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hyperxnova's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
booksawait's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
I‘m not okay. 😭 This book broke me. I had to put it down several times, yet I also couldn‘t stop reading it. I‘ve seen people before, mentioning how it‘s the best and yet worst book they‘ve ever read, and I can understand that 100%. I would recommend this book to everyone, while also putting a huge trigger warning on it. I knew what I was getting myself into. I have so many thoughts and feeling, but also no words at the same time. I don‘t remember the last book that made me cry as much as this one did.
snezenka's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Chronic illness, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Mental illness, Self harm, Rape, and Physical abuse
luciak1507's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-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
4.75
meewalovesreading's review against another edition
challenging
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
5.0
kippiekakkak's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
abigayle_h's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
i cant begin to fathom the emotional rollercoaster that this book took me on. my favorite book i’ve ever read
yannafr04's review
5.0
I have so many words and none at all. This book is beautifully written and life changing, and dare I say, my new favorite book of all time. I can see why people dislike this book. We love stories where the protagonist has everything right going for them. We love stories where everything wraps up nicely with a beautiful red bow. But that’s not life is it? The ending was something I could see coming, but I was hoping I was wrong about. Yet, I can’t stress enough the importance of the ending. I think many people believe Yanagihara is trying to say that things don’t get better. I don’t see it this way. I see it as a reminder of the importance of healing. A lot of the misery Jude lived with his entire life could’ve been eased with working through his problems. But Jude is ashamed, and I think his shame is one I can relate to. How can we heal from something when we believe it is our fault and we are disgusted with ourselves? How can we heal when our friends let us continue to suffer, when we let ourselves continue to suffer? This story is written so well, and Jude is a character that I can’t help but relate to in certain ways. I see my own flaws in Jude, and it’s waken me up.
Going into this book, I was wanting a change on my perspective in life, and Hanya Yanagihara has done that with A Little Life. Jude’s emotions, actions, and thoughts are something many trauma victims can relate to. I absolutely have not been through as much as Jude has, but it brings comfort to me knowing my thought process and feelings aren’t foreign. That my thought process is a product of my trauma, and that my trauma affects me in my day to day life in ways I don’t necessarily see. Through this book I’ve learned the importance of communication. I’ve learned the importance of healing from your trauma. I’ve learned about the power of friendship. I’ve learned about the power abusers hold over their victims. But most importantly I think, I’ve learned I have to change. I have to heal. This book is a masterpiece.
Going into this book, I was wanting a change on my perspective in life, and Hanya Yanagihara has done that with A Little Life. Jude’s emotions, actions, and thoughts are something many trauma victims can relate to. I absolutely have not been through as much as Jude has, but it brings comfort to me knowing my thought process and feelings aren’t foreign. That my thought process is a product of my trauma, and that my trauma affects me in my day to day life in ways I don’t necessarily see. Through this book I’ve learned the importance of communication. I’ve learned the importance of healing from your trauma. I’ve learned about the power of friendship. I’ve learned about the power abusers hold over their victims. But most importantly I think, I’ve learned I have to change. I have to heal. This book is a masterpiece.
annasimons's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
tazch1701's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The prose of this book is exquisite. Adored the writing of the friendship dynamic. Especially appreciated Willem's thoughts regarding Jude, his career, his parents etc. It felt very real and really grounded the character.
With regards to Jude, I wish there was more of an exploration of his thoughts and how his adverse childhood shaped his self worth as an adult. It was easy to extrapolate the fact that what happened to him as a child is what makes him act the way he does as an adult, but I specifically would have liked to have seen an explanation of that in his own words/ inner monologue.
I have a major issue with the end. It could have been a brilliant way to explore how choosing to take the steps to recover doesn't always mean you will recover. Or the fact that recovery is not linear, that normal is different or almost has no meaning at all when your childhood has been so wrought with strife. An aspect of mental health I think is ill explored is the very real risk of actually not seeing improvement despite leaning on a support system and taking steps to get better, if the book explored that it would have felt complete. Instead, it ended in a way that makes the book seem like its only purpose was to make Jude suffer physical abuse from either other or himself. Not to say Jude's ending didnt make sense, given what happened to Willem I fully understand why he did what he did. But it robbed readers of an ending that would have left us a little more enlightened and equally as heartbroken.
I still have to rate the book fairly highly despite how much I hated the ending because its taken up so much space in my mind and its taken me almost a year to properly articulate my thoughts on it.
With regards to Jude, I wish there was more of an exploration of his thoughts and how his adverse childhood shaped his self worth as an adult. It was easy to extrapolate the fact that what happened to him as a child is what makes him act the way he does as an adult, but I specifically would have liked to have seen an explanation of that in his own words/ inner monologue.
I have a major issue with the end. It could have been a brilliant way to explore how choosing to take the steps to recover doesn't always mean you will recover. Or the fact that recovery is not linear, that normal is different or almost has no meaning at all when your childhood has been so wrought with strife. An aspect of mental health I think is ill explored is the very real risk of actually not seeing improvement despite leaning on a support system and taking steps to get better, if the book explored that it would have felt complete. Instead, it ended in a way that makes the book seem like its only purpose was to make Jude suffer physical abuse from either other or himself. Not to say Jude's ending didnt make sense, given what happened to Willem I fully understand why he did what he did. But it robbed readers of an ending that would have left us a little more enlightened and equally as heartbroken.
I still have to rate the book fairly highly despite how much I hated the ending because its taken up so much space in my mind and its taken me almost a year to properly articulate my thoughts on it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Child death, Death, Rape, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Body shaming, Blood, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Body horror, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Violence, Ableism, Chronic illness, Medical content, Self harm, Mental illness, and Physical abuse