A review by renzoisi
To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

4.0

The book is not always an easy read, some passages could have been shorter, so come prepared. However, it has the power to draw you in and leave you in a hazy state of mind once finished.

It consists of three chapters, set in late 19th, late 20th and late 21st century. I found the first and third chapters more engaging, while the second was more difficult to read, with passages that dragged on for too long.

The end of each chapter leaves you wondering about the characters and the fates they might have truly met, enhancing the “lingering power” of each story as you transition to the next. “Paradise” is only mentioned at the end of each chapter and in the book’s title. Beyond its common meaning, it would have been interesting to explore what the concept signifies for each character and storyline.

The use of the same names (Charles/Charlie, Edward, and David) in each chapter is a great touch, almost reinforcing the themes of reincarnation, redemption of past iterations.

My favorite chapter was the last one, with its interweaving of two storylines set decades apart.