A review by sofilart
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

 A Little Life is a deeply complex novel that elicits both hope and despair in equal measure. You find yourself rooting for the main character, Jude St. Francis, to find peace and happiness while simultaneously dreading—and at times anticipating—the inevitability of his demise. These conflicting emotions are at the core of the book’s polarizing nature.
The story chronicles Jude’s life through a series of flashbacks detailing his harrowing childhood marked by abuse and his journey into adulthood, where he navigates love, friendship, and professional success while grappling with relentless trauma, illness, and grief. This duality—hope and despair, beauty and suffering—permeates the narrative, making its reception unsurprisingly divisive. Some have labeled the novel as "misery-porn," while others hail it as "a love letter to life." For some readers, Jude's pain may exacerbate their own struggles, while others might find solace in his moments of happiness and his enduring friendships. Regardless of perspective, the novel raises questions that linger long after its final pages, though I personally struggled with aspects of its execution.
Hanya Yanagihara is undeniably a talented writer, her vivid and evocative prose bringing Jude’s experiences to life with an intensity that is both captivating and harrowing. However, the structure of the novel and the expectations set by its synopsis feel misleading. The book is introduced as a story of four friends—Jude, JB, Malcolm, and Willem—yet it quickly narrows its focus almost exclusively to Jude. While Willem plays a significant role in Jude's life, JB is reduced to a largely antagonistic presence, and Malcolm fades into the background, barely contributing to the narrative. This shift leaves the reader feeling disconnected from what initially seemed like an ensemble story, with the other characters serving more as satellites to Jude’s world rather than fully realized individuals.
One of the novel’s strengths is its timeless, almost ethereal quality. Spanning six decades, the story unfolds in a world where technology like cell phones exists, yet historical or geopolitical events—such as 9/11—are conspicuously absent. Even the characters' careers, many of which would naturally involve public scrutiny, exist in a vacuum devoid of external pressures. This insular focus underscores the title’s premise: this is Jude’s little life, and the outside world is irrelevant. While this approach adds to the intimacy of the narrative, it also stretches plausibility, particularly with the characters’ seemingly endless wealth, fame, and success. Additionally, certain technical aspects, such as medical procedures and illnesses, are reportedly invented by the author, which feels like a missed opportunity for authenticity in such a grounded, human story.
Ultimately, A Little Life was not a novel I enjoyed. Its slow pace, character-driven approach, and unrelenting focus on suffering made it difficult for me to connect with the story. While I understand that the narrative’s purpose is to show that Jude’s pain is inescapable, the repetitive and almost gratuitous depiction of his suffering felt morbid and, at times, tedious. That said, the novel did provoke reflection on significant issues like mental health, trauma, and euthanasia, which I believe are vital conversations to have. While the book may not have resonated with me, it holds the potential to spark important debates and offer comfort to those who find their own struggles mirrored in Jude’s journey. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings