Scan barcode
A review by mangomilk
The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
i had to think on this one for a while and come back.
it was difficult to assign a numerical rating to this book, mostly because my appreciation for the scope and detail of the storytelling warred immensely with my disdain for the general conceit of the novel. i find the ease with which many reviewers throw around the phrase "moral relativism" disquieting, if not outright disingenuous, and the commentary on colonialism rather heavy-handed.
i'm not someone who believes that protagonists have to be likable for a story to be interesting, which is why i finished this book--but norton is such a drag of a narrator that reading this was exhausting. i also don't find that predicating a narrative on child sexual abuse/abusers necessarily makes it more compelling, and yanagihara centralizing this element not only here, but also in ALL and her latest novel (always in m/m configurations too), is definitely not helping her beat the trauma porn allegations.
also the first section concerning norton's childhood really contributed nothing to the narrative LOL
points for engendering some truly visceral feelings in me, i guess (the feelings being disgust, anger and hatred notwithstanding).
it was difficult to assign a numerical rating to this book, mostly because my appreciation for the scope and detail of the storytelling warred immensely with my disdain for the general conceit of the novel. i find the ease with which many reviewers throw around the phrase "moral relativism" disquieting, if not outright disingenuous, and the commentary on colonialism rather heavy-handed.
i'm not someone who believes that protagonists have to be likable for a story to be interesting, which is why i finished this book--but norton is such a drag of a narrator that reading this was exhausting. i also don't find that predicating a narrative on child sexual abuse/abusers necessarily makes it more compelling, and yanagihara centralizing this element not only here, but also in ALL and her latest novel (always in m/m configurations too), is definitely not helping her beat the trauma porn allegations.
also the first section concerning norton's childhood really contributed nothing to the narrative LOL
points for engendering some truly visceral feelings in me, i guess (the feelings being disgust, anger and hatred notwithstanding).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Animal death, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Racism, Sexual assault, and Rape