Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Ein wenig Leben by Hanya Yanagihara

3354 reviews

dark emotional slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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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: Yes

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-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

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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ncurran's profile picture

ncurran's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 60%

The whole point of this novel seemed to be graphic depictions of multiple forms of abuse. The story became so flimsy by a third of the way through. I kept going in the hopes it would improve, but it only got worse, hence the DNF.

Also, very disappointing that the only openly gay character in this book from the start (JB) was portrayed as being pretty awful. Not sure how this book can be claimed to be the "great gay novel", even with the eventual romance between Jude and Wilem.

It was also disappointing that they ended up together romantically. It seemed to take away from the focus on friendship. Not every good friendship needs to become a romance.

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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

The best way to describe how I feel is that I loved and hated the book at the same time, which makes it so incredibly hard for me to rate. It was definitely a really hard read. 
I did really enjoy the writing style and the way the characters were portrayed. I loved how their friendship was documented over the years and how certain relationships changed. I loved finding out about their pasts and getting glimpses to each of them and getting to know them better. On that note: reading about Jude’s past was hard. Before reading the book I watched lots of reviews by other people so I think I kind of prepared myself for the worst but somehow I was still shocked by the things that happened. 
I’ve seen a lot of people call this book trauma-corn and while I do not agree for the most part, I do think that especially the last parts of the book were mainly there for shock value. I didn’t enjoy the ending very much and even though I knew that a happy ending was very unlikely I kept hoping for one. I know that it’s supposed to show that not everyone has a happy ending but Jude certainly deserved one. 
Overall I’m glad I read it but I don’t think u would recommend it to anyone else ever. Before reading the book definitely read the trigger warnings! 
I will still give this book 4 stars, since I thought the first four parts (except for the ending of the fourth one) were really good, and I almost agree with everyone saying that this book is a masterpiece but the ending did kind of ruin it a little for me.

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dark sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is an exquisitely written book with absolutely impressive character development. The layered complexity of the characters and their interior lives is striking! It's definitely some of the best writing I've experienced in a while. Having said that, this is also one of the most difficult things I've read in a while too, for its brutally tragic rendering of childhood abuse and the suffering the protagonist endures throughout his adulthood. Sensitive readers should absolutely consult trigger warnings prior to reading this. This is a profoundly sad book and one that is tremendously worthwhile.

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings