A Little Life Book Summary

A Little Life explores the lives of four college friends in New York City, focusing particularly on the enigmatic Jude St. Francis. As their bonds deepen, the dark secrets of Jude's traumatic past begin to unravel, revealing heart-wrenching layers of struggle and resilience. The story delves into themes of friendship, suffering, and the pursuit of happiness, posing profound questions about the human condition. Yanagihara's evocative prose captures both the beauty and brutality of life, making it a deeply affecting experience. Prepare to embark on an emotional journey that will linger long after the final page.

By Hanya Yanagihara

Published: 2016

"‘The most important thing is to be kind to yourself. No one else is going to show you mercy.’"

Book Review of A Little Life

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A stunning “portrait of the enduring grace of friendship” (NPR) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZE A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. Look for Hanya Yanagihara’s latest bestselling novel, To Paradise.

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‘The most important thing is to be kind to yourself. No one else is going to show you mercy.’

A Little Life

By Hanya Yanagihara