Hanya Yanagihara’s “A Little Life” has a reputation that precedes it. It is an emotionally devastating novel that leaves readers shattered. Everyone who has read this book seems to issue a warning to those who want to read it. For me, I have been told that everything bad that could happen happens to these characters. I’ve also been told to make sure I’m in a good mental state before reading this book, among other warnings. So, how bad is this book really?
This makes me think about this cultural phenomenon of books that are both beloved and feared in society. Why do readers gravitate toward trauma-heavy literature? Is it just because we want to feel something? Is “A Little Life” good simply because it provokes a strong reaction from readers?
I have yet to meet someone who did not cry while reading “A Little Life,” but I also have never met someone who did not think it was a great book. Why are we like this? Why do we crave uncomfortably from a piece of literature?
Let me get off track for a minute here, but if you think about love stories, romance literature, or movies, we tend to gravitate towards stories where love is longing and passionate. In our heads, too long or “burn” for someone (Bridgerton reference if you didn’t catch that) feels more special than a quiet, slow love. It’s like we are addicted to heartbreak; it’s as if we think if there is no pain, love isn’t powerful.
Think about some of the greatest love stories you’ve read or watched. Think about books and movies like “La La Land,” “The Notebook” and“Pride and Prejudice.” What these pieces of art have in common is that their love isn’t simple. Love stories that hurt feel more powerful than love stories that last.
It could be the media we consume, but it could also be partly because we are all human, and humans tend to not see value in things until that thing is gone. We don’t value the love that we receive until it is taken away from us, but we should.
I think the media we consume is partly why many of us are conditioned to think that if there isn’t pain, longing, and complexity, then our love isn’t raw or real. Bringing this back to “A Little Life,” many readers might regard it as a great piece of literature with great writing and characters, but most importantly, because it hurts. We shouldn’t reach for passionate and painful love. In the real world, love is slow, understanding and lasting.
