63 pages 2 hours read

Hanya Yanagihara

A Little Life

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara follows the lives of four college friends in New York City, primarily focusing on Jude St. Francis, a lawyer grappling with a traumatic childhood. As Jude's career prospers, his past continually haunts him, revealing cycles of abuse and self-harm. The narrative explores themes of friendship, suffering, and the impact of past trauma on present life. Topics include sexual abuse and self-harm.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Yanagihara's A Little Life is a deeply emotional novel that delves into themes of trauma, friendship, and survival. Readers praised its compelling narrative and complex characters, highlighting its raw emotional depth. However, some found its relentless depiction of suffering overwhelming and its length daunting. Overall, it's a powerful but polarizing read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read A Little Life?

A reader who would enjoy A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara typically appreciates intense, character-driven narratives and emotional complexity, akin to fans of Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch and Jeffrey Eugenides' The Marriage Plot. This reader seeks deep explorations of friendship, trauma, and resilience.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Drama / Tragedy

American Literature

Topics

Relationships

LGBTQ

Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Themes

Relationships: Friendship

Identity: Masculinity

Identity: Disability