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A review by turningpagesmm
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Updated review: The last time you will see this book on my feed.
I read A little Alice with Molly from @twoliterateladies as a buddy read (hence the post it’s). When we finished I wrote a review which will be very different from this one, after some reflection and research, in re-doing it.
First of all, thank goodness for Molly, I don’t think either of us realise how lucky we were to be reading this with someone else.
I didn’t like this book, in fact I hated it and I don’t say that lightly. The few redeeming qualities weren’t nearly enough to bring it around. If I knew the utter devastation I would feel after reading each part, I wouldn’t have picked it up.
A few graphic scenes in this book made me physically sick and I think it went way too far. After some research into the author I can see that I am not the only one who feels that Yanagihara went too far when it came to the treatment of her gay characters, it was almost torturous.
I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t recommend this book. I think my brain has started blocking it out and has decided that I won’t be retaining any of this book as I am already forgetting it.
Jude, Willem and Harold- you have my heart but I’m sorry, you weren’t enough to redeem this book for me.
I saw this book everywhere so I can’t help but think that I might be in the minority here but my last review, is just wrong now.
What can I say about this book?
This won’t be a long reviews because I am emotionally drained but I wanted to write it while it was still fresh.
The way this book is written is honestly phenomenal, the love I had for these characters was so real, I laughed, I cried and hurt with them.
Please before reading be aware of your triggers, this has been on my TBR for years but I wasn’t brave enough to start it, luckily Molly @twoliterateladies felt the same so we started a buddy read. Though I raced ahead at one point because I needed it to be over. I couldn’t focus on any other book, I had a pit of anticipation and dread it my stomach and I just needed it be over. I 100% recommended reading at the same time as a friend because by the end I was very emotionally unstable.
My history of grief from losing my dad a couple of years ago played a huge part in my reaction to A Little Life so I would recommend reading triggers warning and tread carefully because crying to the point of having a panic attack and throwing up is not it (learn from my mistake).
Overall, I’m glad I read it and I’m glad I didn’t miss out on these stories. Multiple times I had to remind myself that it was not real, it is a work of fiction and a work of art at that.
Possible spoiler below!!!!!
Bad news- this book is devastating.
Good news- I am content with the ending and after I actually stopped reading the book I was able to calm down and stop thinking about it.
I know there have been talks of a TV series/movie and there is a stage show but I can never revisit this book again.
I read A little Alice with Molly from @twoliterateladies as a buddy read (hence the post it’s). When we finished I wrote a review which will be very different from this one, after some reflection and research, in re-doing it.
First of all, thank goodness for Molly, I don’t think either of us realise how lucky we were to be reading this with someone else.
I didn’t like this book, in fact I hated it and I don’t say that lightly. The few redeeming qualities weren’t nearly enough to bring it around. If I knew the utter devastation I would feel after reading each part, I wouldn’t have picked it up.
A few graphic scenes in this book made me physically sick and I think it went way too far. After some research into the author I can see that I am not the only one who feels that Yanagihara went too far when it came to the treatment of her gay characters, it was almost torturous.
I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t recommend this book. I think my brain has started blocking it out and has decided that I won’t be retaining any of this book as I am already forgetting it.
Jude, Willem and Harold- you have my heart but I’m sorry, you weren’t enough to redeem this book for me.
I saw this book everywhere so I can’t help but think that I might be in the minority here but my last review, is just wrong now.
What can I say about this book?
This won’t be a long reviews because I am emotionally drained but I wanted to write it while it was still fresh.
The way this book is written is honestly phenomenal, the love I had for these characters was so real, I laughed, I cried and hurt with them.
Please before reading be aware of your triggers, this has been on my TBR for years but I wasn’t brave enough to start it, luckily Molly @twoliterateladies felt the same so we started a buddy read. Though I raced ahead at one point because I needed it to be over. I couldn’t focus on any other book, I had a pit of anticipation and dread it my stomach and I just needed it be over. I 100% recommended reading at the same time as a friend because by the end I was very emotionally unstable.
My history of grief from losing my dad a couple of years ago played a huge part in my reaction to A Little Life so I would recommend reading triggers warning and tread carefully because crying to the point of having a panic attack and throwing up is not it (learn from my mistake).
Overall, I’m glad I read it and I’m glad I didn’t miss out on these stories. Multiple times I had to remind myself that it was not real, it is a work of fiction and a work of art at that.
Possible spoiler below!!!!!
Bad news- this book is devastating.
Good news- I am content with the ending and after I actually stopped reading the book I was able to calm down and stop thinking about it.
I know there have been talks of a TV series/movie and there is a stage show but I can never revisit this book again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Trafficking, Violence, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Body shaming, Car accident, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Blood, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse and Drug use