Grade: NR
Notable People: Hanya Yanagihara
Title: “A Little Life”
Review: I tried, I really, really tried…..to finish this mammoth work recommended by New York Times top ten list for last year. Firstly, it is almost 800 pages……which is scaly reserved for Tolstoy or Homer….or The Bible. And although, it is a well written book….it is still 800 pages….I spent two weeks getting through about 400 of them, a very wee bit at a time….before I pitched it…..which I NEVER do……Maybe it is the effects of a year plus of Covid, despairing daily realities in our country, and my own general ennui……but cold just not tolerate to degree of self-loathing, self-indulgence an lack of any form of self-control. Basic story surrounds college roommates from a prestigious Massachusetts university go to the big city to live their lives- together and apart. They are very successful in careers (art, film, architecture and law)..but lead very complicated lives, often bordering on tragic. I can intellectually see the merits of this work….but just way too depressing to push though it’s length.