Star author Hanya Yanagiharas publishes new novel
After the novel "A Little Life," fans of Hanya Yanagiharas can look forward to her latest work. The title is "Zum Paradies" (To Paradise) and is intended to follow on from the success of "Ein wenig Leben" (A Little Life). But what exactly is it about?
Hanya Yanagiharas is a well-known journalist and writer from the USA and obviously loves, among other things, to address taboo subjects in her novels. In "A Little Life," a book that also enjoys great popularity within the community in particular, the topic of homosexuality among men was addressed. Among other things, it was about showing that two men can fall in love with each other, even if they don't actually have much in common.
What is the novel "To Paradise" about?
There's no question about it: There are now more and more books that deal with the topic of LGBTQI+ in all its facets. With "Zum Paradies," this genre has once again received new reading material. And as in "A Little Life," "Zum Paradies" is also about homosexuality among men.
Unlike the previous book, all the protagonists are gay from the beginning and live at different times. The book itself is divided into three parts and consists of stories from the past and the future. The individual stories are each 100 years apart. (In terms of time) The book starts in 1893, when it was still particularly difficult to be homosexual. Hanya Yanagiharas, however, sets a fictional plot against this and opens all the more exciting trains of thought.
In her book, she created an independent New York that acts more as a separate country than being a part of the US. In this New York, homosexuality is not really an issue in society. Instead, same-sex love is rather "normal." Gay men are allowed to marry, adopt children and live out their sexuality freely without fear of being ostracized - at least not because of their sexual orientation.
But there are other problems in society, such as the class problem. For example, a love affair may not be lived out publicly if the men each have a different social status.
In addition, it deals with many other topics, such as politics, the pandemic and prejudices. In short, this is a book that should appeal to many people.
What makes Hanya Yanagihara's storytelling so special?
Reality and fantasy are often not far apart at all - neither in the real world, nor in the author's stories. If only one part from the past or present is changed, a completely new world can form. And that's what's so special about counterfactual stories. The simple question "What if, ...?" always makes it possible to dare to look outside the box and break out of old patterns.
How is "Zum Paradies" received?
Now that the book has already been read by some, it is possible to answer this question a little more precisely. A look at the reviews shows that some readers are split here. Some magazines and readers call the book a true masterpiece.
Others, however, find fault with the whole thing as "heavy fare" and are bothered by sections they find repetitive. What is certain, however, is that the author has once again succeeded in providing food for thought. Some (life) stories are decided in the details.