Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

2099 reviews

nia_estelle's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

jennnareads333's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use

Minor: Addiction and Car accident

geoneo2001's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

sofilart's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

 A Little Life is a deeply complex novel that elicits both hope and despair in equal measure. You find yourself rooting for the main character, Jude St. Francis, to find peace and happiness while simultaneously dreading—and at times anticipating—the inevitability of his demise. These conflicting emotions are at the core of the book’s polarizing nature.

The story chronicles Jude’s life through a series of flashbacks detailing his harrowing childhood marked by abuse and his journey into adulthood, where he navigates love, friendship, and professional success while grappling with relentless trauma, illness, and grief. This duality—hope and despair, beauty and suffering—permeates the narrative, making its reception unsurprisingly divisive. Some have labeled the novel as "misery-porn," while others hail it as "a love letter to life." For some readers, Jude's pain may exacerbate their own struggles, while others might find solace in his moments of happiness and his enduring friendships. Regardless of perspective, the novel raises questions that linger long after its final pages, though I personally struggled with aspects of its execution.

Hanya Yanagihara is undeniably a talented writer, her vivid and evocative prose bringing Jude’s experiences to life with an intensity that is both captivating and harrowing. However, the structure of the novel and the expectations set by its synopsis feel misleading. The book is introduced as a story of four friends—Jude, JB, Malcolm, and Willem—yet it quickly narrows its focus almost exclusively to Jude. While Willem plays a significant role in Jude's life, JB is reduced to a largely antagonistic presence, and Malcolm fades into the background, barely contributing to the narrative. This shift leaves the reader feeling disconnected from what initially seemed like an ensemble story, with the other characters serving more as satellites to Jude’s world rather than fully realized individuals.

One of the novel’s strengths is its timeless, almost ethereal quality. Spanning six decades, the story unfolds in a world where technology like cell phones exists, yet historical or geopolitical events—such as 9/11—are conspicuously absent. Even the characters' careers, many of which would naturally involve public scrutiny, exist in a vacuum devoid of external pressures. This insular focus underscores the title’s premise: this is Jude’s little life, and the outside world is irrelevant. While this approach adds to the intimacy of the narrative, it also stretches plausibility, particularly with the characters’ seemingly endless wealth, fame, and success. Additionally, certain technical aspects, such as medical procedures and illnesses, are reportedly invented by the author, which feels like a missed opportunity for authenticity in such a grounded, human story.

Ultimately, A Little Life was not a novel I enjoyed. Its slow pace, character-driven approach, and unrelenting focus on suffering made it difficult for me to connect with the story. While I understand that the narrative’s purpose is to show that Jude’s pain is inescapable, the repetitive and almost gratuitous depiction of his suffering felt morbid and, at times, tedious. That said, the novel did provoke reflection on significant issues like mental health, trauma, and euthanasia, which I believe are vital conversations to have. While the book may not have resonated with me, it holds the potential to spark important debates and offer comfort to those who find their own struggles mirrored in Jude’s journey. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

juliesmm's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

moyinal's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

mrs_murphtzer's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Well, folks, I did it. I read the capital I It book. And it was exactly what the internet says it is: beautiful, heartbreaking.

To the beautiful note: this writer has a lot of skill. The way he moves time and narrator and sensation is fantastic. I found myself highlighting portions I was moved by, and I’m not a note taker really.

To the heartbreaking note: there is so so so much pain this this book. So much abuse of all kinds. Really really go in expecting to read some terrible stuff. 

It was a lot. By the end I was exhausted. I do not think I will ever reread it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

fri3d_kai's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

completely heartbreaking but also a beautiful exploration of friendship, love and life

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

thepumpkinreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative 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? Yes

5.0

So tragic, beautiful, heartbreaking and raw. This book reflects on the complexities of the individual human existence and tragedies some must experience. This book will leave you with your heart bleeding in your hands and appreciating everyone just a little more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

alynn1824's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt