Reviews tagging 'Rape'

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

3713 reviews

olivros_e's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

“Este libro te hará llorar”. Ok, vale. Perfecto, pero ¿que más? 
Empece a leer este libro con una advertencia disfrazada de sentencia. Sin leer siquiera la sinopsis —como usualmente hago—, me aventure a la lectura. 

Sin muchos spoilers, explicare un poco el contexto y también como me sentí al leer cada pagina de este libro que pocas no tiene.

Empezamos conociendo a un grupo de amigos conformando por Jude, Willem, JB y Malcolm. No sabemos sus nombres al inicio, poco a poco y gradualmente te van contando aspectos de sus vidas, pequeños guiños a sus personalidades y a sus rarezas. Nos adentramos en la vida de estos extraños, —lo cual me pareció un tanto tedioso al principio. Van saltando de personaje a personaje y si no prestas profunda atención puede que llegues a perderte un poco, pero llegado al punto donde ya sabes quien es quien. Empieza el por qué son como son, porque Willem es el personaje mas amable, porque Malcolm es tan duro consigo mismo, porque JB se esfuerza en ver únicamente los aspectos negativos y porque Jude es básicamente Jude.
Claro, aquí viene la trampa. Este descubrimiento de los «por qué» van apareciendo tan lentamente que entre lineas vas viviendo junto a ellos las distintas etapas de su vida. Los ves crecer y, ¿por qué no? Creces tu también con ellos. 

Comence a pensar en un punto que el libro no era para tanto, ¿que tanto puede pasar en la vida de cuatro personas? Primer error. Asumir que un libro no te puede sorprender.
Perfecto; vinieron las lagrimas, vino la sorpresa y vino la tristeza. 
No fue para tanto. Segundo error. Asumir que no puede empeorar.
Ya no había lagrimas, pero la tristeza dió paso a la ira, leía y releía partes con suma violencia, harta de tanto y de todo lo que estaba leyendo. 

Dure mas o menos dos semanas en acabarlo, dos semanas de agonía y de agobio. 
Al final, llore entre risas porque en mi no había más que un vacío existencial tan fuerte que parecía el meme de Pedro Pascal.

Entonces, ¿lo recomendaría? Sí y no. Este libro, como la vida, no es blanco y negro, en cambio, está lleno de matices y es bellísimo a la par que complicado.
Pero, si decides leer. Hacerlo con precaución.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt

ethanlowden's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

periwinklelephant's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Car accident

honeynat's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

roguesaw's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting

betho23's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

brittelyza's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

itsbumley's review

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

maleenooo's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

I cannot express what this book made me feel. In a way, it ruined me, but in another, it gave me a little hope for the future. A little life is literary masterpiece and the best book I will ever read. Still, I‘m a bit conflicted about recommending it because of its violent and devastating content. 
I read it about a year ago and am still haunted by the characters. I think about them maybe once a week, always getting overwhelmed by their stories, dynamics and love. I would never recommend any of my friends to read this book, but still I want to share it. I would strongly discourage anyone with a history with mental illness to pick up this book, especially if they are still in an ongoing recovery process since it contains a lot of triggers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

purplepandajen's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail