A Little Life: The Million-Copy Bestseller

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is a huuuge book! Like, no kidding guys, it's like 800 pages and I'll be honest the books that exceed the normal length of say 400 pages intimidate me, but after reading @paperbackdream's review I HAD TO READ IT AND I'M GLAD I DID! 🥺Initially I was worried about DNFing it because the first hundred pages weren't that eventful and I wasn't really invested in the story and thought I'd certainly give up but as the story progressed, and the characters and their life struggles kept unfolding, I got connected to the story without even realizing it.The story revolves around four best friends — Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a quick-witted, sometimes cruel Brooklyn-born painter seeking entry to the art world; Malcolm, a frustrated architect at a prominent firm; and withdrawn, brilliant, enigmatic Jude, who serves as their centre of gravity. These four men have been there for each other through every phase of life and have faced every hardship together.All the characters have their own story that makes your heart break but I personally felt that Jude's life and his story was one, that was devastatingly horrible. Of course, that doesn't mean that the trauma, the other characters went through was any less but I think out of all them, I definitely resonated with Jude's character and felt his pain. My eyed welled up at points and I wanted to fly overseas and confront the author because HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO THIS POOR BABY?It was overwhelming and this book is definitely not all rainbows and sunshine, it's dark and raw and brutally honest and it makes you want to throw it away or even rip it to pieces but not because of being awful but awfully honest which is why it's worth it.Apart from the four Willem is my absolute favorite. This book has a bunch of amazing secondary characters too, whose presence compliments our main protagonists. Harold, Richard and Andy being my favourites.There isn't a lot to say about the book without spilling the beans so I'll stop right here because I obviously want you to read it on your own.It's devastating, honest and unapologetic. The way it's written is beautiful and intense at the same time. Do not let your fear of lengthy books deprive you of the wonderful experience of reading this book. I would also recommend listening to the audiobook which is equally good if not better.

This book is a lot and I strongly recommend looking up content warnings before starting and making sure you're in the right headspace for it.I went into this expecting it to be devastating - which it was - but it surprised me more with its tenderness. The description says it's about four friends, but really the book centers around one person, Jude, and the people around him as he struggles against a harrowing past that seems to shape his life even in late adulthood. Jude's inability to accept himself as somebody worthy of kindness is a running theme throughout the book - and so is the unconditional kindness that is shown to him by several characters anyway. This book shows not just what it's like to struggle against your own life every day but how difficult it is to watch someone you love go through that struggle, to hold onto to someone who wants to let go.The writing is beautiful, I had to read several lines multiple times simply because I was awed by the author's command over language. It's rare for a 720 paged book that relies heavily on its characters with no clear plot to hold one's attention this well.By no means is this a happy book. In fact, it gets darker and bleaker the further you get into it. It's unflinching in its portrayal of horrifying events but equally attentive to its tender moments. I found its commentary on friendship, aging, disability, mental illness and love to be quite thought provoking. This is a book that will make you feel.

#NadirasPointOfReview: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Story about 4 guy friends – Jude, JB, Willem and Malcolm from college to adulthood, about how their friendships evolve over decades and how their lives revolve around Jude who is traumatized by his past.This is a messed up review but it is a messed up story.Pros:1. Beautifully epitomizes power of friendship and brotherhood.2. Absolutely lovable characters - Jude the lawyer, Willem the actor, JB the painter, Harold the foster father, Andy the doctor.3. Harold’s narratives were simply beautiful, full of love, very parental. You will want to get adopted by him!4. The gay romance was very sweet and loving (I can’t believe I’m saying that!).5. Loved the creative art and masterpieces of JB and Malcolm. Very visual.6. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful prose. Leaves u shocked, pained, panicked, breathless with an empty hollow hole in ur gut.7. Details of self-abuse made me physically cringe, it was so real & gruesome......Cons:1. Serious health hazard. Read with caution.2. Emotional abuser about Physical abuse.3. ALittleLife is ALittleLong!! I skipped about 150 pgs.4. Never-ending, depressing nightmare. Lil too-bad-to-be-happening-to-one-person-in-one-lifetime!5. The book should be renamed as The Gay Life! Everything gay about it and too much of it too.6. Not much characterization on Malcolm. No back history on how they all became friends.7. Most importantly: Hanya’s writing style was very confusing. You wouldn’t know who she was talking about until you read few paragraphs or sometimes even few pages! Every chapter started out with that confusion! Also it was confusing as to who is black, who is white, who is gay and who is not!8. The writing didn’t let me accurately visualize their faces either due to lack of/confusing details regarding physical descriptions.My journey and reading experience: May contain spoilers. The book will renew your faith in the goodness of people out there. The book will destroy your faith and trust in people. It is full of raw and real emotions. You will feel intense anger at Caleb the boyfriend. You will feel disgust and nausea at Brother Luke’s “niceness”. You will hate nice people after this book. Coz it is a MASK that people wear. When I reached the point of Dr. Taylor, I was like “what the hell is going on”?! I hated Jude’s selfish, self-involved, self-absorbed personality. There are good people surrounding him who wanted to help him and still his trauma consumed him and made him shut off from those who loved him. But that goes onto show the long-term consequences of abuse. Damaged soul indeed. Suicide attempts, self-abuse - all were so painful and insightful too. Highly NOT-recommended if you have any mental instability/disturbances/tendencies. 4-stars🌟🌟🌟🌟Follow me on instagram @nadirasworld

I have cried while reading this book . My heart aches for Jude , life has been really harsh on him in his early days . It seems like he is never able to get out of the trauma .A must read book .