73 pages • 2 hours read
Hanya YanagiharaTo Paradise
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara explores interconnected lives across three centuries in an alternate America, touching on themes of class, emotional betrayal, dystopia, and historical reimaginings. The narrative follows characters named David Bingham and Charles Griffith through different time periods: a 19th-century society grappling with secrets and love across class divides, a 1990s era marked by familial estrangement and the HIV/AIDS crisis, and a future America struggling with totalitarianism and recurring pandemics. Racism, anti-gay bias, and sexual assault are central topics.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Hanya Yanagihara's To Paradise captivates with its ambitious narratives across three centuries, blending historical and speculative fiction. Praised for its intricate storytelling and emotional depth, some find its structure challenging and uneven pacing. While the prose and thematic exploration receive acclaim, readers may struggle with the bleak tone and complexity.
Who Should Read To Paradise?
Readers who enjoy thought-provoking, multi-layered narratives exploring themes of love, loss, and history will be captivated by Hanya Yanagihara's To Paradise. Fans of A Little Life and Cloud Atlas will appreciate its intricate storytelling and emotional depth. This novel appeals to those interested in speculative fiction and alternative histories.