Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Ein wenig Leben by Hanya Yanagihara

4801 reviews

littlefrogbigfrog's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

---

Just absolutely ** devastating. This book is hated on a lot (& I see where they're coming from) & for the majority of the book I was thinking that I should be bored but I just could not put it down. I have never felt so sad for a character as I have for Jude & something about the fly on the wall perspective that you take on as the reader just made the characters feel so real in a way that I hadn't encountered before in my reads. It is a very very tough read & I definitely had to take several breaks from reading before I finished but I will never forget this book & it sits on my shelf of favorite reads.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide attempt

queenbeekristine's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail

kjaspfar's review against another edition

4.75

reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Sexual harassment

tess_wey89's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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: No

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt

child_in_thyme's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts

knyborg82's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

Devastatingly beautiful story. This book will wreck you emotionally. 
Very slow start with so many introductions, it's hard to keep everyone straight. The timeline is also confusing at the beginning. 
**PUSH THROUGH IT** You will be rewarded with such a real, gut punch, emotional touching story.
Friendships that are deep, real & meaningful and take on so many different forms throughout life.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Toxic friendship

Minor: Car accident

readitandweep01's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

---

It took me years to get around to this book because it is so incredibly polarizing. Now that I’ve done it, I can confidently say that it is probably one of the most beautifully raw stories ever written about the human condition. I disagree with reviews that classified this book as “torture porn”; it’s an extreme reduction of the very real issues explored in the book. This is not a story about how some people are irredeemable, but about how sometimes despite an abundance of good, some traumas are too hard for the human psyche to let go of. Due to some of the content explored in this book, trigger warnings are necessary but if someone can withstand it, then they should definitely read this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt

marija_m95's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional sad tense slow-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

---

One has to be in a very healthy headspace in order to read this book. A masterfully woven story about the complexities of human relationships and the lasting impact of trauma. It's not a book about four friends, but a story about Jude whom Yahagihara has made so utterly damaged and his life so incredibly difficult that we cannot truly have any hope for him. The subject matter is extremely challenging, but the writing so evocative that it's impossible not to be drawn in. Also, I never ever want to read this book again or recommend it to anyone else.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Violence, Vomit, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail

jnalexander's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence

otakurini's review against another edition

3.25

challenging emotional 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail