One of the saddest books on the market. That’s what you might have heard of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara – or at least that’s what I figured from all the reviews I’ve seen online. But is it actually worth reading?
I started to read the book with great expectations, even though I was very hesitant at first. And with all the trigger warnings, who wouldn’t be?
Well, it turned out to be a rollercoaster of emotions – but let’s not spoil it too much in advance.
So, let’s figure out whether you do or don’t want to add the book to your to-read list.
TL;DR:
- The trigger warnings you might have heard regarding the book are there for a reason. There are themes and plot developments that are truly upsetting.
- The main characters have amazing chemistry – I wish there were more moments where we’d see them interact.
- While I loved the first half of the book, it then seemed like the author kept throwing the characters (especially Jude) into traumatic situations just for the sake of it. How much suffering is too much to make the book still enjoyable?
What Is A Little Life Really About?
In A Little Life, we meet a group of 4 friends who went to the college together:
- Willem – a kind and handsome aspiring actor
- Jude – a brilliant lawyer dealing with a troubled past
- Malcolm – an architect who isn’t happy about his job
- JB – a talented artist trying to break through and make his mark in the industry
The story follows them over decades. And as it always is with people, all of them change. Over time, their relationships take a darker turn but become deeper at the same time.
Throughout the years, their friendships get tainted by addiction, pride, and drive to succeed.
But no matter what, all of them seem to gravitate to Jude.
While there is a great dynamic among the main characters, it all spirals back to Jude – his traumatic upbringing and demons of the past that keep haunting him till the end.
So, essentially, it’s a deep dive into the soul of a man who suffered too much and went through events that nobody deserves to experience.
In the Beginning, There Were Four
Willem, Jude, Malcolm, and JB have great dynamics. In fact, my most favourite scenes in the book were those where I could see them all interact with each other. Unfortunately, there aren’t that many situations like that.
And while all of them are framed as the main characters, only Willem and Jude seem to stay in the centre of the story. JB and Malcolm still have their storylines, but as the years go by, Yanagihara doesn’t focus on them in her story as much anymore. And that’s a pity, in my opinion.
True, there are also many other relationships – whether they’re romantic, friendly, or parental – that form around the individual characters. While some add genuine value to the storyline and emotions of the story, it feels like others are there only for sensation.
Even though I love Jude and Willem and their dynamic, I wish there was a bit more focus on the entire group.
Friendship, companionship: it so often defied logic, so often eluded the deserving, so often settled itself on the odd, the bad, the peculiar, the damaged.
Hanya Yanagihara – A Little Life
How Much Suffering Is Too Much?
The amount of trauma and suffering is one of the main reasons why the book is so controversial.
Jude is so broken. And after what he’s been through, it’s no wonder. You can’t help but feel bad for him. Really, no one should go through what happened to him since his early childhood.
However, how much suffering is too much? When should be the right time to stop before it scales too much in the book?
Honestly, I knew that I was in for a ride when I started the book, just based on what I’ve heard from others. But it doesn’t take much to figure out what’s happened to Jude pretty early on in the book. I really didn’t want to believe it when I started to put together the puzzle.
I think that Yanagihara took it too far. There were villains that made my heart break, but then there were evil characters that just didn’t fit in, and it felt like the author kept adding in the moments of suffering just for the sake of it.
I just kept thinking: “That’s a bit overboard, right?” But at the same time, there are 7 billion people in the world. And if there’s someone going through even a fraction of what happened to Jude and others, then I’m so sorry, and I keep them in my prayers.
So… Is it realistic?
I can’t say. But it’s fiction, so the borders could be stretched way beyond reality.
The Final Verdict
If there’s any book I have a love/hate relationship with, it would be this one.
Everyone was telling me how they found the first 200 pages or so really boring and slow. But to be honest, I LOVED the first half of the book. But I really don’t bask in seeing people going through traumatic experiences, and this was too much for me.
In the second half of the book, it felt to me like the writer just flew through the rest of the story. The years went past quickly, there were unnecessary villains, and some romantic relationships made no sense whatsoever.
But I might be a strange audience for the book. Everyone I know has cried while reading the book. I didn’t. Don’t take me wrong – it is a heartbreaking story. But I completely skipped the sadness and went directly into the stage of anger. Really, I don’t think my book has ever flown across a living room before.
So… Will I read the book again?
No way.
Am I glad that I’ve read it?
Yes.
Should you read it?
It depends. I don’t want you to get triggered by some of the things going on in the story. But if you’re interested in psychology and love to see how the human mind can sometimes work, then it could be worth it.
Readers Also Ask
Is A Little Life a hard read?
Yes, it is – both in terms of the length and complexity of the story. After all, the book has over 700 pages, and the plot spins over decades. So, there’s a lot to follow and remember as you go.
Should a 14-year-old read A Little Life?
Definitely not. It’s a challenging read, even for adults. There’s a lot of trauma, heartbreak, and upsetting themes that could bring harm to teens in that vulnerable time of their lives.
What is the controversy with the book A Little Life?
The main controversy with the book stems from its depiction of trauma. Many people also bring up that the amount of trauma isn’t realistic, and LGBT characters are depicted and treated poorly by the writer.
Pick Your Next Read
Are you looking to read something happier? Here are some of my articles that could improve your mood:
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- BOOK REVIEW: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary A. Shaffer and AnnieBarrows – A story of a writer who travels to Guernsey and falls in love. Is it the right read for you? Find out in this review!
- Book review: GoodOmens – Who doesn’t love a good fantasy book? Let’s dive into the magic of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
