Reviews tagging 'Death'

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

36 reviews

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

Another sadly beautiful book, it is it a beautifully sad book?, by Hanya Yanagihara. Haunting. It’ll start with me a long time, just like A little Life. Grateful to have read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cancer, Colonisation, Death, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Child death, Classism, Confinement, Death of parent, Deportation, Grief, Homophobia, Infertility, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Racism, and Terminal illness

nejenek's review

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

I liked it! The main problem I had with this novel is that it is divided into three separate story which made it difficult to commit with each new chapter: it felt like reading three different books in a row.
 
Part 1 was my favourite. I really enjoyed the alternative history lore and the depth of Yanagihara's characters, even though I wasn't necessarily sympathetic towards them. But I don't have to like the characters to enjoy them, so that's irrelevant, I guess.
Part 2 started off nicely but was going at a much slower pace, which made it hard to keep reading after a finished story. Had I encountered this part as a separate book, I wouldn't have finished it.
Part 3 was very interesting, but didn't live up to the hype: yes, each new reveal really added to the experience, but they weren't important enough for me to be 100% vibing with the plot.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Sexual assault

rickle400's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

2.5

I’m always impressed with the underlying heart filled message of human tenacity that is so characteristic of this writer (and what called me back to her writing)  While this book continues to be true to that style, it is too long and lacks the depth I expected. The plot is very dragged out and some of the more complex details of world building needed more development in my opinion. For the length and patience required to complete this book im not sure I’d recommend :(

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, and War

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Rape, Death of parent, and Child death

becksusername's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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

I'm crying in a coffeeshop.

I want to know if they made it to paradise - all of them. Even the first David, who was a spoiled brat. But especially Charlie

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Classism, Infidelity, Infertility, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Sexual assault, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Toxic friendship, Cancer, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Bullying

bell4trixx's review

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.75

This is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful books I’ve ever read. It’s not an easy read, but it’s beautifully written and really makes you think. Also it’s so jarring in a way because it’s dystopian but in such a realistic way that it’s really quite disturbing. Really makes you think but definitely a heavy read. Also my biggest complaint is a I hate  the cliffhanger it was left on. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Death

Minor: Classism, Genocide, Mental illness, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Bullying, and Violence

donutlookaway's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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: Child death, Death, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Homophobia and Chronic illness

Minor: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Rape, and Suicide

monahed's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Death

Moderate: Racism and Homophobia

emt's review

adventurous challenging dark reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Death

laurynkelly's review

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.0

This books spans three different centuries in America and with this, it covers a multitude of human experiences and themes. Despite its slow pace, it is a deeply moving read from the outset due to Yanagihara‘s use of language and metaphors which come alive on the page. To Paradise is memorable read that will make you reflect on what it is that makes you feel most alive today. And free. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Pandemic/Epidemic, Terminal illness, and Death

Moderate: Sexual assault and War

toniamarieparker's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Homophobia