What is A Little Life actually about? reading vlog with full spoilers | Drinking By My Shelf
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 23. 07. 2024
- I didn't mean to jump on the crying at A Little Life vlog bandwagon, but oops. Please open for content warnings for the book and for topics discussed in this video:
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- self harm
- suicide
- sexual abuse
- severe physical and emotional abuse - from parental figures and within a relationship
- self-hatred
- extreme weight loss
0:00 Intro
2:29 Part I: Jude & JB & Willem & Malcolm
7:15 Part II: Oh no
16:06 Part III: I'll be there 4 u
20:12 Part IV: Oh no no no
27:28 Part V: Do you even know what happy means
33:24 Part VI and VII: Oh no no no no no
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A Little Life reading vlog with full spoilers
I have no interest in reading this but I am always curious about everything, so thank you for doing a spoiler one
Ha Iâm the same I always want spoilers of everything!
Samee I donât think I could mentally read this but please tell me all it is about
I didn't realise this book was even like this before I read it. I naively thought it was about four friends growing up đŁ
I tried reading it but it was too boring đ so I just wanna know how it ends
You are missing out
I think it's interesting no one talks abt the happy parts of the book (except you, who always says it portrays enduring hope and the strength of human spirit) because from my perspective, it's that happiness and love and hope that makes the tragedy most effective. I cried watching you vlog this, i KNOW i'm not strong enough to read it, so thank you
Agreed! If it was just the bad bits, then yeah, it would just be torture porn. But the happy parts are what brings it to life! (Which yes, makes it soooo sad)
@@DrinkingByMyShelf YES YES YES! I ALWAYS say this to people not wanting to read it because they think it sounds like torture porn. I think this book is mostly about this beautiful friendship, and other than that just real life (though not relatable life for most of us). There is so much beauty and love in this book.
Spoilers aren't a turn off for me for reading a book, but they do make it so I know whether a polarizing book is up my alley.
Same! I have been interested in reading this book but I'm kinda scared of it and now knowing what exactly happens in it I can make a better informed decision of whether I want to go through these 700+ pages myself
I know Jude endures more pain than anyone else in this story, but I can't help feeling for JB at the end.
Also, I found it interesting that everyone died after Jude died, like it was their love for him was somehow integral to their being.
Yes they all died in short span of time after he died
Not everyone. Harold and Julia didn't die and neither did JB.
Jude was the last one that we were told died. Malcolm and Willem died before Jude, and JB, Harold, and Julia were alive after Judeâs death.
@@davidcarver9752 Andy and Richard died just a few years after Judeâs death
Your dog getting so concerned about you was EVERYTHING.
jude st francis deserves the universe and everything in it x
YES HE DOES
OK, one more (a little bit random) thing. I just yesterday learned that apparently there was a theater production of a little Life in The Netherlands in 2018/19. If I had known I would have gone, sadly I missed the news. But what I thought was really interesting there was that Brother Luke, Caleb, and Dr. Traylor were played by the same actor. Something Hanya Yanagihara loved and I think I do too.
Oh interesting!
OH OKAY UPDATE! They are performing the show again in september!!! It is gonna be hard to watch it happen too, but I'm so excited to go!
And thereâs a livestream of the show with English/French subtitles happening on October 1st for anyone that canât attend in person!!
@@ccoquito I KNOW! So everybody can watch it this friday!đ
I'll see it live TOMORROW!đ
@@ccoquito is there any way to watch the livestream now?
I'm very glad I never read this book. I felt sick hearing all the things that happend. I would not have been able to read this without me going to a very dark place myself. I'm sure this book would be really good for some people, but I don't think I could ever handle reading about so many horrible topics in 1 book. I think it's amazing that you did this video because I don't think this book is 'safe' for some people, but the right audience would still want to pick this novel up after this
Ok no way I couldâve read that myself, but Iâm glad I now know what itâs all about. Thank you for your service đ
You are most welcome đ
saaame
yes lol
People always think I'm crazy for loving spoilers or reading the ending first but it definitely helps my anxiety so I loved this because I have always been interested in this book!
Malcom's description in the begining represents me more than my passport.
Jb and jude describes me.
Iâm SO happy that I saw this video before reading it. Many people said that it was a deep book with deep issues in it, but since Iâm someone whoâs recovering pretty well from a really bad mental health, I was tempted to read it. My only triggers are SA and self harm, so I thought Iâd give this book a try, but thank God I didnât. Only by watching this I felt really sickened and depressed, so thank you very much for posting this, youâre a life saver!
