A review by s_ketchum
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

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

4.0

While this book was well-written and you can tell where the author shined as a travel writer…I would not recommend this book to anyone, nor do I plan to read it myself ever again. This coming from someone who is a firm believer in reading stories to sharpen, intimidate, challenge, and evoke a response. Hanya did a beautiful job writing for Harold & Willem. As a parent myself, I resonated so much with Harold’s thoughts, his fears, his careful consideration when making any decision when it came to Jude. I felt the pangs of friendship as Willem did. Being ever so loyal and feeling your soul being suffocated knowing there is only so much you can do to save the person you love so desperately. But her writing for Jude felt irresponsible. He was given no room to see the light. Every time you think his character is going to allow himself to feel even a small glimpse of hope…it’s washed away with a
debilitating sickness, a suicide attempt, a death. Hanya seemed to take pleasure in his unspeakable tragedies, and that will never sit right with me.
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