Reviews tagging 'Car accident'

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

1921 reviews

madisen1213's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

3.75

I have spent some time trying to fully gather my thoughts when it comes to fully being able to immerse myself into an authentic and genuine review of this novel. Firstly, diving into this book I was not afraid and knew of the plethora of triggers this book maintained. However, I have to disagree with the discourse of labeling this book, this story as “trauma porn”.  I can absolutely see how this story could make someone have a visceral and triggering reaction. However, I hope that whomever reads this book is an adult and can know when to stop reading. Additionally, as a reader I made time to remind myself that it is a privilege to just be reading about it. Many people have lived such a life as Jude and it is a privilege we should recognize before going forward with a poor review because it made you or someone else uncomfortable or sick. Yes. These experiences are sickening, gut wrenching, and traumatic even as a reader. And yet, free will exists. Stop reading. For much of this story, I was concerned about when that cry moment would be for me. I’ve seen so much discussion online about where and when people fell apart. I cried once and it had nothing to do with Jude’s past but his present. Losing Willem, that gut punch of grief hit me like a truck. Grief is such a universal language for us humans and it is familiar to me. I have felt what Jude felt and I fell apart, completely. Statistically the most stressful thing to happen to a human not losing a child but losing their partner or their spouse. I felt that emanating from the pages. It was so heavy. I felt almost bad that it was that to make me cry and nothing more, I suppose life experiences, knowledge, and a certain level of stomach may be the reason I am not sure. Now, I will dive into the things I absolutely adored about this story. Firstly, I loved the premise and theme of unconditional love and friendship. How restorative and life changing one’s friendships can be. I loved the themes of chosen family and adoption. Jude’s relationships with Harold and Julia specifically are undeniably priceless. Additionally, I appreciated how much the author slowly started to unfold Jude’s trauma, I did not feel overwhelmed. It flowed with his trajectory as a character and for which I admire that. I LOVED JBs art. The impact each series and portraits had on the characters and even their meaning within the story was so valuable. I also felt that the author did a fucking fantastic job displaying how trauma manifests and how depression and other mental issues can appear in one person versus another. Jude’s experience is so real and seen in so many around us. We just never get to know it. I think that may be the hardest part about this book. People cannot and CHOOSE not to empathize with those who struggle. Yes it is hard but for some it is necessary. That is why self reflection is so important when reading a piece like this!!! There are a few reasons why this book is not 5 stars for me. 1. I wish there was more perspective shifts. There was so much JB and Mal in the beginning and then it halted. I understand that was likely due to their involvement in Judes life. At least labels of a perspective shift may be helpful for some readers. 2. I wish we got to hear more about their beginnings of their friendships. Or where Jude learned piano and other small but important items. 3. SOME of this novel was wordy and sort of dragged for me, it is beautiful and challenging and I am so glad I read it but at times some of those philosophical or profound instances were unnecessary. And lastly, I wish there was an Andy perspective. I loved Andy so much. Overall, this was such a fantastic read. I’m so glad I read it. I recommend it to no one. For me, it was worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Suicide attempt

linnea_h's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, and Suicide attempt

ceren01's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

itscarleesmith's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

sarawagistrom's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

tired_student_having_fun's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Prose like this makes me want to improve my writing skills. The way human emotion and activity was captured was nothing short of a masterclass, especially in the early stages when Malcolm, Willem and JB were all learning about Jude's past and present. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, 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, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

lliz4rd's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense 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

1.0

When I first started reading I thought it was Gen Z “Friends” I liked the different narrators, and the relationship the boys had, their life in NYC, each of the individual goals, hopes and what they hated about life or  themselves or their friends/family. But it really quickly turned into a gratuitous exploitation of one of the characters. Without spoiling, each time you learn more of what happens to Jude, it doesn’t further the plot or add another layer to him, or explain why he is the way he is. It’s purely exploitative. I agree with other reviews or people I’ve heard talk about this book, that it’s a good show of how traumatised people cannot move on and what their inner mind is like. I get that, I have trauma. But it’s so excessive to me that it didn’t need to be said, absolutely horrific things that happen to a child and young person. I only read to the end because I thought there would be something redeeming, but my opinion dropped lower from 40% onwards. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

elynaomi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Trafficking, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Suicide attempt

gjqnmxrcw's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

bazilexa's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Homophobia, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Car accident, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail