A Little Life
Hanya Yanagihara
Doubleday
‘Friendship, companionship: it so often defied logic, so often eluded the deserving,’ writes Hanya Yanagihara in her Booker-shortlisted second novel, A Little Life. Some characters may be more deserving than others, but, at first glance, there seems to be little reason ascribed to the arcs of their respective lives over the course of the book’s 734 pages. A Little Life charts the changing fortunes and relationships of four men, Willem, JB, Malcolm and Jude, over nearly 40 years, from their time as college roommates through to middle age. The fulfilment the former three achieve in their professional lives – and, at times, in their personal lives – is contrasted with the experience of Jude as the novel’s protagonist. Hyper-graphic descriptions of his self-harm abound, as the equally distressing story of his miserable past gradually reveals itself. In spite of the love Jude’s friends (particularly Willem) show him, by the end we are left wondering about the truth of Jude’s mentor’s assurance that ‘life rearranges itself to compensate for your loss.’
While many novels concern young people growing up and negotiating the world, this one is singular in its amplified depictions not just of life’s cruelty, but also of its happiness and triumphs. In an interview with The Guardian, Yanagihara said that she ‘wanted there to be an exaggeration of everything’ and aimed ‘to be always walking that line between out-and-out sentimentality and the boundaries of good taste.’ Indeed, for all the privilege her characters enjoy, nothing can be taken for granted: ‘to be alive was to worry.’ This book succeeds in giving a compelling, absorbing portrayal of characters easy to invest in. These characters may sometimes verge on cliché. The descriptions of child abuse, sexual violence, and the lasting damage these inflict may be too much for some tastes. The plot may take twists – both joyous and tragic – that don’t fully work, but you will find it very hard to put down.
Words: Stephen Cox
