To Paradise: A Novel

What a wonderfully written epic that covers the journey of one family thru two centuries. This dystopian novel tells the interconnected stories of both the compassion and the horrific evil we are capable of, particularly in the context of life threatening pandemics. This book will sometimes feel like it hirs too close to home given the current political climate in the US and our recent emergence from the COVID 19 pandemic. Sad but beautiful story. This is the second book I’ve read by this author, The Little Life is one of my favorite books of all times but this is also a somber but great book. It ends with things left up in thé ait, it’s not a cliffhanger but the author doesn’t leave you with a HEA either.

I’m glad I read this interesting book. There are shades of Cloud Atlas, or even Cloud Cuckoo Land (why did it not have “Cloud” in the title, I wonder?), with its three parts, which tell stories of NYC in 1893, 1993, and 2093. And let me tell you, none of us want to live in that 2093. All three stories are compelling. All are set in the same Washington Square mansion, and in each century we follow people named Charles, David (“That’s a lot of Davids,” one character happens to say, and we agree), Edward. In these alternate histories, same-sex marriage is legal and very common, there’s a strong Hawaii story line that starts out following the Hiram Bingham family (I live in Hawaii and found that interesting), and oh my god the pandemic situation does not improve in this imagined future (understatement). The recurring names in each of the three acts was slightly confusing but also interesting. My tidy brain wanted the relationships between the generations to be easier to follow. I had to make my own chart, or tried anyway, but things got unwieldy fast. Where’s the chart of who’s who? Please add to inside front cover. And everything doesn’t always get wrapped up in a satisfying way. Still. Really good read.

I don’t write reviews on Amazon. Ever, really. This is a beautiful and extremely provocative book. I read Yanagihara’s A LITTLE LIFE, and although I liked it and found it fascinating, I recommended it to few people, because it can be a tough read for many. I’ve already recommended this book to many people. Yes, it’s over 700 pages long, as was a A LITTLE LIFE. Yes, the 21st century section is frightening. But as we hear more and more about the possibility of civil war in the US, and as we continue to fight the worst pandemic in over 100 years, TO PARADISE is incredibly prescient. The characters jumped off the page for me, and as I got to the last few pages of the book, I started to cry. That was a first for me. All novels provide something of an escape for the reader, and TO PARADISE is no exception. But it is not escapist fare. Far from it. As I said, it is beautiful and provocative, and I loved it.

After loving A Little Life, I looked forward to reading To Paradise. But I gave up about 2/3 through Part 1. I skipped ahead into Part 2 to see if it improved, but more of the same. To me, none of the main characters that I met, or their families, or their love lives, were interesting enough to keep me reading. Even if they'd been women, it wouldn't have made a difference. This is one of the few books ever I have not completed after starting. Why, I ask myself. Well, I found it very wordy and slow, and the love affairs tedious. And yet, it is obviously a master feat of a novel. Just one of the rare ones not for me.

Some might find the structure and/or the content of this novel challenging, but I find that it is so skillfully done that the result is an honest exploration of who we are as people, how our circumstances shape us, but do not have to define us, the risks of breaking free of the appearance of circumstantial safety, the striving towards something better, love & loss. There's three sections, but I count five distinct stories told from different POVs. The first section was difficult for me to get through because it seemed like the writer was not doing as much as she could with the alternate history she created. I found it hard to sympathize the protagonist. But, Yanagihara's prose is so strong, she is a highly skilled writer, that I kept pushing through it. Then the ending of the first section was brilliant and maybe the first spark of understanding I had of what she was doing. The next two sections I was fully engaged and quickly read through the rest of the novel. By the end, the brilliance of the framework and stories she constructed was impressive and resonated with me as a reader and human being. It's my first book I've read from Yanagihara and it makes me want more.

If you were expecting A Little Life, as I was, you may be disappointed. Hanya Yanigahara is not interested in following a singular path developing a style that's immediately recognizable. What she is interested in doing, it seems, is challenging herself and her readers. This third novel is actually three little novels. The narrator switches often but her ability to give unique voices that are specific to their time periods is masterful. If you're interested in reading something new and are open to follow where a brilliant mind can take you, you will NOT be disappointed.

Ainda estou lendo o livro. Tanto quanto “A Little Life”, prende a atenção e envolve o leitor. Estou gostando muito

I read a lot of “light” literature as I have a demanding job and often just want entertaining when I read. But from time to time I fancy something more thought provoking or that makes me consider what I believe is right and wrong. This author does that with every book she writes. I’m not a book reviewer so won’t try to talk about the deeper meanings in her work or compare this book to other famous tomes. But I will say that this is certainly one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Beautiful story

Just finished this book. Had to push myself and lost a bit of interest halfway 3rd book. Still, its well written.

Love this kind of books