A Little Life

A Novel

By: Hanya Yanagihara

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 32 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2022 Penguin Random House Audio (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

A big life really

This is an amazing story of the lives of 4 college friends and their friends. At times I was smiling and hopeful and other times in tears. A long story, but a great one. In Depth discussion of sexual abuse, life of LGBT community, friendship, drug abuse, illness, parenting, suicide and so much more . I am a richer person, having listened to this book.

An Emotional and Thoughtful Experience

Devastating. Beautifully written. Talented narrator. Worth the emotional torment and occasional tears this beautiful book caused. I started reading the physical book, but towards the end moved to the audiobook. Very pleased with that experience, as the narrator tells the story with grace.

Amazing but depressing

40 hours of perfect sadness. It’s a great book and you will enjoy but also question if you want to continue listening constantly. Heart wrenching, frustrating, beautiful, and above all else, a tragedy.

I have never given 15 stars before!

A recent article in the Atlantic talked about books that can make you smarter. This book will make you a better person. I loved it. I miss it now that it’s over.

Gutwrenchingly beautiful

This book will punch you in the face and when you are down on the ground and can’t take anymore, it will stomp on you, right in the heart. It is such a tough story but so worth the time it takes to listen or read it. My soul is hurting but I am thankful for this book for being so beautifully written and so emotionally provoking.

Intense without redemption

The writing is great and the narration is impeccable. Not a feel good, resolved type of story. Over the top in trauma detailing. Not appropriate for all audiences as many may find it disturbing both while reading and afterwards even to the point of needing help to move past it.

love the voices

i always recommend an audiobook when i can tell which character is who solely based on the voices. the consistency is insane, the storytelling left me invested, best audiobook i’ve ever listened to. :))

Intensely personally devastating

The book is natural, fluent and satisfying but the experience comes at a terrible cost. The subject matter is unspeakable in polite society so to live a world of such extreme exposure to the rawness of life can be hard on a person. Be gentle with yourself.

Amazing story!

Truly a heartbreaking story which unfolds in a compelling way by the author. Be prepared to cry!

100% Recommend

This is a book that will stick with you for a looong time, if not, forever. You truly get to know the characters and become so invested in their lives without evening realizing it. I miss these characters already and know that this is a book I will reread, despite its dark material.