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A review by lindsaylhunter
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
challenging
dark
sad
medium-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? Yes
3.0
I really don't know where to start with this book. However beautifully Yanagihara writes, I can't ignore that this book is a grotesquerie masquerading as what many would say is the next great American novel.
I believe that all forms of media that tell a story—be it a book, a movie or a play—need to allow their respective audiences to bask in truly joyful moments, however brief, but there was almost no reprieve from the miseries thrown at the main character in this book, and even his "happy" moments were undercut by his perpetual self-loathing. I understand that the author wanted to showcase the limits of human suffering (and the seemingly endless content warnings attached seem to prove that), but I can't in good conscience give this one any higher a rating than I have done. It truly reached a point where each new misery brought a sense of tedium to the story.
All that said, I enjoyed the shuffling of narratives and being left to guess who was doing the speaking. I'll never deny the author the credit she deserves for making so many people feel so deeply for fictional characters.
I believe that all forms of media that tell a story—be it a book, a movie or a play—need to allow their respective audiences to bask in truly joyful moments, however brief, but there was almost no reprieve from the miseries thrown at the main character in this book, and even his "happy" moments were undercut by his perpetual self-loathing. I understand that the author wanted to showcase the limits of human suffering (and the seemingly endless content warnings attached seem to prove that), but I can't in good conscience give this one any higher a rating than I have done. It truly reached a point where each new misery brought a sense of tedium to the story.
All that said, I enjoyed the shuffling of narratives and being left to guess who was doing the speaking. I'll never deny the author the credit she deserves for making so many people feel so deeply for fictional characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Self harm, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Addiction, Violence, Car accident, Drug abuse, Cancer, and Gaslighting