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lblackburn04's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
it’s a beautifully written book, and thematically quite moving; however the main character is unbelievably off-putting and you stop sympathising with him maybe halfway through which makes getting to the end of the book quite difficult
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Drug abuse
winxclbs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
the book successfully achieved its purpose in portraying a troubled character. he IS a very strong anti-hero because at many points i found myself disgusted by him while also relating to him.. there was no point to it though! it was so shallow because nothing profoundly meaningful or valuable came out of the “i dont feel like human so i will dehumanise others” schtick.
i also thought it was too indulgent in his misogyny.
i also thought it was too indulgent in his misogyny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
madbrad22's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
ramizrafimirza's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Alcoholism, and Sexual harassment
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to read this book out of interest in psychology and in the end I learnt more about a person in my life than I thought I will.
I lack empathy and the same sense of emotions and feelings like others. So I find psychology really interest, as everything is new to me and it is so complex and makes no sense for me that it is actually astonishing again. I thought I just learn a bit more about depression and that's it, but I also learnt a bit more about a person in my life. I always had a feeling like they experienced some kind of trauma, but now I am certain with this book.
The book isn't long, as it is also written in notebooks by a person who experienced depression throughout their life. I learnt a lot from this book and it was informative, but it was too depressing on the long run. I wasn't sad when I read it, but I can't possibly imagine to be born with depression. It's a psychological issue that happens over time, due to trauma or other factors. And reading that this character Yozo always had depression and was NEVER joyful in his life and never experienced happiness, seems for me unlogical.
I am also not quite certain if that is the 100% true version of the notebooks and if there weren't things added or removed to it. This book is a translation, I am aware, but I am talking about the original. The translation didn't seem off, it was good, but sometimes I just thought 'would someone really write this in their own notebook?'. 'Cause there were a bit too many things quoted from other persons in his life, that it was too accurate and that he never forgot any name of the people that I started to think that perhaps a few things were added to the notebook. Just like the prologue and epilogue.
As it was informative for me, I learnt more than expected and it was interesting I will give it 4 stars. Reducing 1 star from my rating due to it's overly unrealistic unhappiness that the person experienced. The suspicion that things were added or left out are not influencing my rating as there is no proof of such.
I lack empathy and the same sense of emotions and feelings like others. So I find psychology really interest, as everything is new to me and it is so complex and makes no sense for me that it is actually astonishing again. I thought I just learn a bit more about depression and that's it, but I also learnt a bit more about a person in my life. I always had a feeling like they experienced some kind of trauma, but now I am certain with this book.
The book isn't long, as it is also written in notebooks by a person who experienced depression throughout their life. I learnt a lot from this book and it was informative, but it was too depressing on the long run. I wasn't sad when I read it, but I can't possibly imagine to be born with depression. It's a psychological issue that happens over time, due to trauma or other factors. And reading that this character Yozo always had depression and was NEVER joyful in his life and never experienced happiness, seems for me unlogical.
I am also not quite certain if that is the 100% true version of the notebooks and if there weren't things added or removed to it. This book is a translation, I am aware, but I am talking about the original. The translation didn't seem off, it was good, but sometimes I just thought 'would someone really write this in their own notebook?'. 'Cause there were a bit too many things quoted from other persons in his life, that it was too accurate and that he never forgot any name of the people that I started to think that perhaps a few things were added to the notebook. Just like the prologue and epilogue.
As it was informative for me, I learnt more than expected and it was interesting I will give it 4 stars. Reducing 1 star from my rating due to it's overly unrealistic unhappiness that the person experienced. The suspicion that things were added or left out are not influencing my rating as there is no proof of such.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
evakarolina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Sexism and Sexual harassment
alessiamarini's review against another edition
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, and Suicide attempt
morangomax's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
sunfishya's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's not for everyone, that's for sure. It's a book that is highly layered and would definitely reveal more with multiple readings. There is content, such as the misogyny and constant detachment from trauma, that surrounds Yozo, but although it is a hard read because of those reasons, I find Dazai's exploration of the ideas of meaning, existence, and connection are very worth the read. There is a bit of sexual abuse that happens to Yozo both as a child and as an adult that seems to be glossed over afyer its mentioned, so if you are sensitive to such topics or treatment of such topics, be warned. I wanted to warn in the content warnings but couldn' find out how. If you check the content warnings for this novel and want to proceed, it's a slow, meandering read but I find Dazai's exploration in the novel to be nuanced and highly open to connection from an audience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Suicide, Misogyny, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Drug use, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
literatureboysmelancholy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Suicide, Alcohol, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, and Addiction
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent and War