A review by zayzay2
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I could speak about this book for hours. It's beautifully written which is why the ratting is higher, if it isn't for the writing and some of the lovable characters such as jude's mother and dad, I would have rated it a 1/5. The characters were very diverse when it come to race, sexuality, personalities, jobs, class, options which I loved seeing the different characters interact and think it was insightful. I don't usually read slaw based books as it puts me in a reading slump but I was hooked, the writing had me on my toes and I never knew what would come next (except the ending). Now the things I didn't like the characters watched while Jude suffered they saw how BAD he was struggling, most of the responsibility was on he's doctor(he's friend) and he's later boyfriend. They new how bad he wanted to die he attempted suicide, he self harms severely and they saw but no one put him In a mental hospital which is legal. He was a danger to himself and no one forced him to go which frustrated me, if I loved my partner I don't care how much they will hate me after it's my responsibility to get them help. He refused therapy at first so you know he won't do it if he's not forced, he's doctor has the responsibility and I see as neglect he let he's love for him get in the way and he's feelings which is no excuse. I kept thinking 'come on guys!!' it felt like I was watching a plain crash and I knew the ending was coming, it felt unfair that Jude had to live with all that trauma and pain and he didn't help the only answer would obviously be suicide. I did not see William dying at all my mouth was hanging, I'm glad I didn't see spoilers from that. He's dad bless him didn't know how bad Jude was and he's mom was clueless, so really it's only he's bestfriends and the doctor that new the state he was truly in. I felt a lot of neglect from the characters in behalf of Jude he's a mentally unwell person, also interesting that he's sexuality was ambiguous as he has only been with men from teenage-hood due to rape but no mention of him exploring with women. Meaning trauma can manifest in your 'sexuality' even though we don't know and I think did he know he's real sexuality not that it mattered to me just interesting note I saw. The ending for me of almost half of the characters dying was shooking didn't see that coming, which also makes sense why Jude ended up committing suicide 'what's the point of life now?' as he was only living for William. Also found it interesting that the writer didn't fake it and say he finally lived for himself we knew he didn't want to, so he had to live for someone and that was William now that he's gone what is left in this world?. Didn't like how Jude's mental health was described as I the reader started to feel rained from him rather than feel sorry, I started to feel nothing for him as he left no room for anyone to comment. If anyone said anything to help him he would self-harm and shut down which no one wanted, so they would not help and try and get him support like therapy , therapy wasn't needed a MENAL HOSPITAL WAS. I didn't see the need for the extreme trauma porn, there was no lesson learnt for the reader, there was no understanding of read mental health as not a lot of people go through what Jude went through. 50 things in he's life is impossible and no one could handle such things, it's the worst care scenario which didn't really need to be there could have been a real life story that was written.   
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