A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara

You will laugh and you will most definitely cry. Contrary to the criticism it has received, I really loved this novel. The seven hundred-odd pages appear daunting initially, but once I was 50 pages in I was thoroughly absorbed. The four main characters are impossible not to become attached to, although the novel eventually narrows its focus down onto only two characters, Jude and Willem. Jude, the primary protagonist, has lived a thoroughly heartbreaking life in which he has been abused continually. One reviewer has gone as far as to describe this book as 'torture porn', which I can understand but do not fully agree with. In a sense, the horrific events of Jude's life only make you feel more attached to the character, and depends the sadness at the end of the book. 

I do believe, however, that the book is extremely far-fetched in places; even fantastical. The extent of the torture and pain which this character endures at the hands of not just one but many people is somewhat unrealistic. It seems that almost everyone in his early life abused or tortured him in some way, which has transcended throughout his adult relationships also. This makes the book extremely difficult to read in places and even at times I had to put the book down as the distress was tangible and extremely visceral. But I always picked the book back up within an hour or so because it is impossible to leave the characters alone and not to discover their fate. 

I would have liked to see more character development given to JB and Malcolm, and the relationship dynamic between all four characters deepen. Later in the novel, at times these two characters were almost completely forgotten as the focus was entirely on Jude and Willem. Perhaps this is just the nostalgia for earlier, more heartwarming parts of the novel coming through, as ultimately it only grows darker. I am sorry to say that this book's ending is not a happy one, yet it does, as the blurb suggests, 'leave your heart a few sizes larger'. Overall I loved the book, despite its flaws. The fact that I read such a lengthy novel in just three days is testament to Yanagihara's fiction and I would thoroughly recommend this novel!