Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

2825 reviews

tiamoore's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Trafficking, and Suicide attempt

rbleiweis's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

1.5

In A Little Life, Yanagihara poses the question: how much trauma can I introduce, inflict, and describe in graphic, sadistic detail before my reader admits that suicide can be valid and “earned”? She goes at least three traumas too far, relentlessly punishing both Jude and readers for at least 500 of more than 800 pages of this (dare I say) godforsaken novel.

Had to take a few hours after finishing the book before I sat down to review because the last chapter was genuinely beautiful — maybe Yanagihara’s best of the entire novel. It certainly moved (manipulated?) me to tears. She is undeniably a talented writer, it’s a shame she is so obsessed with trauma, self-harm, and sadism.

This is a book for people who do not believe in therapy (written by one of those people ). The Cheesecake Factory-length menu of horrific traumas placed on the shoulders of a single character is not only perverse and merciless, it’s fantastical and ridiculous. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, pedophilia, forced prostitution, kidnapping, torture, disease, PTSD, starvation, and self-harm (I think I got them all but I am genuinely not sure) of course exist, but all in one person? Give me a fucking break!

I think a good book exists within the behemoth she published, but I can see no good reason for its length beyond trying to plunge you into the same depression as her tortured lead. The ending is so inevitable that countless undulations of hope and despair do no more than waste your time. Maybe the worst of it all is that Jude is somehow, after 800+ pages, an underdeveloped character. He is wholly and completely defined by his trauma -- because that is what Yanagihara intended. She’d probably argue that he is also defined by those who love him — meaning the by and large saintlike secondary characters lacking nuance of their own. It concerns me that the love she wants you to take away from this book (and sob over) only exists in the context of life support (an observation I’m repeating from this piece that I can’t get out of my head). 

Finally, the profundity of Howard and others coming to terms with their own selfishness in trying to keep alive someone who does not want to be is drastically undermined when you realize Yanagihara is doing the very same thing without apology. In fact, it’s seemingly her style — a steadfast determination to avoid levity and force her readers to face the “monstrous” world we live in. It’s concerning to me that so many people have confused this for depth. 

TL;DR — don’t buy this hype on this book and if you do, consider therapy <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

bookworm451's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

the best book i’ve read that i would never recommend to anyone. so beautifully written yet i wish i had never read it. it’s going to stay with me forever 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Car accident

openfire32'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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, and Trafficking

chefjeng's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

I don't know where to start with this one. Why did I put myself through this? Fuck this book! Am I glad I read it? Yes. Would I ever recommend it to someone else? Hell no. 
I thoroughly enjoyed the depiction of deep friendship, love and loyalty but I did find the misery of Jude's life over wrought at times and ridiculous to the point of far fetched at points but the treatment of grief, self harm and the legacy and effects of childhood trauma and abuse is vivid, raw and well done. The prose is beautiful and I will probably read more by the author, but I need a break after this one!
Twice (after the adoption and the start of Jude and Willem's romantic relationship) I wanted the story to end to have at least some semblance of a happy ending, but that wasn't to be and somehow I kept going to the end. Self harm episode after self harm episode, gut wrenching story after gut wrenching story. 
The "gay men are all paedophiles or doomed to live depressing lives and die full of shame and misery" trope wearing at times but I loved Jude, and most of all I loved Willem so I stayed with them till the end. Would I do it again? Yes. Should I? No. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Terminal illness, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Dementia, Abandonment, and Alcohol

zarajakob's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

cried. so. much

aveelanee's review against another edition

dark 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

4.5

"A Little Life" is a profoundly moving and beautifully written exploration of friendship, trauma, and the complexities of love. 

While the narrative can be emotionally overwhelming, it’s also incredibly rewarding. Just be prepared to be wrecked emotionally- this book does not shy away from dark themes, and some passages may be difficult to read. I skipped a few sections and had to go back and read it later simply because I couldn’t handle the intensity of it. Would recommend to look up the trigger warnings before you read the book. 

Despite everything, I wholeheartedly recommend "A Little Life." It’s a heartbreaking yet beautiful read that stays with you, earning a solid 4.5 stars. If you appreciate deep character studies and rich, emotional narratives, this book is a must-read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, and Self harm

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Death

komiification's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful 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

I need to think about this because I was so tempted to give this 5 stars up until the ending.. So I have very conflicting feelings at the moment... 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer

krotis'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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Intense, a little too intense at times especially as someone with a history of self-harm, and I was tempted to give it a lower rating, but the attachments it creates with its characters cause me to be lenient. The story also undergoes a drastic and frustrating shift in focus from being about four friends to just two, with mention of the other characters being only in passing. Good, but not as good as I had hoped. 3.5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail