A review by readwithbells
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

challenging dark 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

1.0

I am incandescently enraged at the ending of this book. It feels inappropriate and frankly a little unethical. I cannot deny this is written well, and this would have gotten 4.5 stars from me until the last chapter which ultimately resulted in the most deliberately hopeless story I have ever experienced. It all could have been redeemed but it feels like Yanagihara actively made sure we could not take any hope out of the story whatsoever. I would be terrified if someone going through suicidal ideation or a depressive state were to pick up this book. It gets two stars because it was beautifully written, which made it all the more deliberately brutal. 

I’m so fucking mad I spent 3 weeks reading this. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Vomit

Moderate: Cancer