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Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria
Okay, this book strongly influenced me. It really made me think and reconsider so many things. More than I would like for certain. But all in all, it really is an unforgettable, masterwork, something that becomes so close to your heart and then stabs you.
Characters in this book are real. They have their flaws and their strengths. I deeply care for them and hope that in some universe they are happy.
The writing is spectacular. At first, I was a little annoyed by how at one moment we were in the present and at the other, it was a flashback, however as the book goes this is eliminated. The more you read, the more you understand it and the more you like the way it's written. There are strong lines and they make me think or sob. The one that's really close to my heart and tears is:
It wasn't an easy read. It broke my heart and it will be broken by this book for a long time. It will always have room in my heart. I don't regret reading it, it's my favourite stand-alone book. It was an amazing experience, however, I will not be recommending it. I believe, that only someone who really wants to and is prepared to should read this book. It isn't for everyone.
If you are considering reading or you are reading the book, then I'm telling you it gets better. The Happy Years are actually happy and they are so beautiful. It really is the best part of the book. I would recommend, that if you don't want to have the happy experience be ruined, stop after part 2 of The Happy Years. Part 3 doesn't bring nice things and all that follows is just heartbreaking.
Jude's story is truly disturbing and sad, yet it brings attention to any topic, which isn't a bad thing. The trigger warning list is very long and I will try to put everything here, however, I do recommend checking it elsewhere as well. At times it feels like Hanya Yanagihara is just torturing this poor guy. I'm truly sorry he had to go through all this bad stuff.
You can live a long happy life without reading this book. If you really don't want to read it, then don't. Save yourself the pain. There are far better books that won't cause you to cry randomly, because of the thought of the book.
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse
Minor: Child death, Racism, Suicide, Transphobia, Car accident, Death of parent
There are so many horrible things that happen in this book, yet somehow it is also one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. It was so real and honest. Every new chapter, every new POV, there is so much detail and perception. Every thought running through these characters’ minds during life-changing moments, the epiphanies and memories of their most mundane days and how they contribute to their respective philosophies, habits, and actions – the author uses the simplest words but deftly articulates them that it’s almost as if you were living inside their heads.
Going into this book, I expected absolutely no hope to be found. But surprisingly, the relationships between Jude and his friends and family counteract this. You could tell just how much they cherished Jude and wished for him to believe that he deserved happiness. Jude’s inability to see his worth makes you so infuriated that he was forced to live through such viciousness in his childhood, that even in his adult life where he was successful and surrounded by good people, until the very end he still could not bring himself to accept love. His constant doubt and fear, though repeatedly emphasized, is what made him so fleshed out. When you reach those parts where he struggles to distinguish and separate his terrible past from his present, you can't help but feel heartbroken.
I also loved that although Willem appeared to be the perfect friend or boyfriend, he wasn't at all. Just like everybody, he lashed out and said the wrong things, he got impatient and upset. That's what I think allows us to relate to him so much as a person. Even the chapters in JB's perspective gave me so much insight on the difficulties of addiction. And towards the end, you are dumbfounded at how much loss he, along with Harold and Julia, had to withstand.
But despite what the tragic ending may seemingly impose upon readers, this story is hopeful. The anger and sadness I felt makes me want to fight harder in real life, for myself and for others. My heart aches for Jude as if he were real, because there may be someone like him out there, and I could only be grateful to those like Willem, Malcolm, JB, Harold, Julia, Andy, Richard, and everyone else who loved him despite flaws that were not his own fault. Truly, this book is unforgettable.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Dysphoria
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Addiction, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape
Minor: Death, Drug abuse
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment