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A review by cecifeli
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
1.5
A very tragic layered story. It just seemed like a lot. At times, I would roll my eyes bc of what kept happening. Idk how to feel abt it. Reading it sucked, it felt like I was witnessing a car crash (no pun intended lol). It was too painful and visceral. You can tell it’s great writing and character development, must as a practical person, it just seemed like highly stylized trauma and melodramatic suffering.
Don’t get me wrong (i’m not heartless), sometimes it was tender and sweet. It was just a lot to handle and it seemed like a very unrealistic, deranged situation. (I know it’s fiction, and I know it’s purpose is not to reflect real life. But the trauma upon trauma upon trauma, made me detached from the story, and it felt at times I was reading a telenovela.)
Amazing writing and pacing. A real page turner even though sometimes you were so heartbroken that the last you’d wanna do is find out what happens next. Fully fledged characters and a slow steady pace. Yanagihara is a very talented writer. I read it in 3 days.
I didn’t like it. I didn’t cry (not that that matters). Not for the faint hearted though. Made me reflect. Sometimes I think it’s decent, sometimes I thinks it’s torture porn (this is up for the readers interpretation). Idk if I’ll read more from her.
PS By unrealistic i mean this:
Idk how to feel abt Jude’s entourage, I think they should’ve pushed harder into therapy and hospitals and help in general. This is my bone to pick w the author. But hell, what do I know?
Don’t get me wrong (i’m not heartless), sometimes it was tender and sweet. It was just a lot to handle and it seemed like a very unrealistic, deranged situation. (I know it’s fiction, and I know it’s purpose is not to reflect real life. But the trauma upon trauma upon trauma, made me detached from the story, and it felt at times I was reading a telenovela.)
Amazing writing and pacing. A real page turner even though sometimes you were so heartbroken that the last you’d wanna do is find out what happens next. Fully fledged characters and a slow steady pace. Yanagihara is a very talented writer. I read it in 3 days.
I didn’t like it. I didn’t cry (not that that matters). Not for the faint hearted though. Made me reflect. Sometimes I think it’s decent, sometimes I thinks it’s torture porn (this is up for the readers interpretation). Idk if I’ll read more from her.
PS By unrealistic i mean this:
Idk how to feel abt Jude’s entourage, I think they should’ve pushed harder into therapy and hospitals and help in general. This is my bone to pick w the author. But hell, what do I know?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Self harm, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Abortion