To Paradise

A powerful novel of love, freedom, and family, from the author of the Booker-shortlisted A Little Life

By: Hanya Yanagihara

Narrated by: BD Wong, Catherine Ho, Edoardo Ballerini, Feodor Chin, Kurt Kanazawa

The No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller from the author of A Little Life

'I’m not sure I’ve ever missed the world of a book as much' – The Observer

To Paradise is a bold, brilliant novel spanning three centuries and three different versions of the elusive idea of utopia; driven by Hanya Yanagihara’s understanding of our desire to protect those we love – lovers, children, friends, family and even our fellow citizens – and the pain that ensues when we cannot.

In an alternate version of 1893 America, New York is part of the Free States, where people may live and love as they please (or so it seems).

In a 1993 Manhattan besieged by the AIDS epidemic, a young Hawaiian man lives with his much older, wealthier partner, hiding his troubled childhood and the fate of his father.

In 2093, in a world torn apart by plagues and governed by totalitarian rule, a powerful scientist’s damaged granddaughter tries to navigate life without him – and solve the mystery of her husband’s disappearance.

What unites these characters, and these Americas, are their reckonings with the qualities that make us human – fear, love, shame, loneliness – and the longing to find a place in an earthly paradise.

‘Not only rare . . . revolutionary’ – Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours

‘Prepare to weep in public and be utterly transformed’ – Stylist

Critic reviews

After the painfully affecting [A Little Life] To Paradise gives us three stories far apart in space and time but each unique in their power to summon the joy and complexity of love, the pain of loss. I’m not sure I’ve ever missed the world of a book as much as I miss To Paradise now I’ve left it.

To Paradise is a transcendent, visionary novel of stunning scope and depth. A novel so layered, so rich, so relevant, so full of the joys and terrors – the pure mystery – of human life, is not only rare, it’s revolutionary. (Michael Cunningham, author of The Hours)

Hanya Yanagihara's To Paradise is as good as War and Peace (Edmund White, author of A Boy's Own Story )

One of the most anticipated books of 2022 – if not the decade . . . Prepare to weep in public and be utterly transformed.

To Paradise becomes unputdownable . . . Amidst the worst travails and political pressures, the primacy of human bonds is irreducible, a truth that lies at the heart of this frightening and very beautiful novel.'

A future classic . . . For those captivated by Yanagihara’s A Little Life, her next is equally gripping . . . Ultimately, it asks the question: is love really all we need?

A bravura achievement . . . Behind this impressive, significant novel stands the question: what is a life, if it is not lived in freedom?

A very unusual sensibility and a burning subject matter have come together here . . . Highly affecting. Read it and hope not to revisit it in your dreams.

Intriguing and worth listening to

Unsettling, but something we should all listen to. I loved the writing and the performances.

Mmmmm

Can’t exactly say if I thought this a great read but i am certainly sure that I’m pleased I listened to it. It was interesting, thought provoking and daunting. Pleased I won’t be around in 2093.

Brilliant and infuriating

3.5 stars.

I absolutely loved the stories especially part 3. I was hooked. Yet there were 2 aspects that REALLY annoyed me:
1. She used the same character names across all 3 stories/parts even though they were absolutely unrelated. I find this pointless and irritating especially in keeping track of the complexity if each story.
2. Part 1 and 2 ended abruptly on an absolute precipice. I was left dangling with no inkling of the outcome of the story. It feels unfinished more than thought provoking.
I wouldn't recommend the book because of these 3 aspects. I'm left feeling incomplete rather than satisfied or even dissatisfied with the novel.

Lengthy and Verbose

Overall, this book is very lengthy and verbose. Book 1 has a good voice narrator however felt incomplete; I wish the story would proceed more on David’s and Edward’s marriage.

Book 2 is the least enjoyable read for me. Part 1 of Book 2 is just plain boring. Aside of the verboseness, the flashbacks are too all over the place. Compared to Part 2 of Book 2 on the other hand, the writing structure of a letter format is slightly better and easier to read fast-paced.

Book 3, I can’t say that I enjoyed it, it only got me through. Part 1-6 drags too much made me almost DNF. The voice narrator for Charlie sounds very flat and boring but then the story revealed the character is not a lively person, so I happened to understand and I appreciate for enhancing immersive reading experience. Charles witty and enthusiastic chapters however is easier to read and improves my motivation to read. Part 7-10 made me stay and finally finished it.