![]() The subjects of his art all seem to be his friends. My only question would be the scope and range of his work. The descriptions of J.B.’s art projects, from his early, experimental pieces as a student – one involves collecting people’s real hair – to the shows that get him attention and fame, all feel authentic. And in the character of Brother Luke (especially), she understands how abusers manipulate. Yanagihara expertly weaves the story of Jude’s abusive past into his present-day narrative. The way Jude’s brutal past is layered into the story A good one-third to one-half of the book recounts all of that.ģ. For the people who adore him (not just J.B., Malcolm and Willem but Harold, his former law professor, who, with his wife Julia, adopt Jude at age 30, and Andy, the most supportive physician on the planet), this is beyond frustrating. Beyond that, he can’t trust anyone and doesn’t feel he’s worthy of love, even though as an adult he gets nothing BUT unconditional love (with one notable exception). ![]() In one particularly harrowing scene, he sets himself on fire. He cuts himself (if you’re squeamish, you’ve been warned). Jude, an orphan raised at a monastery, the first site of his sadistic stations of the cross, feels absolutely worthless. My one major takeaway from this book is a fuller understanding of the after-effects of systemic childhood abuse. The novel is also refreshing in its depiction of race, gender and sexual orientation. Over the decades, their friendship endures, through spats, early career struggles, J.B.’s drug addiction and, most of all, dealing with the effects of Jude’s unspeakably abusive past on his current life, although Jude is terrified to tell anyone about that abuse. becomes a hip downtown artist the well-off Malcolm is a well-known architect Willem goes from waiter to movie star practically overnight Jude is a lawyer, first at the D.A.’s office and then at a prestigious corporate firm, where he works himself up and becomes a partner. ![]() If this book had a theme song it might be the Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Four roommates at an Eastern college move to the Big Apple and become huge successes: J.B. I liked it, I really liked it! But I also didn’t. The book took me just under 2 weeks to finish, and I’m glad I read it. I hate to be the outlier or considered cold-hearted (I’m not! I cry over books and movies ALL THE TIME!!!). Many people are saying it’s one of the most incredible books they’ve ever read. There are lots of 5 star raves on this site. Everyone’s talking about Hanya Yanagihara’s Booker- and National Book Award-nominated blockbuster novel. ![]()
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