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lexijas's review against another edition
4.0
There are 3 things I hate about this book:
1. How dense it is
2. How much it made me cry
3. How I don't regret reading it
I heard people not recommend this because of how heavy it is on the trigger warnings (that you might want to search up beforehand picking up this book) and the trauma that keeps going and going and going... As if Jude's past was for shock value instead, to get readers disturbed, riled up, or depressed at the end of each chapter. Even though the story was beautifully written (I love how Hanya Yanagihara writes), it is a story that is realistic and tragic about people who never get better.
Aside from the ungodly moments of the book (maybe 90%), the other 10% made my heart warm and feel absolute happiness for these characters. "A Little Life" is one of those books that leaves you absolutely empty and broken at the end but yet feel obligated to accept that it is the end. I read this book at 18 (currently), and I'm planning to re-read this every 10 years since the book follows the characters in several decades. And I am predicting that I will see this book differently as I get older.
Overall, I don't recommend this book if you are currently dealing with mental health issues, depression, or having suicidal thoughts. But I do recommend this book to people who are committed to knowing who Jude St. Francis is and his traumatic past.
1. How dense it is
2. How much it made me cry
3. How I don't regret reading it
I heard people not recommend this because of how heavy it is on the trigger warnings (that you might want to search up beforehand picking up this book) and the trauma that keeps going and going and going... As if Jude's past was for shock value instead, to get readers disturbed, riled up, or depressed at the end of each chapter. Even though the story was beautifully written (I love how Hanya Yanagihara writes), it is a story that is realistic and tragic about people who never get better.
Aside from the ungodly moments of the book (maybe 90%), the other 10% made my heart warm and feel absolute happiness for these characters. "A Little Life" is one of those books that leaves you absolutely empty and broken at the end but yet feel obligated to accept that it is the end. I read this book at 18 (currently), and I'm planning to re-read this every 10 years since the book follows the characters in several decades. And I am predicting that I will see this book differently as I get older.
Overall, I don't recommend this book if you are currently dealing with mental health issues, depression, or having suicidal thoughts. But I do recommend this book to people who are committed to knowing who Jude St. Francis is and his traumatic past.
shad0wm0ses's review against another edition
DNF — i’m not gonna lie i got a few chapters in and was getting confused between the characters. i still want to read it, i enjoyed the writing style! but, another time :p
lindsayellison's review against another edition
Too heart breaking
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, and Pedophilia
Recommended if you would like 720 full, densely packed pages of utter devastation on the cruelties of child abuse and its effects into adulthood.bethedwards's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jean4t's review against another edition
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
5.0
6ongwater's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
tasbyg's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book and yet it broke me into a million pieces ... It's just not fair.