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A review by thebookfetishist
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A highly interesting read on a person that never wants to get better. Yet, I had my issues with it. For one, the portrayed abuse was sometimes very unrealistic.
I do not believe that every single (male) person Jude came across in his childhood wanted to r*pe & abuse him (referring especially to the part with the truck drivers). Statistically speaking it just doesn't make any sense, although I'm fully aware of the fact that this kind of abuse happens way more than we first asume.
Also, his very first boyfriends character seemed very fanfictiony & super unrealistic. I feel like his motivations to abuse Jude were really unclear & the fact none of his friends noticed the severness of what was going on baffled me because in my understanding it was established that they (especially Willem) kept a close eye on him and knew him generally speaking well enough to notice the slightest bits about him being off.
Nevertheless, I can say that a lot of the characters grew on me & to this day I sometimes have to stop in my tracks to allow my thoughts to fully circle back to them for a few moments, before being able to resume my mundane daily tasks :).
Also, his very first boyfriends character seemed very fanfictiony & super unrealistic. I feel like his motivations to abuse Jude were really unclear & the fact none of his friends noticed the severness of what was going on baffled me because in my understanding it was established that they (especially Willem) kept a close eye on him and knew him generally speaking well enough to notice the slightest bits about him being off.
Nevertheless, I can say that a lot of the characters grew on me & to this day I sometimes have to stop in my tracks to allow my thoughts to fully circle back to them for a few moments, before being able to resume my mundane daily tasks :).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Slavery, Ableism, Child abuse, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Addiction, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, and Eating disorder