A Little Life

Synopsis

Bookseller Ray says "A chronicle of anxiety, trauma, abuse and modern day city life may not sound enticing, but there is a very good reason this novel has been a massive bestseller over the last couple of years. Yes It will break your heart, but not only that it will bring out the best in you, it can open your eyes to the fact that everyone has a story."

Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2015.
Shortlisted for the Baileys Prize for Women's Fiction 2016.
Finalist for the National Book Awards 2015.

The million copy bestseller, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, is an immensely powerful and heartbreaking novel of brotherly love and the limits of human endurance.

When four graduates from a small Massachusetts college move to New York to make their way, they're broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition. There is kind, handsome Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a quick-witted, sometimes cruel Brooklyn-born painter seeking entry to the art world; Malcolm, a frustrated architect at a prominent firm; and withdrawn, brilliant, enigmatic Jude, who serves as their centre of gravity. Over the decades, their relationships deepen and darken, tinged by addiction, success, and pride. Yet their greatest challenge, each comes to realize, is Jude himself, by midlife a terrifyingly talented litigator yet an increasingly broken man, his mind and body scarred by an unspeakable childhood, and haunted by what he fears is a degree of trauma that he'll not only be unable to overcome - but that will define his life forever.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Other Side

* Introduces Jude St. Francis, a brilliant and enigmatic lawyer haunted by a traumatic past.
* Jude meets Willem Ragnarsson, a successful actor, and JB Marion, a doctor. The three become close friends.
* Example: Jude's physical and psychological scars from childhood abuse are hinted at.

Chapter 2: The End of the Tour

* Jude, Willem, and JB travel to Spain on a vacation.
* Jude's past trauma resurfaces, leading to a physical altercation with Willem.
* Example: Jude's self-destructive impulses and flashbacks of abuse are explored.

Chapter 3: Background Noise

* Jude's childhood is revealed in flashbacks.
* He was raised by a Catholic priest and his cruel mother, who subjected him to physical and sexual abuse.
* Example: Jude's harrowing experiences in the orphanage and his attempts to escape are recounted.

Chapter 4: Lay of the Land

* Malcolm Irvine becomes Jude's therapist and supports him through his trauma.
* Jude begins to confront his past and form meaningful relationships.
* Example: Jude's sessions with Malcolm shed light on his childhood and its lasting effects.

Chapter 5: The Desk in the Corner

* Jude leaves his law firm to join a prestigious boutique firm founded by Harold M. Stumpf.
* He becomes a successful trial lawyer despite his inner turmoil.
* Example: Jude's phenomenal legal skills and his struggle to reconcile his past with his present are depicted.

Chapter 6: Fixtures

* Jude's apartment becomes a sanctuary for him and his friends.
* He establishes a close bond with Andy Keeley, a former law associate who is now a stay-at-home father.
* Example: Jude's longing for love and community is revealed through his relationships with Andy and others.

Chapter 7: Parts

* Jude discovers that Willem has been diagnosed with leukemia.
* He struggles to cope with the impending loss and his own mortality.
* Example: Jude's despair and his desire to protect his loved ones are portrayed.

Chapter 8: Mercies

* Jude confronts his mother and forces her to acknowledge her cruelty.
* He finds solace in music and in the companionship of his friends.
* Example: Jude's journey toward healing and forgiveness is depicted.

Chapter 9: The Full Catastrophe

* Willem dies from leukemia.
* Jude is devastated and retreats into himself.
* Example: Jude's profound grief and the impact of Willem's loss are explored.

Chapter 10: Words to Music

* Jude returns to his apartment and the life he had with his friends.
* He finds comfort in memories and in the love and support of those who remain.
* Example: Jude's resilience and the healing power of relationships are celebrated.