Typically I go into books blindly. Covers have everything to do with my decision to read or not to read. Only when I’m teetering will I read the synopsis. In the case of “A Little Life” I wasn’t ready. Like. At all. The novel is based on 4 friends, spanning their lives from college onward, as they chase their dreams. Willem the actor, Jude the litigator, Malcolm the architect and JB the artist, will they make it in their respective professions? Will they maintain their bond? Initially it hops through each of their perspectives. As the story progresses furtive Jude becomes the focal point. His hidden past unraveling, explaining the reason for his stoicism. A harrowing journey I wasn’t prepared for.
Scraped raw, my soul was scraped raw. Beautifully written, it’s a character driven, immersive experience making many chapters extremely arduous to get through. At times I stopped, because the trauma was overwhelming. Geez. How much abuse can one person take? The author was relentless in descriptions of assaults. Themes of violence, sexuality, consent, ableism, addiction, suicide, “A Little Life” is a stark reminder of how little control we have. 90% of this world is how you respond when things happen to you. Riding the waves means constant humility and surrender. I had half a mind to find and message Hanya Yanagihara how dare you, after finishing. To say the cover is apt would be an understatement. Still digesting my thoughts. Cannot believe the ending. Read with caution. Via: Medium