A review by rgallo
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The haters will say Yanagihara is nihilistic and the best place for this book is on the bed side table of a sadist. To the haters: Try reading the book without letting your own discomfort lead you to reject or miss the beauty in the storytelling ❤️

At first Yanagihara’s use of a nonlinear narrative left me feeling confused and disoriented. As the story developed the purpose of this technique continues to be tended to until it is in full bloom. Jumping from moment to moment, memory to memory, without declaration mimic’s how while reflecting our conscious minds cling to moments of joy and pain without regard to logic. Our minds like the story do not process emotions or trauma chronologically—we are always moving through time. Reaching for the memories that have not happened yet and those we want to forget. 

As in life the characters of this story are complex and fallible. Yanagihara’s slow release of the characters experiences and mind spaces  allow you as the reader to make judgments, and then correct those judgments. In life we are quick to categorize and file people based on an action or a reaction;forgetting that we are more than just one moment but a collection of morals and experiences. Choices made by characters in A Little Life are frustrating, saddening, endearing, and everything in between. In the end the characters are human and experiencing life the best they can given their own ability to process and survive.  

With all of what I’ve said in mind…this story is brutal at times and difficult to read. In those moments a reader can find themselves feeling disgusted or uncomfortable—as if the authors main purpose is to harp on the pain and suffering of others for pleasure or entertainment. Others have said this is a book about suffering with no purpose beyond that. A book with no happy ending. As I finished the book I couldn’t disagree more. This is a book about being a live. A book about suffering and joy. A book about trying our hardest to fight the urge to cling to memories which bring us pain. A book about trying to escape to happiness—succeeding and failing at times. A book about the healing power of true connection and friendship. In the end our journey—like the characters—is unknown in life. We can only try our best. 
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