
A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara · first published 2008
6mentions
5recommended by
5HN commenters
2016–2025first – last mentioned
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
A novel following a close group of friends over three decades, praised for beautiful writing and a hypnotic pull that stays with readers long after the last page, though its subject matter is hard to read.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
A Little Life is a 2015 novel by American novelist Hanya Yanagihara. The novel was written over the course of eighteen months. Despite the length and difficult subject matter, it became a bestseller.
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"A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara. It follows the story of a group of friends over 30+ years. I haven't been this gripped by a book in a while. Difficult subject matter and hard to read a times but it rewards you…
on “Ask HN: What good books have you read lately?” ↗All the fiction books that have left a lasting impact on me have been long... A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22822858-a-little-life) It is emotionally intense, beautifully written, and is a hypnotic read. Larger than life characters centered around one…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗I have time for a solid sleep schedule, lots of exercise, work, and at least three other hobbies (bicycles, metalworking, and skateboarding) so I think so! Fiction recommendations: - A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. This book absolutely wrecked me emotionally (in a good way) for weeks after reading it - The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. I enjoyed this even more than the Underground Railroad,…
on “Good Books for a Lousy Year” ↗I check back on Derick Sivers recommendations often at https://sive.rs/book See below for some recommendations based on my 2020 reading. Fiction recommendations: - A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. This book absolutely wrecked me emotionally (in a good way) for weeks after reading it - The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. I enjoyed this even more than the Underground Railroad,…
on “I'll pay you to read my book (2013)” ↗'A Little Life' https://www.amazon.com/Little-Life-Hanya-Yanagihara/dp/08041...
on “The quiet rebellion of a little life” ↗'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara and 'In Order to 'Live' by Yeonmi Park
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