A Little LifeA Little Life
Score Modern
What it's about
Four friends move to New York after college: Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a painter; Malcolm, an architect; and Jude, a brilliant, private lawyer whose past is a mystery. Over three decades their careers rise and their friendships deepen, but the story increasingly centers on Jude, and on the trauma of his childhood, which shapes everything about his adult life and which his friends can't fix, however much they love him.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most emotionally overwhelming novels of the century, a book readers call devastating, unforgettable and sometimes unbearable, and it was a Booker and National Book Award finalist. It's an intense portrait of friendship and suffering.
You'll love it if you liked
The Great Believers
Shuggie Bain
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & ClayGood to know
Please check content warnings first: it contains extended, graphic depictions of child sexual abuse, self-harm and suicide. It's over 700 pages.
By the numbers
- Readers87 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics82 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller71 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz4 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #4 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #20 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #38 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is A Little Life worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most emotionally overwhelming novels of the century, a book readers call devastating, unforgettable and sometimes unbearable, and it was a Booker and National Book Award finalist. It ranks #38 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 89.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Little Life about?
Four friends move to New York after college: Willem, an aspiring actor; JB, a painter; Malcolm, an architect; and Jude, a brilliant, private lawyer whose past is a mystery. Over three decades their careers rise and their friendships deepen, but the story increasingly centers on Jude, and on the trauma of his childhood, which shapes everything about his adult life and which his friends can't fix, however much they love him.
How long does it take to read A Little Life?
About 18 hours (720 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Little Life?
If you liked it, try The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart or The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon.