Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

1611 reviews

irene_wicked's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

klaratoll's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

5.0

I don't even know what to say. It's currently 4.30 in the morning and I just spent the last six or so hours finishing this book and most of the last four in a state ranging from slightly sniffling to outright sobbing. I'm not sure I can rate this book, certainly not at the moment, but I might have a hard time doing it later too. There were many things I loved about it, the characters, the writing, and most of all the exploration of all the different relationships between the characters. But then there are also some things that I'm not certain how to feel about just yet. I think I need to sit with it for a while to be able to collect my thoughts properly. I wouldn't say it's a book I would ever feel comfortable recommending to anyone lightly, but it is a book that will probably stay with me for a long time. 

Update: 
Okay, it's been a few days since I finished it and I think I've collected my thoughts enough to discuss some of my feelings about this novel. To say it shortly: I think I love it. Some of my thoughts below this point will probably contain spoilers so do read ahead with caution. 

The first thing I was unsure about as I finished the book was the message it potentially sends. I've seen a lot of the more negative-leaning reviews saying that the message is that some people are too broken to be helped and we should basically just give up on them and let them die. I think it's quite difficult to write a book that deals with suicide and not make it potentially carry the this message, but I don't think that books containing suicide should not be written. I hate to bring the argument of realism into this, but I will anyway. Saying that the message is that some people are too broken to help kind of ignores that people do commit suicide. Even people who are deeply, deeply loved. Even people who have recieved help and treatment. Representing this in fiction does not equate that we should give up on people. I have to say that right after finishing the book a part of me thought: "So what was the point then? Did nothing of it matter in the end?" But after having thought about it for a while I refuse to define the point of a life by how it ends, and I refuse to say that kind acts, love and friendship do not matter even if they might not be enough. Are love and moments of happiness not of any consequence just because they do not last? 

There was so much about the novel that I found hard-hitting and thought-provoking. Something that really stood out to me was how the characters were constantly wondering if they were making the right choices in relation to Jude and his traumas. Do I push this? Will I break something if i do? What happens if I don't? If I had done something differently, would things have been different? Better? I think this is quite a realistic depiction of being close to someone who is suffering in some kind of way. 

I also need to say something more elaborate on the book as a whole. It's a slow read, at times perhaps a bit too slow I thought. But in the end I think the slowness adds to the impact of it all, I don't think I would have cared as much about the character had it not been so in depth. The relationships that are explored and the the understanding and attachment I felt for all the characters is extraordinary. 

As I mentioned the novel was truly devastating, throughout to be honest, but especially the last hundred pages or so were a sob-fest for me. The excruciating thing was that I thought I had worked out what was going to happen, at least the broad strokes of it, and when I was fundamentally wrong about one thing that I had been absolutely certain of it pulled the rug right out from under me. However painful this was, it was masterfully done.

I understood that Jude was going to be dead by the end of the novel. I understood this quite early on as Harolds chapters spoke of him in past tense. I was also assured that as I understood that the letters were addressed to Willem, he was going to out-live Jude. When this was not the case I was absolutely shocked and distraught, both becuase it was a character that I loved and because of the implications Willems death had for Jude and the remainder of the story. The reason why I think this was brilliantly done is because is puts us as readers in Judes position. Jude never thought there would be even the slightest possibility of him out-living Willem, and neither did we. We experience the same shock as Jude does. This is what makes it so heartbreaking.

I do not argue with anyone who finds this book exploitative or harmful, I think it can be if read in the wrong state of mind. But I do think that there are many other things to take away from this read and a lot of them are hauntingly beautiful and reflect the many facets, ugly and beautiful, of what it is to be human. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Vomit, Medical content, and Fire/Fire injury

fictional_meg's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

bibliophiles_united's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Rape

kylajaynebooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

andulkaw6's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

addanumlaut's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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? It's complicated

5.0

this was a very emotional read, and i think the characters' words will stick with me for a good bit. looking forward to re-reading it and taking more time to sit with the prose.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt

elanorh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad 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? Yes

5.0

No spoilers here: I was told that this book was amazingly well-written, beautiful, and that I would love it. Also, the person who recommended it told me they had cried for the last fifty or more pages of the book. So, fortunately, I knew not to read it in public. I was crying off and on within the first 100 pages, but was a fountain for the entire last section. Don't read it in public. 

I was also told that while it was a beloved book, she didn't think she'd be able to read it again. And I feel similarly. I loved the characters so much, I wanted so much good for them, and I grieved with/for them, I felt like I knew them. 

Pay attention to the content warnings. This book should not be read by someone who has struggled with suicidal ideation.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gore, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

chuseyin's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-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

3.0

A book of two halves: First section was a beautiful slow-paced novel about interesting artists living unconventional lives. The second half is dominated by horrific violence. It feels like the author was tearing apart the portraits of each character, and holding up the gory pieces for the audience to be shocked about. I didn’t think it was clever, or meaningful, just destructive. This is the first book which has haunted me due to the graphic violent content which is incredibly explicit and long.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism

Stop before chapter Axiom of Equality if you want to avoid the worst triggers.

kmyles12's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

Prepare to have your heart ripped to pieces, and instead of being put back together, ripped into tinnier pieces. Absolutely phenomenal. The writing style feels like a good friend is telling you a story. There is profound hurt and sadness, but also even more profound love and care. Top 3 favorite book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Minor: Drug use, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail