After this book being on my list to read for a few years, I decided to finally pick it up. I’m just over halfway and I can see why it’s unpopular. It’s so f’ing dark and it’s stressing me out. Im realizing though, that I haven’t felt SUCH strong anger emotions from a book…ever. The character Caleb, filled me with pure rage. However, I am having other interesting thoughts and I’m curious if anyone else felt this as well.
I genuinely feel a deep empathy for Jude as a character so far (remember I'm only halfway through the book). As someone who’s processed abuse in their life in a very similar, dissociative way (thankful for therapy!) I can somewhat understand the compartmentalization that is happening. It’s his intense self-loathing that resonates with me and that I find so fascinating. I feel it mirrors how we sometimes interpret our own feelings of inadequacy. Though, Jude’s struggle is far more extreme and incredibly dark, I see how the author intended for readers to connect with that universal experience of inner turmoil.
What’s intriguing is that my deep empathy for Jude often brings me back to moments when I’ve had unkind thoughts about myself. In feeling for him, I find myself reflecting on those times with a sense of grace for myself.
Anyone else?
by Eddievetters
1 Comment
I haven’t read A Little Life, for a lot of the reasons you’ve named. There’s been a lot of controversy for this one and it seems like for good reason. So far, have you found any literary value? Any purpose? If you feel compelled to keep reading, why? I am curious if this is a book worth picking up or if it’s just horribleness that leads to nothing.