Your dog being emotionally supportive is the most heart warming part of this video. Everything else about this story broke my heart đ
The fact that even your summary had me sobbing...I can completely understand why it's beloved by so many. My copy is going to the charity shop though, I don't think I could handle it. Thanks for doing this. â€ïž
Thank you so much for doing a spoiler filled vlog, I've always wanted to know what actually happens in this book but never wanted to actually read it myself!!
This is such a great video. I loved this book with my whole being. I was a child who was victim to abuse and I was in awe at the hopefulness and rawness of this book. I know the authorâs intent was to show a POV of someoneâs life who doesnât get better, and I think itâs a great discourse around trauma and how to live with it. In Judeâs case, he just couldnât. But even still he tried so hard. And honestly, I am so thankful that this book exists, it is painful, but life can be painful. And people who live with trauma deserve a space for their stories to be heard.
Thank you so much for sharing â€ïž
This is beautiful
Why am i sobbing at 9.30am on a Friday morning? Reliving those final chapters with you BROKE my heart again. But thank you for reminding me of the beauty in the book and why as much as it emotionally destroyed me I truely loved it.
i have suspected all along that this book isnt for me, and after watching this i know i was right! thank you for going through this for us, i also cried a little watching this heh. but also, hearing you talk about it i completely understand why people love it and i think thats nice.
I read this in January and just only stopped crying why am I making myself relive it
I read this book after one of my strongest depressive episodes (i was about to kill myself if it weren't for my best friend), i got this book and burnt through it in about 2 weeks or less, and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT, and it made me feel a lot better, seeing jude still fighting despite everything (whether he survived or not, the point is that he kept fighting for one reason or another), also, i identified myself with jude so much (i had a painful experience during my childhood that involves abuse, and also REALLY BAD experiences with therapy that made me hate the whole thing), so... Yeah... This is my favourite book now, although it probably shouldn't be since i'm not a particularly stable person when it comes to mental health, idc about any of it, this book changed my life for the better, amd i will always love it bc of it, bc of this book and a few other things i'm willing to keep living, to keep going, to keep fighting against my own demons đ€
PS: i didn't cried at all with this book, and based on what most people think, i should've. I just wished some people would stop satanizing this book bc it is so great and important to me now :(
PS 2: pls don't call this book "trauma porn", that is a really stupid term, some might believe or not but there are a lot of judes out there, amd people saying that is impossible to go through all that invalidates their lives and o hate that :(
thank you so much for sharing! stay strong
I hope youâre doing well! I think your review says so much about you. That despite all the struggles you still see the positives. That takes a very strong person and I hope that you know that you are that person. Thanks again!
I'm glad you were able to read this and that you saw Jude's strength. You are very right, they are so many Jude's out there. We need to be more aware to help them in this mad world. Just curious, how come they are satanizing it?? It's reality!
thank you for this comment. I really hope you are still fighting x
Ok SPOILER ALERT
I always had expected Jude or Harold to die but NEVER Willem. This is so unfair, the years are not happy. This is not fair...
In everything i see, i see him
I think there was happiness in those years, they had such a closeness between them..
Willem's death puts an end to the chapter though
thank you! there is a part of me who wants to read it because im curious as to why so many people say it's so sad. but at the same time, i cry from happy books, so i dont want to go through the pain.
Thank you for doing this (it must have been really difficult). I read A Little Life last year and it totally broke me but in a weird way I sometimes miss the story (or mostly the characters). It was so nice to see someone actually making a video with spoilers because I don't think I could ever reread it myself.
Thank god you did this. Since the a little life vlog hype happened iâve been looking for a spoiler filled vlog to tell me why this is such an emotional book. Thank you Emma â„ïž
I really really love this, so thank you! Now, I have read this book, twice and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE it. It is everything. I've seen a lot of people talking about how they don't want to read this book lately, and while this video is for people who never plan on reading it, I needed seeing someone loving over this bookâ€.
I love all the characters in this book and seeing you react to it brought all of it back. I spent the whole video hugging the book and crying (I don't care if that's weird). And I loved it.
Your book summary was brilliantly done. I loved your changes of wardrobe and location, and actually holding the book, and showing your emotions, and communicating what happens between the 4 friends, and Harold without judgment. What a tumultuous life, with just glimpses of hope and light. Thank you!
I absolutely loved this book and do plan to eventually read again, but content about it ALWAYS draws my attention, because it was such a special reading experience. I think this is an amazing idea for anyone who may not mentally be in the right head space to read it, or even people who don't have the time to read this story! Your mind!!!
