A Little Life

by Hanya Yanagihara

Book Overview

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A stunning "portrait of the enduring grace of friendship" (NPR) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century.NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST - MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST - WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZE A Little Life follows four college classmates--broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition--as they move to New York in search...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804172706
• ISBN13: 9780804172707
• Release Date: January 2016
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 832 Pages
• Weight: 1.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Tragically beautiful, one of the most important reading experiences I've had

This book is so eloquently written, it feels like a story told by a friend the way it relates and retells memories in the middle of an anecdote. This has to be one of the most heartbreaking stories I've read (sometimes it feels almost at a sadomasochistic level) but it uses that to push how important human connection, love, and friendship can radically shift the trajectory of your life. Just an excellent read overall, but only for the strong-willed.

Worth the heartbreak

One of the most amazing written books that I’ve read. It was full of emotions and made me feel attached to the characters. If you want to cry then this book is right for you.

The most emotionally destoying, beautiful books I've ever read.

If you think you can handle the content discussed, I hope you give this a try. The story is a once in a lifetime book experience you may never find again. A Little Life is without question the most consuming, life altering book I have ever read in my entire life and I spent weeks worried it had ruined me ever liking another book again. Simply because I was afraid reading anything else would forever seem dull in comparison to the way A Little Life spoke to me. And unfortunately, nothing has come anywhere close to that feeling since. It is sad and heartbreaking and IT WILL HURT YOU. But you will also love the characters so intensely that they feel like a part of yourself. You will be desperate to remain with them and hear their lives. Desperate to drown in the love they hold for Jude. There has not been a moment since finishing months ago that I haven't thought of them and wished to hold them in my hands for the first time again. I'm not saying this is for everyone because it definitely isn't. PLEASE look up the warnings and make that decision yourself. But I personally have never been so taken by a book in my entire life. It has not left me from the moment I started it. Nothing has ever come close to the complete emotional attachment I felt while reading. Even when it hurt me. You will laugh and cry and smile so bright your cheeks hurt. I know people really only talk about the sad parts, but there are happy moments too. And they shine and hold you close and make you FEEL. They cradle you gently even when you know more hurt is coming. I actually said once that I would never read this book. I thought I would hate it with every ounce of my soul. I will always be forever grateful that I gave it a chance to prove me wrong. Well worth every dollar I spent!

Tragic, beautiful, and depressing!

This is unlike anything I have ever read. There have been many books that have made me cry, but this one? I was a blubbering mess! Tissue after tissue, especially during the final 100 pages. The author made me deeply care for the characters, making the read all the more difficult. I had read a review saying something along the lines of, "After reading this, I tried to commit suicide." Albeit, she also stated she was not in a good place. I'll admit it, my curiosity got the best of me. I needed to know how and why this book made someone want to commit suicide. So many people recommended this book, but at the same time didn't, because of the emotional impact. This book is truly disturbing, traumatizing, and overall just terrible, but it is so beautifully written and a book I could not put down.

Extremely impactful

I don't think I will ever forget about Jude St. Francis. This book has managed to open my eyes to the horrors of the world, the unspeakable, but it has also brought to light the beauty of the small simple things. Such a profound read, I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Be warned it is graphic and might trigger unwanted memories.

Huge drama Tome

If you like DEEP emotions with lots of painful memory's, this is the book for you, great writer, JUDE is the centerpiece with mind-blowing abuse thru-out his torrid life. He has his friends who love him dearly as he deals with phobias and physical pain to the limit of any human being. ending is heart breaking for sure. Only reason i gave 4 stars is this should be about 250 pages shorter, author spends too many pages developing Judes Freinds.

Best book I've ever read

I read Yanagihara's book, The People In the Trees, before I read this one and I thought that that was the best book I ever read. And then I read A Little Life. If you want to fall in love and have your heart ripped out, read this book! So well written, a captivating story, and lovable, heart-breaking characters. Can't recommend this book enough.

It took me forever to read this book because I had to stop every five pages! No book has made me cry so often over a character, and no book is as incredibly well written. Definitely my favorite book ever