Scan barcode
hailsmars'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
4.5
Graphic: Car accident, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Violence, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Biphobia, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
alevssia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Graphic: Addiction, Biphobia, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Torture, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Eating disorder, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Just don’t read it.helenadominick's review against another edition
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Ableism, Emotional abuse, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Biphobia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Car accident, Trafficking, Confinement, Drug use, Grief, Medical content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
emmadebussy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Those who share my insurmountable desire to read this book should anticipate the absolute worst upon reviewing the content warnings.
For those who want to read the majority of the most traumatic events in the book but end on a happy note, stop right before Section V, Chapter 2. Rip the rest of the pages out and burn them.
This being said, I would still describe A Little Life as a beautiful work of art. There are uplifting, touching moments and others that were gut wrenching and made me feel physically ill. While the term trauma-porn undoubtably applies to this story, it so accurately depicts the potential lasting impact of trauma, the non-linear processes of healing, and the internal dialogue of those dealing with severe depression and suicidal ideation.
I disagree with the criticism that this book is against therapy. I would argue that it accurately represents many people’s resistance to therapy, that it is not as helpful for those unwilling to openly participate in the process, and that it is not an immediate or complete fix for most people.
This story is realistic in how it presents sensitive subject matter, which is what makes it so upsetting to read, and difficult process after the fact. Its primary flaw is the very real damage it could cause for some readers.
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Trafficking, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Medical trauma, Stalking, Ableism, Biphobia, Body horror, Kidnapping, Car accident, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Sexual violence against children was explicit but I personally did not find it >AS< graphic as non-sexual violence, and instances carried out against adults. Self harm and suicidal thoughts are described in detail.lanid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Abandonment, Trafficking, Blood, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Gore, Medical content, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Homophobia, Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Car accident, Death, Dysphoria, Ableism, and Biphobia
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia and Biphobia
riella_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Car accident, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Abandonment, Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Grief, Hate crime, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Child death, Homophobia, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual violence, Stalking, and Suicide
stitchbooks22's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Eating disorder, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Car accident, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Drug use, Gore, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Outing, Ableism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Terminal illness
leefox'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: Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Confinement, Drug use, Mental illness, Trafficking, Medical content, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Body horror, Grief, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Violence, Car accident, Child abuse, and Forced institutionalization
samanthabeckett22'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
2.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Vomit, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Abandonment, Biphobia, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Violence
feijoamuffin'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: Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual content, Self harm, Rape, Blood, Car accident, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Death, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Body shaming, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Vomit, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Biphobia and Acephobia/Arophobia