Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

1378 reviews

stephanieelyse'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

3.5

This book is certainly thought provoking in that I have a lot of thoughts…

How is JB the only one who had a drug addiction? 
That is certainly a lot of villains in one persons life.
The Dr Traylor section felt like part of a horror novel.
Being a top litigator defending big pharma…and still being a sympathetic character…is certainly a testament to good writing. 
Did that need to be included?
Did THAT need to be included? 
Did I need to read that, really?
I have heard the author has some…opinions…on therapy, but I feel like this is a strong argument for making therapy more accessible to be able to support survivors early and throughout…

It’s a book I don’t feel I could ever recommend to anyone, I feel like there are much less traumatising character studies that are just as impactful, if not more so. 
The moments expanding and exploring the characters friendships and relationships were very well done and a true highlight. 
Harold was my favourite character by far.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Rape, Eating disorder, Death, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

Minor: Cancer

bailliemayberry's review against another edition

2.25

I have never read a book with as much tragedy as this one. It was really hard for me to get through because of how dark the twists were and how casually they were dropped in. There really should be a trigger warning at the beginning of the book rather than just online because the depth of detail was just not right. I understand Yanagihara's approach in wanting it to be confronting, she wants her story to have a significant impact on the reader, but some of the descriptions were just unnecessary and disgusting.

I will not be recommending this to anybody nor will I be re-reading it at any point in my life.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Child death, Racism, Ableism, Pedophilia, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Gaslighting

mlange1432's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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: Sexual assault, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Grief, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Trafficking, Addiction, Mental illness, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Torture

luuaa's review against another edition

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

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Vomit, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, Body shaming, Car accident, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Death

uchiha's review against another edition

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Trafficking, Violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Minor: Drug abuse

brksp's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-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: Drug abuse, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Death, Child abuse, Car accident, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault

realityhailey's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

2.0

considering the fact that i’ve tried to read this book for SO LONG, i really wanted to give it five stars. i enjoyed the way the author writes and how easily we get attached to the main characters as readers, but the depiction of self harm, SA, and the ultimate message that therapy is unhelpful and some people are “too broken” to save, leaves a bad taste in my stomach. the twist being “act of god” was incredibly frustrating and, in my opinion, a cheap shot to further the suffering of the main character. ultimately, if you decide to read this book, do so with caution, and be able to think critically about the author’s views on therapy and trauma. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Suicide, Death, Sexual assault, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Drug abuse, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Car accident

xosevenusagbadan's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

What would compel someone to write such a horrific book. once you think it can’t get worse, cannot get sadder, the impossible happens 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Rape, Sexual harassment, Violence, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Torture, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Ableism, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, and Medical content

taki_luvr'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? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I have never read a book like this in my life. This book literally chewed me up and spit me the fuck out. The characters are so loveable and three dimensional, but each so flawed in such real ways. I found myself relating to, hating, and loving all of them at one point or another. A little life is definitely not for everyone. If you even think you might not be able to handle the intense content, it's not for you. But for everyone else, this is an incredible insight into the minds of such diverse characters. As for everyone who calls it trauma porn, I understand why they would say that, but I don't agree. All in all, I will definitely be reading this again at some point, and hopefully it won't take me as long to finish it.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Rape, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Suicide, Eating disorder, and Drug abuse

g_ehd's review against another edition

dark emotional informative 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

4.0

This is a very traumatic book and must be aware that the author wrote the topics with the intention of bringing awareness to them! I did appreciate how well the author wrote each part and that you know you’ll need to go into this reading with an open mind. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Violence, Mental illness, Suicide, Death, Torture, Kidnapping, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Rape, Self harm, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Sexual content