MashableReads discussion

“Wasn’t friendship it’s own miracle, the finding of another person who made the entire lonely world seem somehow less lonely.”

So writes novelist Hanya Yanagihara in her epic ode to friendship, A Little Life.

A Little Life follows four students -– Jude, J.B., Malcolm and Willem -– over the course of three decades, as each strives for success in their respective careers. However, as the four grow together, they must confront Jude’s mysterious childhood, a past so dark and traumatic that its effects continue to echo in not only Jude’s life but the lives of those around him.

Intimate, heartbreaking, beautiful and engrossing, A Little Life reveals both the beauty and horrors that life can offer, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship that get us through it.

We want to discuss A Little Life with you! Share your thoughts, questions, favorite quotes, etc below!

Out of curiosity, I was wondering what other readers thought of the lack of developed female characters in A Little Life. Really, there were only three women central to the story: Ana, Julia, and Sophie. However, even they were quite one-dimensional, having very few lines of dialogue and development during the progression of the novel. I couldn't help but notice even when they were mentioned it was in a passive way; being talked at or about, but unable to have their own voice.

I loved this book more than anything I've read in a very long time. I didn't notice the lack of female character development because I was so absorbed in all the main characters. The author focused my attention on certain people, putting everyone else in the periphery, and I trusted her and followed. I am amazed by her writing ability and her understanding of human psychology. I want to hear her speak! I need to know how she made this piece of art.

I noticed the lack of females, but it made sense. It didn't bother me.

This quote broke my heart so much, I started crying not only reading it, but telling my husband about it.

“That night, before bed, he goes first to Willem’s side of the closet, which he has still not emptied. Here are Willem’s shirts on their hangers, and his sweaters on their shelves, and his shoes lined up beneath. He takes down the shirt he needs, a burgundy plaid woven through with threads of yellow, which Willem used to wear around the house in the springtime, and shrugs it on over his head. But instead of putting his arms through its sleeves, he ties the sleeves in front of him, which makes the shirt look like a straitjacket, but which he can pretend – if he concentrates – are Willem’s arms in an embrace around him.”

I’m really torn about my feelings for A Little Life. When I started reading it, the first 200 pages in, I was completely and utterly mesmerized. There was something about the internal, interior struggles of the characters that felt raw and real. Yanagihara is a phenomenal writer; her prose can be sharp and gritty, but also expansive and light. I love how she writes.

But then as some characters receded into the background (Malcolm and JB are reduced to stock characters as Yanagihara shifts the focus soundly on Jude), I found myself losing my bearings in this world. We learn about Jude’s horrible past and his deep psychological trauma and physical wounds. (Man, those cutting scenes!) and it just keeps coming.

For all the keen social detail and radiant passages that capture the interiority of characters so well, I felt the author overreached. Not that I didn’t believe the logic of Jude’s mistrust of others and his addiction to self-harm—the author sets it up beautifully so it never feels forced. What really strained my sense of disbelief was how she depicted the others around him—his friends (especially Willem), his adoptive parents. They are practically super human in their support for him. They are supportive and emotionally available all the time. All the time. And that aspect didn’t ring true. Who has that kind saintly empathy? I felt bad for Jude but I also felt bad for Harold, Willem, Andy…what about the trauma on them?

jk wrote: "Out of curiosity, I was wondering what other readers thought of the lack of developed female characters in A Little Life. Really, there were only three women central to the story: Ana, Julia, and S..."

Yeah! I did notice that and while it didn't bother me it made me wonder about Yanagihara's intention to leave all the women characters so flat or underdeveloped. It looks like the author subverts a lot of conventions, particularly turning upside down the idea of the ‘redemptive’ novel. Maybe scrubbing the book of women and focusing on the male emotional psyche is another way of flouting conventions.