hannahzeeklein 's review for:

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This novel is exceptionally well-written, though certain plot points and emotional arcs are a bit belabored. At 814 pages, very little actually happens, so prospective readers should only pick this up if they crave a nuanced, painfully detailed character study that spends several decades. Readers beware: this book contains graphic descriptions of self harm and an incredible amount of suicidal ideation. It’s also almost entirely void of nuanced female characters.  (Every woman in A LITTLE LIFE is predominantly defined as a wife or girlfriend or mother).

Edit: Several months have elapsed since I first read A LITTLE LIFE, and I truly have not stopped thinking about it. I'm updated my rating from 4.5 to 5 stars just on impact alone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Trafficking

Minor: Homophobia, Vomit, Medical content