A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara has garnered significant attention and polarized opinions.
It was shortlisted for this prestigious literary award of the Booker Prize Shortlist (2015).
PLOT SUMMARY
The novel follows four friends namely Jude, Willem, Harold, JB, and Malcolm, who move from a small Massachusetts college to New York City. Their lives intersect over the decades, marked by addiction, success, and pride. However, their greatest challenge is Jude, a brilliant but broken man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. The book explores themes of love, friendship, suffering, and survival.
POSITIVE ASPECTS: Many readers appreciate Yanagihara’s writing style and her ability to evoke emotions. The novel has been praised for its vivid portrayal of human existence and intense emotional investment.
NEGATIVE ASPECTS: Some readers found the story dark and traumatic. The relentless suffering and the weight of Jude’s trauma can be emotionally draining.
In summary, A Little Life is a powerful and emotionally charged novel that elicits strong reactions. If you appreciate beautifully crafted prose and are prepared for a raw exploration of human suffering, it might be worth reading. However, be aware that it can be an intense and challenging experience. Some passages are depressing, disgusting, and too much to read but this will serve as an eye-opener.
A little life will bring you to the world of an innocent life tainted and destroyed.
This will introduce you to a survivor's world and his culture, a culture full of shame and isolation.
And then there's love; platonic, familial, and a love that words cannot decipher and can only be felt. This love will try to conquer the trauma.
Finally, there’s life. Just the the way it is.