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oyindalovesbooks 's review for:
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
Book 22 of 2021
If you're in a fragile place psychologically/emotionally, please don't read this book. This entire book is a block of trigger warnings - suicide, suicide ideation, death of a loved one, rape, domestic violence, physical and emotional abuse by a romantic partner, grooming, rape of a minor, forced prostitution, kidnapping, self harm, addiction, honestly the list goes on and on.
On one hand, I feel like I should have listened to the people who told me to leave this book the hell alone and not read it. On the other hand, I'm so glad I read this book because it's such a beautiful and perfect book that will break your heart, heal it, shatter it, fix it, and destroy it over and over again. I can't even call this book a roller coaster, because it is much more than that. This book chronicles love, loss, trust, betrayal, friendship, family, life, and death in such a poignant way.
I felt so many things while reading this book. I've read many books that made me laugh and cry before but none are quite like "A Little Life". I was about a hundred pages from the end and I was like "I made it through this book without breaking down in tears as much as I thought I would. What was everyone on about?" and then the author said "bitch you thought?!". I was unprepared for the wave of sadness and heartbreak that hit me in the final pages of this book and I still can't think about it without tearing up.
I'm still not okay, and I don't know if I'll ever reread this book, but I know I want to reread those last 100 pages when I'm alone and experience them the way I really want to (aka sob my eyes out).
Do I recommend this? Tbh, I don't know. If you feel you're up to the task, go right ahead. If you're not in the best mental state, I really don't recommend.
If you're in a fragile place psychologically/emotionally, please don't read this book. This entire book is a block of trigger warnings - suicide, suicide ideation, death of a loved one, rape, domestic violence, physical and emotional abuse by a romantic partner, grooming, rape of a minor, forced prostitution, kidnapping, self harm, addiction, honestly the list goes on and on.
On one hand, I feel like I should have listened to the people who told me to leave this book the hell alone and not read it. On the other hand, I'm so glad I read this book because it's such a beautiful and perfect book that will break your heart, heal it, shatter it, fix it, and destroy it over and over again. I can't even call this book a roller coaster, because it is much more than that. This book chronicles love, loss, trust, betrayal, friendship, family, life, and death in such a poignant way.
I felt so many things while reading this book. I've read many books that made me laugh and cry before but none are quite like "A Little Life". I was about a hundred pages from the end and I was like "I made it through this book without breaking down in tears as much as I thought I would. What was everyone on about?" and then the author said "bitch you thought?!". I was unprepared for the wave of sadness and heartbreak that hit me in the final pages of this book and I still can't think about it without tearing up.
I'm still not okay, and I don't know if I'll ever reread this book, but I know I want to reread those last 100 pages when I'm alone and experience them the way I really want to (aka sob my eyes out).
Do I recommend this? Tbh, I don't know. If you feel you're up to the task, go right ahead. If you're not in the best mental state, I really don't recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt