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kring623 's review for:
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is honestly one that I could not recommend to anyone. It felt like a tumblr version of realty. It had parts that I did enjoy reading but those moments were quickly thrown out by parts that were just miserable and frustrating. For starters, Jude’s whole back story felt so cartoonish. First, he’s abandoned by a trash can as a baby. Then, he goes from abuse to abuse to abuse until he’s eventually, somehow, found after being hit by a car in a field at 15? Then he’s at Harvard at 16? And he becomes a brilliant lawyer and mathematician? And then his current story just feels so grotesque and contrived. He cuts himself incessantly and his friends know but no one says anything or tries to help him because they’re afraid he won’t be friends with them anymore? They only try to help him after a failed suicide attempt. I mean. I don’t get it. I could say so much more, but I really don’t understand why this storyline could be likable. It was also just disturbing to read descriptions of self harm and child sexual abuse. I honestly had to skim/skip parts because I felt too disgusted.
However, there were some parts I liked. I liked the beginning when there was more focus on the four friends. I also liked the end, not Jude’s suicide, but Harold’s discussion with Willem about trying to do what he felt was right but also knowing how things would end. If I felt sad for anyone in this book, I felt sad for Harold.
However, there were some parts I liked. I liked the beginning when there was more focus on the four friends. I also liked the end, not Jude’s suicide, but Harold’s discussion with Willem about trying to do what he felt was right but also knowing how things would end. If I felt sad for anyone in this book, I felt sad for Harold.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Suicide attempt