Reviews - The Setting Sun | The StoryGraph

The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai, Donald Keene

2.06k reviews for:

Ho sentimenti contra su questo libro.
Mi era stato presentato in un certo modo dal blurb e poi PER ME personalmente è stato tutt'altro.
Probabilmente ho apprezzato di più la prima parte, in quanto mi ci sono riuscita a ritrovare di più. Descrizione del rapporto tra la madre e la figlia.
Questo rispetto alla seconda parte ove le tematiche principali erano un amore ambiguo (secondo me) e TW: il suicidio. Mi hanno resa estremamente tesa e triste.
Nonostante tutto ciò, mi sento di dare 4⭐️, in quanto ritengo che tutti questi sentimenti che ho provato leggendo questo libro, fossero in qualche modo ciò che l'autore voleva trasmettere.

kikiiiikikikiki's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is such a beautiful and transparent reflection of human flaws and the effects that occur even for seemingly picture perfect families as an aftermath of war. The tender writing of what’s it like to be a daughter and a woman in a post-war society is gut-wrenching but genuine. I believe everybody around the world should be exposed to this book and experience the world through Kazuko’s eyes at least once in their lifetime. Absolutely breathtaking writing, a story that leaves a lot to reflect upon, and yet another crucial literary piece that should be taught in schools.

4mnee's review against another edition

4.0

There was something wrong about these people. But perhaps, just as it is true of my love, they could not go on living except in the way they do. If it is true that man, once born into the world, must somehow live out his life, perhaps the appearance that people make in order to go through with it, even if it is as ugly as their appearance, should not be despised. To be alive. To be alive. An intolerably immense undertaking before which one can only gasp in apprehension."

What actually stood out to me the most about this book was hearing this narrative voice from a female protagonist. I feel like I've read countless novels in which a young male protagonist is single-mindedly focused on something and shirks social responsibilities in this pursuance, but to read about a female character casting off societal norms was almost refreshing. I don't think I liked this book as much as No Longer Human, but I like Dazai's writing about social alienation and it was interesting to think about the nebulous status of former aristocrats.