Released: 10th March 2015
Genre: Drama, Society, Fiction
Number of Pages: 720
Hanya Yanagihara has written three novels over the last decade; all of them deal with difficult subject matter and take great care to portray their characters with tenderness. A Little Life is her best effort by far, a poignant story of people trying to push through the darkest of times.
Across seven parts, the story follows four individuals who work and grow up in the New York area. Willem Ragnarsson is an aspiring actor, JB Marion a talented painter. Malcolm Irvine tries his hand as an architect and last but not least, Jude St. Francis is a practicing lawyer with a deeply troubled past. We follow these people from several perspectives as they journey through life, facing many hardships along the way. Far from an uplifting tale, A Little Life is a story about suffering, of deeply distressing events and personal traumas. While some chapters take place from the perspective of Willem and the adoptive father Harald, Jude is the heart of the narrative. The language is visceral and intense, matching the fractured state of the characters.
When reading, you’ll need to brace mentally for the truly horrific events Jude experiences. Through many flashbacks, we witness his terrible memories and trauma brought up to the surface. The author does an excellent job at helping us understand his demeanour and attitude; the damage inflicted by sadistic individuals is raw and unflinching. So many brutal topics enter the chapters without a hint of sensationalism. Abuse, violence, manipulation and self-harm have all taken an immense toll on Jude through the years. Yet Willem, Harald and others still find a way to love and care for him. In spite of so much pain, empathy is the guiding light for every character. Their relationships are incredibly deep and at times you wonder if they’ll give up on each other. Somehow their perseverance to each other rises from the gutter, delivering many powerful moments.
Recommended?
YES: A Little Life is an unrelenting gut-punch, a rare book that will bring many to tears as the character’s struggles are laid bare. Hanya Yanagihara’s exceptional prose is emotive and sincere, allowing to us to absorb all the hurt. If you’re able to stomach the emotional battering, you’ll find an unforgettable story that will stick with you long after you turn the final page.
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