Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

9 reviews

letheii's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

yozo was such a feminist! he loved women so much that they made him suicidal 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Drug abuse

Minor: Terminal illness and Vomit

akane_readsyt's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Rape

squidknees's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Ableism, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Rape, War, Vomit, Violence, Self harm, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Misogyny, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Drug use, and Death of parent

klara12's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-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

4.25

Such an interesting book! Its a bit difficult to read because some things are only mentioned vaguely and you have to guess what the author ment. Still, its sad to think that there are people who feel the same way as the main  character in this book did. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

katie_n_doyle's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Suicidal thoughts

royourboat's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Such a captivating book. Yozo is an apathetic narrator who mostly speaks in short  sentences, which made the book hard to read at first but once I got used to it I was able to appreciate how genius the writing style/decision was. 

The writing style was extremely affective at portraying Yozo’s isolation and alienation. And while I recognize that it was a genius decision, because it accurately represents the thought process of a fractured mind, it did make the book less enjoyable at times, which is why I’m not giving it 5 stars. Yes, it succeeded in portraying the protagonist’s disconnection from the world around him, but it also made me feel disconnected from the story.

Nevertheless, the decision to have a very plain, monotonous narrator did make the book more compelling in a way. Yozo always got straight to the point in an almost shocking way which made me eager to know what happens next.

I have very conflicting feelings about our protagonist, I dislike him but I also feel for him at times. The misogyny was revolting, and since this book is semi-autobiographical it really makes you wonder which of these thoughts belong to the protagonist and which belong to the author himself?

I really disliked the epilogue. It was so unnecessary. I wouldn’t say it ~ruined the book for me but I would have definitely enjoyed it more if I hadn’t read the epilogue. 

Finally, here are 2 things to keep in mind to make your reading experience more powerful 1) Osamu Dazai committed double suicide alongside his lover right after this book was published and 2) Japan’s views on topics regarding mental illness and how taboo they are to this day, let alone when this book was first published 70 years ago. Osamu Dazai was a brave man. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Misogyny

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, and Pedophilia

Minor: Incest, Religious bigotry, and Terminal illness

cait's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Infidelity, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Death of parent

sydneylount's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Cursing, and Self harm

Moderate: Vomit and Death of parent

enya_ce's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The book is too depressing and the protagonist is too negative of a person. At least for my taste.
Still it's interesting being in his mind. It's just like how one can't look away from a train wreck.
I know the story supposed to be is semi-autobiographical, and that only makes it even more interesting.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Rape, Terminal illness, and Vomit