I love your spoiler videos! Thanks so much for going through this pain again for us đđâ€
I was strong while reading this and didn't shed a single tear until I started dear comrade. I cried for the rest of the book
started playing and paused instantly bc in the middle of reading it currently just to comment how incredible the thumbnail is.... visionary
Even watching the reading vlog and remembering when I read the book last year I needed to cry. I agree with you though that all the love is absolutely beautiful even if it makes everything more heartbreaking.
Lovely vlog!
Thank you!!! I have been back-and-forth with whether or not I wanted to torture myself with this book. I absolutely love full spoiler videos because it gives me something to come back to once I have finished a book to see other peoplesâ reactions. Plus, if Iâm on the fence they help me to determine whether or not I want to read a book. I appreciate this Vlog more than you know! Keep them coming đđđ
Omg thank you so much for putting yourself through this for us! I have had A Little Life sitting on my bookshelf for probably three years (maybe more?) and I've always been kind of terrified to pick it up because everyone talks about how bleak it is, but I've never actually heard what the story itself is even about (except that there are queer characters). So after hearing what all the bad things that happen in this book actually are, I do feel a little more confident and prepared to pick it up.
I finished reading this last night and I'm already crying when you introduced the characters lmaoo
Aw...thank you for this. Iâve had this book on my shelf for a while but Iâm on meds for anxiety & depression....so have been weary. Iâm glad I didnât read it and watched your video instead! Have a lovely weekend âșïž
I loved this novel and loved this video! I admire your dedication for books and book themed videos you do.
I've never read it but after watching this video and balling my eyes out, I think it's safe to say I would not be able to handle the pain if I read it. It sounds like a very beautifully written story and maybe in a few years time I'll give it a go because it sounds like a book you should read at least once! đ
I was sobbing just by this review, I wouldn't bare reading it myself, thanks for doing this, you saved me from my own curiosity taking over me.
god this is beautifully sad; it's not a sweet story, it's a heartbreaking story written so well it makes it beautiful.
I want to get inside that book and give Jude a hug
Thank you for this video! I never had any intention to read this book because it sounded boring af but everyone keeps talking about it and noone ever mentions WHAT is so sad about it and what the plot even is that it made me a bit curious. Watching this reassured me that I would find it incredibly boring and it's not for me at all but I'm glad I finally know what the plot even is.
đ
Not me already having read the book and yet still CRYING during your summary
I would have never been able to read it myself...Just watching the whole video , i feel so drained and my brain hurts ... I feel so so strongly for Jude , it breaks my heart and also when she mentioned that Willem dies , i cried too without even reading it... Its such a heavy book... Thank you so much for making this video ...i would never ever be able to go through so much pain in detail alone ever... Ughhh it hurts
Literally just watching you read it and explain it made me cry, I couldn't imagine ever being able to read it myself haha
I'm so sorry you had to go though this damn story again lol but thank you for taking the time to share te whole story with full spoilers, because I've always been curious about it but knew I could never read it. But good god, I almost cried just by watching you tell the things that happen, can't even imagine reading it by myself
Iâm one of the odd ones who had never heard of this book before and Iâve started reading it and now Iâm watching this video as I make progress with the book. So far, everything Emma says I can relate to. I wasnât sold on the first chunk of pages but now Iâm fully invested in it. The first Jude part already broke my heart. I donât think Iâm ready for whatâs coming.
I read from the Happy Years to the end on the plane home from a holiday and it was a WILD RIDE! Would not recommend ha! Thank you for doing this video and reminding me why I loved the beautiful friendships in this book đ§Ą
Thank you for doing this review/summary. The trigger warnings scared me away from actually reading it but I still wanted to hear the story.
Thanks for satisfying my curiosity :) Great job getting everything across and showing how emotional it gets. Gonna sub. You're great.
I read a little life in 2020 and it put me in a 2 year reading slumpâŠI just started reading again last month lmao
Thank you for also pointing out, how much love and hope there is in the book! I love this book. Just finished a second time and I know I will read it again. It always breaks my heart, but in a way that's the point. But for me it's also so much about Support, friendship and love....
Dude i'm crying from just hearing this summary let alone reading the book later đđđđđđđ
I'm so happy you covered this entire book! I didn't get past page 110 because I just felt the story dragging even though it was only starting to pick up in plot. Now I kind of regret not sticking through it. Who doesn't enjoy a good cry after a book? Love your commentary!
