A Little Life
Hanya Yanagihara |
March 10, 2015 |
Doubleday |
Contemporary Fiction |
Adult |
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is an adult contemporary novel, originally published on March 10, 2015.
Trigger Warnings
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- Ableism (violent)
Dismissal of chronic pain, physical abuse after showcasing disability, character is raped because of his disability. This happens in The Axiom of Equality, Chapter One.
- Child abandonment
A baby is left in a dumpster
- Child abuse
- Child death
Detailed, The Axiom of Equality Chapter Two.
- Child molestation
- Child rape
From 9 to 12 years old. Hundreds of men, including his parental figure. The Axiom of Equality, Chapter Three.
- Drug abuse
- Domestic violence/abuse
Has the potential to lead to a possible murder. The Axiom of Equality, Chapter One and Two.
- Eating disorder
- Emotional abuse
- Gaslighting
- Grooming
- Lesbophobia (unchallenged)
- Manipulation
- Pedophilia
- Physical abuse
Character is constantly hit by people raising him as a child. He is later hit by a partner as an adult.
- Prostitution
Of a child (from nine to twelve years old). The Axiom of Equality, Chapter Three.
- Racism
Deep discussions of Black identity are discussed within the book, including internalized racism and being mixed. Some Black readers have expressed this oversteps boundaries, as the author is not Black.
- Rape
The Axiom of Equality, Chapter One and Chapter Two. Child rape at Chapter Three.
- Self harm (graphic)
- Sexual abuse
- Sexual assault
- Suicide ideation
- Suicide
Graphic attempt at The Axiom of Equality, Chapter Three.
- Transphobia (misgendering)
Character isn't actually trans, but characters doing the misgendering believe they are, trans identity is used as a punchline. Vanities, Chapter One.
Representation
An asterisk (*) indicates that the author openly identifies with that identity.
- M/M romance (main characters)
- Non-specified POC (main character)
- Black side characters
- Indian side character
- Disabled main character
- PTSD (main character)
Tropes
- Friends-to-lovers
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
When four classmates from a small Massachusetts college move to New York to make their way, they’re broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition. There is kind, handsome Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a quick-witted, sometimes cruel Brooklyn-born painter seeking entry to the art world; Malcolm, a frustrated architect at a prominent firm; and withdrawn, brilliant, enigmatic Jude, who serves as their centre of gravity. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, tinged by addiction, success… Read more.
Goodreads • The Story Graph
Trigger & Content Warnings:
- Ableism
- Lesbomisia
- Transmisia
- Misgendering
- Paedophilia & child sexual abuse
- Rape & rape of a child
- Child physical & emotional abuse
- Child neglect & abandonment
- Intimate partner violence & abuse
- Eating disorder
- Suicidal ideation
- Graphic attempted suicide
- Self-harm
- Drug abuse
- Graphic death of a child
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