Reviews with content warning for Pedophilia - A Little Life

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Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

2861 reviews

melissasayswhat's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.0

Will be telling people to stay away from this one. Just horrific trauma and pain with no break.

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ethanlowden's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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

Yanagihara is a sadist; both to every character in the book and to the reader, for making them endure the miseries of this beautifully disturbing book.

I have never read a book so hopeful yet so hopeless; watching a car crash without a predetermined outcome in slow motion.

So hopeful that things will turn around for Jude, that he will finally be at peace and find joy in his life. But feeling so hopeless, that he has had to experience all of these horrific things, that he thinks he is deserving of them. And ultimately feeling both once he decides to die, hopeful that everyone around him can find peace but also hopeless that it got to that point.

Despite the beautiful prose and story telling of the book, written in such a way which entices the reader, giving breadcrumbs of Jude’s story until it is finally all revealed, there are several issues I have with it.

SPOILERS BELOW!!

Ultimately I believe that the believability of the story is lacking. Firstly all the hardships and abuse Jude has to suffer, and then how he is unable to overcome this but still thrive within his professional life and be a “functioning” human. Secondly the successes of him and all of his friends, despite their somewhat humble beginnings within very competitive fields.

Furthermore, the way in which all of his friends are able to surround him and support him during all of this, when in reality they would have abandoned him. How quickly the Jude x Willem relationship arose and how their sex life was explored, with Willem unrealistically cheating on him with women.

I also did not appreciate how the tone of the book shifted from the initial dynamic of their friendship group to how much misery can we make Jude withstand. Personally I feel the abuse and “clients” endured became repetitive and just honed in a point which was already established, purely to shock the reader without adding more depth to Jude’s character. At points it felt like what other ailment and trauma can we give Jude now?

The love story with Willem and Jude is beautiful and haunting. The feeling of desperation to keep a partner and their memories was especially moving. When Jude describes missing Willems scent and doing anything to keep that smell I was reminded of similar moments in my life.

The ending of the book is absolutely devastating, with the final 5 pages being what made be bawl. However, the fact that for the previous 500 pages we had to endure Jude’s suffering from his perspective, I felt the audience where cheated of discovering Jude’s final thoughts and instead reliving the moment through Harold’s eyes.

Harold and Jude’s relationship is also beautiful yet very unrealistic. The final chapter gives a clear sense of the dynamic changes, and how much Harold loved Jude, how he cared for him even when Jude reverted to childlike tendencies, and how he finally was able to live as a normal child, now as a 50 year old man. Harold’s final thoughts about Jude are heart breaking and perfectly describe how the reader views Jude’s nihilism and self hatred, and how everyone wanted him to live, but ultimately knew his fate was inevitable.

My biggest issue overall with the book is the glamorisation of suicide. Jude is written as a character who has it all, a healthy family dynamic, caring loving partner, friends surrounding him and a good job. However he is never able to run from his past and his trauma, and thus it is implied that his only resolution is suicide, as the damage is too great to be repaired. But we saw his relationship with Willem, with Harold, with Andy, his ability to connect with those around him. Maybe I am too optimistic but I do not believe he was beyond being helped and able to live a happy little life, despite all his hardships.

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periwinklelephant's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-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

Outside of the unnecessary extent of trauma, simply put this book is so well written and genuinely the best book I've read for in-depth complicated characters and beautifully written friendships. It captures the complexities of close relationships so well and somehow makes life, the struggle of young-adulthood and the simplest things so beautiful. I've re-read the first 3/4 or so (before it gets super intense) multiple times.

To clarify, if you can cope with the dark this book, I really think it's worth the read for everything else it offers - although you will cry (and probably sob) a lot so make sure you're in the right headspace. It can also help to take your time and take breaks when you need them.

Sorry for the all-over-the-place review, it's hard to communicate how such a heartbreaking and traumatic book can also be the most beautiful thing I've ever read.

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honeynat's review against another edition

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dark emotional 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

5.0

So beautifully devastating. I cannot stop crying after finishing this book. Would never read again 😭🙏🏼

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roguesaw's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

This was the best book I have ever read and I can never read it again.

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betho23's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-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

4.5

I will never be able to sit down and read these pages or flip through the paper thin pages to discover the lives of these four friends for the first time.

This book is one those book that will stick with you. The story enveloped in it’s page will enraptured you. The little life of these four friends in New York City and one little life it centers around is so simple of a concept but execution by Hanya was perfection. I cried while reading book which is something I never do. Do I think this book deserve 5⭐s? No but it is solid 4.5⭐s. There were parts that were a tad confusing and too heartbreaking.

Content Warnings