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Book Review of A Little Life

A Little Life
A Little Life
Author: Hanya Yanagihara
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 379 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


Once in a great while, a book comes along that finds a permanent place in my heart. That is where A Little Life resides, along with The Elegance of the Hedgehog, A Prayer for Owen Meany and a few others. This novel celebrates the power of love and friendship, and the resilience of the human spirit in the aftermath of devastating, heartbreaking betrayals. This is life at its grittiest and, subsequently, at its most sublime. There is cruelty in this book that left me in tears, but there is also an extraordinary depth of kindness and compassion. This is a difficult book to put down once begun and, despite its length, I was so sorry to see it end. 720 pages simply wasn't enough. This is a powerful story by a profoundly talented writer.