A review by jentang
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Did not finish book. Stopped at 7%.

I went into this book with high expectations, but, as is common for me, I was left disappointed after I began to read and research this book. I had no issue with the writing itself, and thought it was quite good, but opposed the direction that I knew the book would take later on; I became dissuaded from continuing to read on when I learned that

the book shifts from focusing extensively on the initially introduced main friend group (I was getting attached to them) to becoming centered around Jude

. I personally felt like it wouldn't be a good return on my time to spend forever learning to love characters that would slowly become less relevant to the book. In addition, what I liked about this book (and most books in general) was how realistic everything felt. In reading a critique on the novel, I became aware that

the author purposefully exaggerated many elements of the book, like Jude's abuse, and in contrast, also the achievements of some other characters, so as to make readers feel stronger emotions

. I didn't really like that idea, and while I can't be 100% sure of whether or not this actually occurs in the novel, the book's Wikipedia plot summary (something I've learned to utilize as a tool to save me an immense amount of time) seems to corroborate what I read. Nevertheless, I am all for being impacted profoundly by a book, and so when I do have the spare time to throw myself into this lengthy novel, I will try my best to do so.

update on 8/2/22: over a year later, i've revisited this novel, but nothing has changed besides my feelings of distaste towards it growing firmer and firmer. i am sure everyone is correct about this book being hauntingly beautiful, a tragic masterpiece, etc. however, just as i said last year, i personally can't get behind sinking hours of my time into a book written solely to devastate. perhaps i just have never been and will never be in the right headspace to enjoy a book like this one, but i am very reluctant to commit to getting through 800+ pages of what ends up being trauma porn. i can't tell if i am being unfairly over-the-top, but i did skip through the book to the middle, and in the span of a few pages

jude underwent physical and mental abuse, cut himself, was raped, and was beaten and left for dead

. the book's length makes me think this quick progression can't have been done for anything but dramatic effect, which just feels inappropriate and uncomfortable.