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balderdash 's review for:
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I FUCKING HATED THIS BOOK.
I went into it with such high expectations but I... just didn't feel anything. Maybe my heart is lead, but I didn't feel sad, I felt disgusted. I felt disgusted and mad at Brother Luke, Dr. Traylor, Caleb and so many others, but I didn't feel sad. Sorry, maybe, but not sad. It just baffles me that so many people love it, because I just didn't get anything out of it. No lessons or even thoughts. It didn't feel fulfilling in a way good books do. That's not to say it's a bad book - far from it - I just didn't enjoy it. Hanya Yanagihara is a fantastic author who has a meticulous control of the English language and is a absolute magician and gem of a writer. It is laudable how she managed to hold my attention for 720 pages, but this story was just not what I expected and wanted from this book. And it's not the book's fault - go in with no previous notes and I think you'll like it. It's objectively good, but IMO kinda overhyped. And, no, I didn't cry :)
I went into it with such high expectations but I... just didn't feel anything. Maybe my heart is lead, but I didn't feel sad, I felt disgusted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent