You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
it didn't make me happy, felt deeply unsettled and grossed out. four stars.
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hanya I don’t think I like you.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really don’t know what to think of this novel.
It was a slog at first and did not get interesting until 100+ pages in and although I enjoy the depth of characters Yaganihara is able to portray in her books I think the initial background story presented at the start of the book was unnecessary and boring.
However, as the story progressed I found myself strangely compelled and intrigued by the mystery of the plot as it became increasingly unsettling. Both narrators in this book feel as if they are protecting the main character, excusing, and explaining his behaviour. It left me disliking the Norton and suspicious throughout, all suspicions are of course confirmed true very bluntly in the epilogue.
Impressively written and I loved the added detail in the footnotes but an unsettling novel that was not an easy read in any way.
It was a slog at first and did not get interesting until 100+ pages in and although I enjoy the depth of characters Yaganihara is able to portray in her books I think the initial background story presented at the start of the book was unnecessary and boring.
However, as the story progressed I found myself strangely compelled and intrigued by the mystery of the plot as it became increasingly unsettling. Both narrators in this book feel as if they are protecting the main character, excusing, and explaining his behaviour. It left me disliking the Norton and suspicious throughout, all suspicions are of course confirmed true very bluntly in the epilogue.
Impressively written and I loved the added detail in the footnotes but an unsettling novel that was not an easy read in any way.
As with Yanagihara's other books, some research into the darker content contained in this novel may help those considering a read can be helpful. But I love this book not only for the mystical world created on it islands, but for its unflinching depiction of scientific racism/colonialism, historical revisionism, and the slow descent into evil that seems so logical at the time. And from a narrative perspective, the withholding of one specific part of the story at the very end at the hands of the main character's acolyte is brilliant. A good story in its own right and a thought-provoking companion to considerations of historical events in colonized countries.