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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I wanted to love this book so much more than I did but I did still like it and I’m honestly kind of confused how I feel about it, just like I was confused for much of the time reading it haha? Such a cool idea and I’m probably gonna like it more, the more I think about it
**Pop Sugar 2023 Reading Challenge #1- A book I meant to read in 2022**
It took me seven months to finish this book. I'd read a bit, read some other books, come back to this one for a bit and have to backtrack, read some other books, etc etc. I went through multiple library copies because I kept exhausting the maximum amount of renewals, all because I had really high hopes for this one. A Little Life is one of my favorite books, so I was expecting to fall in love with this one. Part 1 was very good, Part 2 dragged on forever, and Part 3 took me a bit to warm up to, but I ended up loving it by the end. The writing is dense, but beautiful. I'm glad I got through it, but it was rough for a while in the middle.
It took me seven months to finish this book. I'd read a bit, read some other books, come back to this one for a bit and have to backtrack, read some other books, etc etc. I went through multiple library copies because I kept exhausting the maximum amount of renewals, all because I had really high hopes for this one. A Little Life is one of my favorite books, so I was expecting to fall in love with this one. Part 1 was very good, Part 2 dragged on forever, and Part 3 took me a bit to warm up to, but I ended up loving it by the end. The writing is dense, but beautiful. I'm glad I got through it, but it was rough for a while in the middle.
last section was my favorite, beautifully fleshed out worlds and characters.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
In Yanagihara’s drama that’s also an alternate take on history, we follow three different sagas that all take place in different time periods and each all focus on their protagonist facing tough obstacles while trying to find love and peace.
The novel’s messages of love and family can be found deeply in these stories, which is what engaged me throughout but can dull on at times. The first story is definitely my favorite one as it’s about whether to follow family or follow your heart. The second story, on the other hand, didn’t really keep my attention a lot. The final story has a bit of a sci-fi take and focuses on human survival, which is a solid read.
All in all, a solid historical saga with very emotional moments of love and desire. B+ (83%/Very Good)
The novel’s messages of love and family can be found deeply in these stories, which is what engaged me throughout but can dull on at times. The first story is definitely my favorite one as it’s about whether to follow family or follow your heart. The second story, on the other hand, didn’t really keep my attention a lot. The final story has a bit of a sci-fi take and focuses on human survival, which is a solid read.
All in all, a solid historical saga with very emotional moments of love and desire. B+ (83%/Very Good)
Book 1 - 3 stars
Book 2 - 2 stars
Book 3 - 4.5 stars
The narrator (BD Wong) for the grandfather in Book 3 was sooooooooo good. Highly recommend the audiobook
Book 2 - 2 stars
Book 3 - 4.5 stars
The narrator (BD Wong) for the grandfather in Book 3 was sooooooooo good. Highly recommend the audiobook
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
i wish i had liked this more than i did but came away feeling like i gleaned nothing from the 700+ pages. the prose is elegant and easy to read and the stories are engaging enough to prevent at least me from dropping the book completely but none of them added anything particularly new or revelatory to the discussion they so clearly want to participate in - of what it means to be an american, a minority in america, an immigrant in america - and the characters were all subtly frustrating and developed little even with the page-time they got.
And the award for greatest disappointment in 2022 goes to.... this book!
I was so excited to read To Paradise. I loved A Little Life, and so when this book came out I ran downtown to buy it on my lunch break the day it came out. I once dressed up in costume and waited in line with a group of friends for a new Harry Potter book, but this was even more exciting for me. New Hanya Yanagihara!
It started out well, I thought. I was really taken with the first few chapters, but then it just kept going at the same pace, the same intensity, the same droning page after page. There was nothing exciting about the plot, the characters, the ideas, nor especially about the writing. By the end of part one I was supremely underwhelmed, and honestly quite bored. Part two picked up with the same energy - yawn. So I read a few reviews to see if things get better, and they mostly indicated that they don't.
I can't recall the last time I didn't finish a book, and yet, here we are.
I was so excited to read To Paradise. I loved A Little Life, and so when this book came out I ran downtown to buy it on my lunch break the day it came out. I once dressed up in costume and waited in line with a group of friends for a new Harry Potter book, but this was even more exciting for me. New Hanya Yanagihara!
It started out well, I thought. I was really taken with the first few chapters, but then it just kept going at the same pace, the same intensity, the same droning page after page. There was nothing exciting about the plot, the characters, the ideas, nor especially about the writing. By the end of part one I was supremely underwhelmed, and honestly quite bored. Part two picked up with the same energy - yawn. So I read a few reviews to see if things get better, and they mostly indicated that they don't.
I can't recall the last time I didn't finish a book, and yet, here we are.