I had to consume it like a drug, to be honest. I would read every chapter or two, then I'd put it down in a state of shock, and sooner or later I would just need more and more. It's like some kind of a sweet torture one does to himself. As Hanya does torture to their characters and the story itself.
I've often wondered and asked myself: "why is this writer doing this? Why is she torturing her characters to flesh and bone? (and I mean literally) What makes one write something so horrible and yet so beautiful?"
One of the things I did mind and couldn't tolerate at some moments was the main character Jude. Some of his actions, behaviors and all the self-harm did not make me sympathize with him, rather made me annoyed sometimes which is the only thing that frustrated me.
I could discuss, talk, and write about it indefinitely. But, I just think it's best for one to experience this book in its own way. This is the kind of literature I deeply appreciate and worship from now on, and I hope to see more of her work similar to this in the near future.
Is it the best one I've read? Most probably, yes.
This is a devastating, heartbreaking, and very, very sad story. I mean, there are "happy times", but most of the plot is depressing and deeply disturbing for me (I assume for others too). So, I had to consume it like a drug, to be honest. I would read every chapter or two, then I'd put it down in a state of shock, and sooner or later I would just need more and more. It's like some kind of a sweet torture one does to himself. As Hanya does torture to their characters and the story itself.
I've often wondered and asked myself: "why is this writer doing this? Why is she torturing her characters to flesh and bone? (and I mean literally) What makes one write something so horrible and yet so beautiful?"
One of the things I did mind and couldn't tolerate at some moments was the main character Jude. Some of his actions, behaviors and all the self-harm did not make me sympathize with him, rather made me annoyed sometimes which is the only thing that frustrated me.
I could discuss, talk, and write about it indefinitely. But, I just think it's best for one to experience this book in its own way. This is the kind of literature I deeply appreciate and worship from now on, and I hope to see more of her work similar to this in the near future.
katak's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.75
eyelessaura's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nasra'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
3.75