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A review by cathou
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
challenging
dark
emotional
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
This book took me a few months to read since its content is really heavy in terms of emotion. You absolutely cannot read this and not be sad at some point.
Its a long book, but you build a link between yourself and the characters because of its length. I mean, you follow a bunch of characters through 20 something years of their lives. Everything about them is revealed and displayed to you to read and learn.
Some people argue that this book exaggerates trauma but this is just simply how life is for some people, many people as a matter of fact. And I think what can make a reader reflect is that these characters are inspired by real things that happen every single day. It can also allow a reader to reflect on their own traumas as they identify themselves in certain characters.
They are very ordinary people in the sense where their emotions are so vivid and recognizable that their jobs, where they live, and what they do throughout their lives is kind of insignificant. Its all about their relationships to one another, the sadness, the moments of happiness, all the things I sometimes think are overseen in some other novels. Big big warning though if you are in a bad mental state do not read this because its quite vivid in its depictions of many triggering things.
Its a long book, but you build a link between yourself and the characters because of its length. I mean, you follow a bunch of characters through 20 something years of their lives. Everything about them is revealed and displayed to you to read and learn.
Some people argue that this book exaggerates trauma but this is just simply how life is for some people, many people as a matter of fact. And I think what can make a reader reflect is that these characters are inspired by real things that happen every single day. It can also allow a reader to reflect on their own traumas as they identify themselves in certain characters.
They are very ordinary people in the sense where their emotions are so vivid and recognizable that their jobs, where they live, and what they do throughout their lives is kind of insignificant. Its all about their relationships to one another, the sadness, the moments of happiness, all the things I sometimes think are overseen in some other novels. Big big warning though if you are in a bad mental state do not read this because its quite vivid in its depictions of many triggering things.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Car accident, and Suicide attempt