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lenneke_roekel's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Grief
strawberryfairy__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Child death, Car accident, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
nicole_switzer's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
I do think that TikTok overhypes this book. It was beautiful and a devastating story, but it was (occasionally) predictable and a little repetitive. By the time I hit page 650/700, I found there wasn't anything new or interesting to be said. I struggled through the last 100-150 page, as they were nearly the same page again and again and again.
It is a beautiful book, well worth the read. I am glad I had it on both audiobook and physical copy though. I would recommend the mixed media method. Also, please check your triggers before reading this book. Triggers for SA, self-harm, suicide and nearly everything in between.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
miiillia's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
foramfriend's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
emily_p1's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
crocsnsocs27's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Sometimes we need to be reminded of the pains of life but sometimes i could have done without focusing on them. I don’t really have anything bad to say about the book but if i had known better i could have done without.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt
kgronniger's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, and Car accident
erinreadsslow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Suicide attempt
clarard's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
A Little Life starts with four friends who just moved to New York City after finishing college and are trying to achieve their respective dreams. Sounds like a fun, coming of age novel, right? Truth is, it can't be more different.
Spoiler!
Throughout the book, we'll slowly learn all these characters' story, especially Willem's, and, obviously, Jude's. The book will revolve aroud his past, the effects trauma has on him, and, why not, his present day struggles, as if he hadn't suffered enough as a child.
Now, don't get me wrong, the depiction of abuse and horror is excellent, as well as Yanagihara's understanding on how pedophiles manipulate kids.
I also enjoyed the difficulties people around Jude go through, since it is very difficult to trust and love a person who is so secretive and who refuses to share anything about his past or ask for professional help.
However, it lacks reality. For example: Andy, despite knowing Jude's problem with self-harm, does not warn anyone around him or forces him to go see a therapist. I don't think doctors are legally allowed to ignore over and over again their patient's need for psychological help.
We know the characters in their 20's and the book ends when they're in their 50's, yet there's no mention of any historical event. I understand that Hanya wants us to focus on the characters, and I get that mentioning every single thing that happens is impossible and -let's be honest- boring. But how can there be no mention of 9/11, when they live in New York City? Not a single person they know is affected by it? Or the Vietnam War? Or even the Year 2000 Problem? Not a single conversation about any of that?
Also, please stop considering it the "great gay novel". I don't even know where did that come from, but I feel thinking of this book like that is like laughing on Jude's face or ignoring everything that has happened to him.
Last but not least, the characters except maybe JB (sometimes), are all good or bad. Either they are the kindest, purest souls to ever exist, lovable and who don't deserve any bad thing; or they belong to hell, you hope they die suffering and in pain.
End of spoiler!
So
I didn't like this book (who can like 1000 pages of abuse, violence, pain, more violence, more pain?). The writing is brilliant, I loved the characters - there's the secret recipe for it to be such a devastating story. But, even knowing it was Hanya's intention to show us happiness is not promised to any of us and that we shouldn't always expect a happy ending (I agree with both things), reading the torture Jude goes through is sometimes unbereable. I'm usually not disgusted or in need to have a break when reading a book, but with this one I had to stop more than once, go have a drink or go for a walk to analyse what I had just read. It's complicated to give a rating. I feel like a person could give it 5 stars or 1, and I'd agree with them.
Warning and my advice
Do not read it if you're going through a hard time! I waited some months to read the book after receiving this advice, and honestly, I think it's my duty to share it.
Read all its trigger warnings, please, and if you're sensible with some of them, especially the first ones you'll see (there are VERY explicit scenes that are repeated several times), I'd recommend you to wait or to not read it. It's not worth it.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Medical content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Bullying and Vomit