I read the first 2/3ish of this book and then set it on fire and then picked it back up again a year or so later. Didn’t think I would but I found myself thinking about it quite often in that year it was unfinished.
Here is the only note I have about this book, which is written in my journal: Super glad I finished A Little Life. It was still insanely heartbreaking but the ending has some good parts too. Overall, insanely hated the book but it is also beautiful in a lot of ways and I got so attached to the characters. Inspiring in terms of friendship and growing up. Probably would not recommend it to someone else because why would you want to put yourself through that.
Stupid ass book but I guess I would say you should read it. I still remember parts of it so vividly. Insanely good writing (not that I really know what is good writing and what isn’t but I thought it was quite good).
Also the only passage I highlighted:
““No,” Willem said, after they’d all stopped laughing. “I know my life’s meaningful because”–and here he stopped, and looked shy, and was silent for a moment before he continued–“because I’m a good friend. I love my friends, and I care about them, and I think I make them happy.”