I don't have it in me to read through something with these many triggers and sad plot points. So, I'm glad for this spoiler video that gave me a gist on why this book is so loved. Thank you :)
I always thought I was curious about this, but I couldn't go past Part IV and I'm not even reading it, I'm just watching you talk. Def not for me, but glad you got to spend time with characters you love for this project :)
Not me crying over a book i never read (and never will). Thank u soooo much for making this video!!! After aclockworkreaders most recent video about this book i knew definitively i would never read it, but was still curious to know the plot and what happens. You spoke on the book beautiful and from a 40 minute video i made a connection to these characters enough to fucking sob at the ending
Going to watch this while I finish paintings that are very overdue, youâre doing gods work
Read it last month. Absolutely destroyed me đą Tbh, I was going to dnf it at the halfway point because it was just too miserable and it just wouldn't end! But! I gave it another chance because you always say, that the book feels also very hopeful to you. So I kept going, loved the happy times that came, wanted to burn the book for even taking that away and decided that I love it more than I hate it! I swear, I never had such a complicated relationship with a book đ Thank you Emma, for inspiring me to keep going â„ this book will always have a special place in my heart now
Oh wow!! Iâm sorry for putting you through so much misery haha but Iâm glad that you loved it more than hated it overall!
My goodness, you video deserves way much more likes because of what you went through. I just found this book and was looking for something like this so first of all THANK YOU!. it felt so nice to hear your and to "read" it with you. When I saw you crying....my heart just....I just couldn't. My goodness I just want to hug you so bad ! Like you wanted to give Jude a hug. I'm speechless. Also it was interesting to see you from the beginning of the video to the end. Your face changed so much, and that's the power of books and movies. I just wish you a beautiful day!
I cried for the majority of this video with you. đđ I was one of them sceptics/scaredycats who read (and vlogged) this book and experience and while I LOVED this book for everything you said - the people, their relationships and yes, the happiness (I found myself happy crying to an entire conversation about maths, which is MAD). BUT -- I didn't like the way the book made me feel. Where I felt like I was waiting for another shoe to drop - to see how the book is going to inflict pain on me. And I know this is attributed to the hype around this book and what readers have said and thus you're expecting it but also, it's just what the book is and what I felt.
So do with that information what you may. đ Thanks for this video though. â€ïž Well summed up. đđŒ
I have read a little life previously, but this vlog was so well done and told the story amazingly well. Thankyou
I also read this book a good three years ago so this is such a great way to relive it and my main thought is just "HAROOOLLDDDD!!!!!!" â€ïž
Iâm here because I watched Hannahâs new video who said that it completely disturbed her in a really bad way. And Iâm happy that you made this video where you tell us all about the book.
I also know that I could NEVER read this in my life. I never really knew what it was about. Itâs just way too much trauma and explicit violence for me oh my gosh
I even had to skip the part about the âdoctorâ and the car just when you were taking about it, so I donât know how I could ever read a (graphic) book about that
Exactly same!
Just listening to you talk about the part where Jude was thinking about Anna (sp?) and how he wanted help made me want to cry. I donât think Iâll ever be able to read this book so thank you for the spoilers
I read A little life five years ago and I remember skipping some difficult to read parts, but after watching the first few minutes of your video, I kind of want to read it again. Especially when you talked about Andy and Harold. I liked those side characters a lot actually. But I am scared to try reading it again. đŹ
i havenât read a little life yet and donât want to spoilers so iâm just here to drop a like and a comment for the algorithm!! see you monday emma
Thank you!!!
I saved this to my watch later for when I finally read the book just to see your reactions. Finally finished and need to see you talk about it to work through my own emotions đ I think Andy is really underrated as a character, the first time I cried was when Andy cried at the adoption news!
Oooh yes that's such a powerful moment!
Thank you so much for this, I was very curious about this book but couldnât bring myself to read it â€
Iâm so conflicted about this book. Lifestyle prĂžn, manipulating the readerâs emotions shamelessly, Jude is a weird kind of hurt/comfort Gary Stu character... yet I couldnât help giving it four stars đ€Š
Edit: Your analysis of the various narrative voices is so incisive and spot on! I feel like I need a reread so I can appreciate it fully.
Iâve been SO interested in finding out what happens in this book but I didnât want to read it so very excited to watch this
Thanks for doing this! I dnf'ed this right before the Happy Years -part because I just couldn't take it anymore. But I was really curious about what happens! Now I know it was definitely the correct decision to stop reading, I may have ruined my mental health with that ending whew
man I cried just watching this could not read it for the life of me
i finished this book literally two days ago, what great timing omg
Well update, Iâm done with the book, and I am shattered into a million pieces. I only cried one other time reading a book, but itâs nothing compared to how much I cried reading this. I just broke down. And then I cried again watching this video. I donât know if itâs the writing or the fact that you get to be with those characters for such a big part of their lives... but wow. So, so heartbreaking. I didnât think it would break my heart so much. Wow. Thank you Emma for making me discover this book.
Wow! Iâm sorry for the tears but Iâm glad you found this book as special as I did.
@@DrinkingByMyShelf Iâm glad I did honestly! This book will stay with me for life! You werenât kidding when you said it would totally make us cried!!!
Thanks for the parts...I can watch the parts as I read.....Yayyyy!!!!
Perfect!
Thank you so much for spoiling it because Iâve always wondered why it was so sad, but I doubt Iâll ever pick it up because I rarely read sad books. I dont think I wouldâve been able to get through this one
I loved this book so much! I was kinda impressed by the fact that a female writer could capture a gay male character so holistically and with such depth. I never cry but this book made me do so and I loved every minute of it. P.S. I mostly cried during the happy years because I was happy for Jude and Willem. The grief also was very moving and meaningful. 5/5
i feel like whoever reads this book will never be the same after finishing it.
Thank you for guiding us on this incredible journey đđ
I have seen some reviews of this book which made me ABSOLUTELY NOT want to read. This video was so helpful in deciding that at this point in my life it would not serve my mental health....However one day I would like to be strong enough to give it a read. Thanks for the detailed synopsis and the raw emotion!
What an amazing book despite all the sadness and trauma . I still think about the caracters especially Jude , days after i finished the book :D
Never read this book but only by this description I started crying
I am reading this book and watching this book at the same time. So after reading a part I'll watch that part of the video so it's fun :)
I had this on my shelf to read but itâs going to the charity shop after watching this video, I absolutely could not handle that đ«đ«
Thank you for this full spoiler story. I would never have the guts to read it. I think it would have messed me up if I had read it on my own.
Chezuz. Thanks for this. I did not want to read a heart breaking book but I had to know what it was about! And now I'm over here crying đ đ
I find it so interesting that people can read the same book and have such different opinions on it - and A Little Life is sooo polarizing! I read it and was very gripped by the book and thought the writing was quite beautiful, however I didn't find the characters' lives relatable at all; I wasn't saddened by the events, I was just sick to my stomach and angry. I'm no one to dictate that it is unrealistic that one's life can go through so many awful things, obviously, but it did seem like everything awful that could happen to Jude happened to him... At which point I just got desensitized...
I can't handle reading about SA of any kind but this book still intrigued me because of the hype. Thanks to you, I know now not to touch it with even a ten-foot pole. So, thank you!
Yes definitely sounds like it wouldn't be for you!!
I read this book last year and was a mess after reading it! I donât think I can ever re-read it so this is the perfect way of revisiting the story.
My only thought after finishing the book was just Harold. Poor poor lovely father. He must be so utterly devastated and heartbroken. But I hope the letters would help him learn where Jude came from and why he was that way.
Another thing, I'm so happy and also envious for the friendship and love portrayed there. Jude is also such an incredible friend. This.....this is just so unfair đđ
I read this book in one day, that I think by the end I was just so desensitized to it, that I didn't even cry... should've maybe spread it out a bit more
I love your video. This will never not be my favorite book :-(
Thank you Emma!!!! I WAS curious but didnât want to cry. So thanks for crying for me. The story does sound beautiful but definitely not something I could read now.
Hope youâre feeling un-blue soonâ€ïž
I really wanted to read it but it too long đ THANK YOU FOR FILLING MY DESIRE đđ»
I tried reading it, itâs not for me. But thank you for this video!!! I still wanted to know in a round-about- kind-of-way.
Me crying along remembering the book đ„đ„đ„
Ngl i love you for this Video. I have a crush on this girl, and our only really conversation topics are book, and she is obsessed with this book, i for myself find it boring, but thanks to you i can somehow somewhat talk about it with her. Thank you very very much
Thank goodness I donât have to read it myself!
Omg poor jude. I didn't want to read this book for the explicit details but i wanted to know the story so thank you. But I am still crying for judeeee
Edit. Omg I'm crying so much for all of them
i agree that people never talk about the hopeful parts! iâm guessing those have never read something this dark so thatâs all they focus on lol
you made me cry like i was reliving this book :(
Iâm thankful you filmed this. Iâve heard A Little Life recommend by so many people, but this is definitely NOT for me. Glad I experienced this through
your reading vlog!