Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

63 reviews

biscuitisnice'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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Suicide, Misogyny, Addiction, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

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.

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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

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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

farzaan's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Alcoholism, Suicide, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Blood, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, War, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Child abuse, and Toxic friendship

pgxpg's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

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

4.25

This book is an excellent example of what depression can look like, and how it can so easily spiral when trapped within the confines of your own mind. There’s a lot of self fulfilling prophecy within this story that I found rather tragic and disheartening. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Mental illness, Suicide, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

Minor: Rape

sp0okysandwich's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Drug abuse, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

Minor: Grief, Mental illness, Drug use, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Sexual content, Addiction, Death, Gore, Rape, and Toxic relationship

doritamat's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Addiction

shannonheal's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Toxic relationship, Blood, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Sexual violence, Self harm, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, and Rape

carla20's review

dark reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

I really enjoyed the first half of the story. Yozo was a very introspective and self reflecting character since he was a child, but as he grows older, he seems to burry himself deeper in his own view of the world, and misses that self awareness he had at the beggining of his life. As an adult, he brings nothing but tragedy to the people around him, specially women. His view of women and their role in society revolves around his very limited vision of the world and seems to fundamentally blame women of everything that goes wrong in his life. I found it fascinating that almost everyone around him seemed to exempt him of his faults and put the blame on someone else, but I guess is the consequence of Yozo constantly faking what he really thinks and feels. 
I liked that the final message of the books was that "everything passes".

Even though Yozo's ending was tragic, the overall message that no matter how hard life gets, it will pass, was strangely conforting in a novel so dark.

. 
I will definitely pick up the author's other books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

anni_o's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

1.5

Protagonist / Writer of the Notebooks is rather sexist. I guess it is a product of its time, but it sure did not age well. The prose is beautiful in parts, and a mix of vague and too detailed in others. The insight into his depressive episodes was very meaningful/insightful, and it was a rather quick read. I related to the protagonist in part, especially with the view of the world, but in other parts it was frustrating to see him spiral further and further. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Self harm, Rape, Vomit, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Death, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Ableism, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Grief