A review by zeegy
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

5.0

Oliver Wyman was an amazing narrator. His voices were distinct and the emotion he brought to each character was breathtaking. I have read this book a handful of times and each time I cried but this time. The way Harold's ending story to Willem was narrated, the emotion in "It isn't only that he died, or how he died; it is what he died believing. And so I try to be kind to everything I see, and in everything I see, I see him." the way he sounds like this entire retelling hurts for him to say. It's how he said "I am Willem Ragnarsson and I will never let you go" the anguish in parts that are sad. The joy, quiet joy, in the small moments where everything was okay. It gave me an entirely new experience with the book and I'd definitely listen again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Vomit, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Dementia, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse