staci_stasis 's review for:

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

2.5

dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I think Yanagihara could have written a beautiful story about different forms of love (romantic, fraternal, paternal...). Instead she chose to make up a guy and absolutely fucking go at him for 800 pages. Would still have rated it higher if there had been one loveable character besides Harold. Also interesting choice to write one (1) woman into this thing but not give her a single character trait. Nice prose tho.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Suicide attempt

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail