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"A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara: Worst Novel to Be Adapted

Art & Literature

December 31, 2024

“A Little Life” (2015) by Hanya Yanagiahara, a bestselling yet controversial novel, is bubbling with conversation due to rumors of a film adaptation after a recent photo of rising-actor, Cooper Koch, was seen posing with a physical copy. This follows the release of the theatrical rendition by Ivo Van Howe on the 28th of September, 2023, leaving fans and avid readers on standby for possible clues of the novel to be cast on big screens.

However, with many discussions comes criticism and concern as people either celebrate or disagree with the news of such an adaptation. So, what exactly is the problem of this novel being adapted?

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Drawn-out Plot

For anyone who hasn’t read the piece (and a word of caution, please be aware of the sensitive material), “A Little Life” deals with the story of four college friends, Jude St. Francis, Willem Ragnarsson, Jean-Baptiste Marion (JB), and Malcolm Irvine, navigating New York and overcoming adversities in their lives. It’s a lengthy 832 pages that captures every subtle detail to the reader.

Although the in-depth and rich descriptions make the tale nuanced on paper, placing it directly on film can serve as an issue. From segments of the plot lacking emphasis and pacing problems, to the cause of a watered-down story that is nowhere near as cathartic or impactful.

Yanagihara mentions in various interviews that the decision for the long duration is due to the importance of developing the characters, which I’ve realized upon reading plays an extremely significant role in establishing a connection between the reader and author. Knowing the characters very well is essential through the build-up of relationships.

Adapted films often fail because they don't create the immersive atmosphere that the books convey. The diction and emotive language that was used by Hanya Yanagihara can only be truly captured in the writing. Different readers often interpret stories in various ways, and creating a movie that establishes a specific interpretation, especially one favored by the director, can reduce its relatability and the personal connection viewers feel.

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Heavy Content

Jude St. Francis is one of the most complex characters that I've encountered. He's a talented lawyer and mathematician who's troubled by his past experiences, leaving him to beset relationships he comes across throughout the novel.

The second part of the novel is practically dedicated to solving the mystery of this character, slowly answering the questions of why he became what he is— a man with layers, similar to an onion, that require careful unwrapping each time. Alongside his friends Willem, Jean-Baptiste, and Malcolm, we readers also intervene during his vulnerable moments to observe the situation, forming our own judgments.

You might’ve heard of this story being the “saddest read”, but this title is merely what I find the book to be. It’s devastating and an absolute pile of pain to both the reader and specific characters of the story who have undergone experiences of trauma. A person can only ever take so much when consuming media that is as graphic and sensitive as this.

Individuals who may have already been struggling mentally can find this book to be emotionally overwhelming, almost too much to handle even when reading at their own pace and time. The case of a film adaptation only takes this so far, bringing the very detailed and heavy descriptions on-screen that can make it more disturbing for viewers.

Among discussions with others surrounding “A Little Life”, there have been multiple people who mentioned how this novel was such a hard read. As someone who doesn’t often get emotional over novels, this has certainly left me with moments of deep sympathy for characters like Jude St. Francis.

The constant suffering that he’s gone through in the later chapters can be exhausting and quite redundant to handle. It makes me wonder whether Hanya Yanagihara intended to write it solely to shock and disturb the reader as opposed to create a well-built storyline.

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Controversies with Author

Believe it or not, controversies prevail from the author, Hanya Yanagihara, especially on topics such as mental health, abuse, and therapy.

“One of the things I don’t trust about therapy… Is that it’s insistent on that life can get better… And I think for some people it doesn’t and it can’t…”

— Hanya Yanagihara, Interview with Matthew Spektor, ALOUDla (June 29, 2024)

Referring back to the previous point, individuals who are struggling may use this perspective to justify their negative thoughts instead of trying to mitigate them. In this particular interview with Matthew Spektor in ALOUDla, Hanya Yanagihara explains how therapy can sometimes not be the answer. Suppose you are writing a novel as emotional and psychological as “A Little Life”, as an author, it's necessary to be mindful that statements like this can reinforce negative beliefs in readers who engage with your novel.

Many studies have demonstrated the importance of therapy in improving people's lives. However, statements like these can contribute to the stigmatization of therapy and lead individuals to avoid seeking help.

“No, I didn’t do any research; Jude came to me fully formed, and writing his sections were always the easiest. He’s a very consistent character — or is meant to be — which is, arguably, part of what dooms him…”

— Hanya Yanagihara, Interview with Adalena Kavanagh, ELECTRICLIT (May 21, 2015)

Moreover, there has been controversy regarding Yanagihara’s lack of research in developing the character of Jude, who has experienced significant trauma. Researching the characters you create is essential for accurate representation. It seems that Jude is portrayed as a simplistic character, lacking depth and the thoughtfulness expected in character development. At the end of the day, this story deals with real-life events that happen to real-life people, and so a misinterpretation of this can lead to an injustice to those who have gone through these experiences in honest ways.

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Conclusion

Overall, “A Little Life” has had a profound impact on many readers, resonating with themes of resilience and friendship. The novel has received accolades such as the British Book Awards and the Kirkus Prize, and it has been shortlisted for many others.

However, adapting this deeply emotional work for the big screen presents significant challenges, as the complexity of its narrative, the struggles of its characters, and its controversial nature may not blend easily as a film or series. By all means, this article is not meant to discourage others from the novel as I do believe that opinions are subjective (who knows, “A Little Life” could be your cup of tea), rather it's to give a warning of such content that could be deemed as exploitative and excessive than story-telling.

Angeline Sophia Lucas

Writer since Apr, 2024 · 1 published articles

Angeline Sophia Lucas is a graduate of Pompallier Catholic College, soon taking her tertiary studies to the Auckland University of Technology under a $22,850 scholarship for a Bachelor's of Medical Laboratory Science. In Angeline's spare time, she is hanging out with friends, reading, travelling around New Zealand, as well as keeping up with her favourite band, TOMORROWXTOGETHER!

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