There are a lot of themes (and character traits) that run through every section of To Paradise, but the one that sticks with me is ambiguous endings. Frustratingly so, but also very clever because I can't stop thinking about them - and part III in particular.

I also think it's interesting that parts I and II - which make up the first half of the book - took me three weeks to read. Part III - the second half on its own - I devoured in three days. It's not that the first two parts weren't beautifully written or interesting stories. But they were slow, and I quite often just didn't understand the point. And while there were some brilliant characters, some of them did start to grate on me a little.

But part III? That has haunted me, burrowed its way into my brain in true Yanagihara style. It's alarming how easily you can imagine this version of the future in a post-Covid world. And because of the nature of this society it takes a lot to gain any small nugget of information about the characters, so when I did (and when it connected to the past stories), I treasured them. The moral implications of Charles's decisions and their repurcussions could be endlessly discussed, and I still don't know who was on the right side. But it's bleak, brutal and at times strangely beautiful.

Having sat with this book for a few days, I think ultimately parts I and II were necessary, if only to enhance part III - which really does all the heavy lifting. There are so many tiny connections (and some that smack you right in the face), I almost want to go back and start again knowing what I do now. But I can't help wondering if I would've enjoyed part III as much if it stood on its own. One thing's for sure: it might not be A Little Life, but To Paradise is in my head.