So I just finished A Little Life, and I probably have a different opinion than most. It's beautifully written -- I'll give it that. Aside from that, it's just 800 pages of pity p*rn.
In 2022, I decided I would work my way through some of the drama novels that are considered to be “modern classics.” This included novels like “Boy in the Striped Pajamas” and “Kite Runner.”
Anyway, when I first finished A Little Life, my first thought was “wow, what a good book.” I thought that for roughly half a second before I realised that no, I’m just glad it’s over.
I’m not really going to bother getting into what the book is about. Let’s just say the life story of 4 friends over a period of like 40 years.
Let’s break it down, though – the positive and the negative.
Oh yeah – lots of spoilers ahead.
Beautifully and poetically Written
One thing I can definitely not argue with is the fact that it is beautifully and poetically written. Every sentence can draw the reader in, and lets you feel what the characters are going through. In some ways, she reminded me a bit of Donna Tartt.
For anyone that has experienced any kind of loss, or grief, or depression, she certainly has a way with words that literally bores into your soul, and makes you think, “yes, that’s what it feels like.”
There were some particularly amazing passages, like the one about Fear of Loss of a child, and the one about The Hyenas.
Ok, now on to why it sucked.
1. Really? 800 pages?
Unless you’re Stephen king, that’s about 300 pages too many.
2. What was up with the weird first person?
Okay, I’ve read a few books that were fashioned in such a style, but this one is particularly weird. Basically, it’s written in the first person, but from chapter to chapter, it changes who that person is. Pretty much every new chapter that starts, you have no idea what’s going on, and by the time you know what’s going on, you have no idea what you previously read. What I ended up doing was skipping a few pages every chapter till I knew who was talking, then going back and starting again.
Try as I may, I don’t really see the benefit as to why it was written like this.
3. Unrealistic levels of abuse
With a quick reference to Kite Runner, just since I mentioned it at the beginning – that book definitely had horrible things happen. A Little Life, however, literally has a never ending string of horrible things happening over a space of 30 years. Yes, people can be horrible. Yes, bad things happen. But for that much abuse to happen over and over and over and over again (and all by different people, and collections of different people) and that during this time, zero people tried to help him, and zero people he met were normal, and every single one wanted to abuse him – that just becomes stupid. It’s one thing if it was because of bad decisions the character made that led him down this path, but noooooo. It’s just random disgusting crap that keeps happening.
4. Unrealistic levels of Tragedy
At this point, it’s really like the writer is just making drama for the sake of drama. Okay seriously (I did mention there would be spoilers.) So, we spend the entire book expecting that Jude is going to die. So he attempts suicide, but lives. Then you’re like… hey, maybe he will get better we’ll all live happily ever after, after all. But noooooo. All his friends die. Then he dies as well. Yayy. Like seriously… wtf Hanya??
5. Unrealistic levels of Support
Call me a cynic if you like, but let’s be real. No one is going to stick around a depressed and suicidal person. I’m sorry, but that is literally what happens when you are depressed. People leave. They may stick around for a while, but certainly not for 30 years. A handful may stay around, like your parents and your lover, but definitely not your entire circle of friends from uni. Like… really?
6. Seriously Jude, Just get over it already
Yes, he had 16 years of absolutely horrible abuse, but he also had 30 years of some of the best friends he could have ever hoped for. (see previous point.) It really gets to a point that you just get sick of Jude’s behavior instead of feeling bad for him. 30 years is a long time. His behaviour is literally a slap in the face to all the people who stood by him and did so much for him.
7. It’s not profound, just pretentious
Overall, it really seems like Hanya just crammed as much abuse, tragedy, and drama into this book in the hopes that people would be too depressed to see how much it sucked.
Punchline of the story is pretty much this: If you were abused as a child, you’re screwed for life. Doesn’t matter if you were amazingly smart, became ridiculously successful, and were surrounded by people who loved you – if you were once suicidal; you’re still going to commit suicide in the end.
Tips: Don’t waste your time on this shit.
The end.
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