Reviews with content warning for Self harm - Ein wenig Leben

Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

Ein wenig Leben by Hanya Yanagihara

4801 reviews

buggycat's review against another edition

4.5

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

Content Warnings

booksandbrainsquirrels's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A Little Life is one of those books that everyone needs to read, but I also hate that I had to read it. The writing style is addictive, powerful, and tells the story beautifully. I was initially intimidated by the length; however, it became clear quickly that the slow pacing is essential to the development and gaining investment in Jude’s history. It doesn’t take long to fall in love with the characters, which makes it all the harder to watch them go through everything they encounter. In the beginning, it’s a little tricky to keep track of all the characters and how they are connected; however, once Jude’s story begins developing, everything comes together nicely, and all the side characters’ roles become clear. The pace is slow and the book is long, but so infuriatingly worth it.

I was much more invested in Jude and Willem’s perspectives than JB and Malcolm’s; they felt more like side characters than essential to the plot arc. I really enjoyed Harold’s perspective and hearing the story being told through his voice as the story developed.

The parallel of Harold and the son he’d lost and his relationship with Jude was beautiful.

I loved the blend of flashback and present-day scenes, and it was much more effective to hear Jude’s story this way than if he were simply relaying his trauma to someone. On occasion, it was difficult to tell when the timeline had shifted; it wasn’t a natural chapter break, which I might have preferred. (I’m not a huge fan of super-long chapters!) The trauma was devastating but painfully realistic and eye-opening.

Lengthy, heavy, and difficult. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before you read, but it is so incredibly worth the time.

Content Warnings

literarybrew's review against another edition

2.0

dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Dark. Trauma porn. Weird that the author writes with such authority on that which she does not know. The only exception to this is that she knows about friendship and living in NYC. Not anywhere close to a good read for me despite the hype.

Content Warnings

mj1410's review against another edition

4.5

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Please, please read the Trigger/Content Warnings before starting this book!
I have a complicated relationship with this book. I have read it once before and went through all the feels while and after reading it. I then warned anybody that talked about this book not to read it. Then I read it again anyway.

I do wish there were Content Warnings printed in the actual book!

Also, in my opinion, many of the things were described way too detailed. At times it seems this is an actual manual for SA/Self-harm/Suicide and I don't think anyone should read. I know I have triggered myself to an extreme with this book, ~~but then again I am a bit of a masochist.~~

This is simultaneously the best and worst book I have ever read. It has crushed me, destroyed me, made me lose my faith in humanity, made me cry so much I almost threw up, and yet it holds so many important messages and beautiful realisations about life. All I can say is that - should you decide to read this book even after looking at the Content Warnings - this book will probably change the way you think, even if it is just a tiny bit. But the characters, the stories, the relationships, the messages will stay with you and your little life.

Content Warnings