You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
boring, stupid as hell. the writing was weak. none of the characters or the plot were compelling. kazuko was so annoying. the mother was honestly a waste of space. i was willing to give this author a shot, but this confirmed it: i am done. “schoolgirl” was pretty good but it (combined with this book) made me realize that dazai did not know how to write female characters that were not weird and hysterical. that’s boring to me as a writer. hard pass.
the only saving grace is that the book was $2. don’t waste your money or your time.
the only saving grace is that the book was $2. don’t waste your money or your time.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quiero creer que el ser humano nació para el amor y la revolución.
Una historia con una mujer torturada, desesperada e imperfecta. Crudo, emotivo y sincero. Segundo libro que leo de Dazai y esos son los puntos en común que encuentro por ahora, seguiré leyéndolo
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After World War II, the aristocrat Kazuko comes into focus, and we see how her life, her family's life, and her status gradually fade from view. A snake appears in the grass, everything is on the verge of burning down, siblings are on the verge of addiction and destruction, and disasters seem to be approaching faster and faster while all you can do is watch and accept your fate.
Plot-wise, we follow Kazuko's life as she moves into a small country cottage, finds and struggles at a menial job, and watches the people around her wither away, which is not as memorable as specific instances of brutality and humanity's desertion. The naive refusal to accept the death of a loved one when a character is diagnosed with consumption; the remark that it might not even be worthwhile to counsel someone to abstain from binge drinking because it might make them more likable; the abrupt emptiness of an entire group of people waiting to die while sitting around and amusing themselves.
The first-person narrative is crucial to the book, the perspective-narrowing shows how dispossessed Kazuko is by the way her society is being destroyed and how she looks for an escape in any framework she can find, whether it is socialism, Christianity, or lust. Her partner Uehara demonstrates this as well; the two are called "victims of transitory morality." This, combined with Dazai's vivid vision, made the novel haunting (in the best way possible) the imagery was beautiful.
PS- this is my second Dazai read and I had to sit down and accept that this isn't the no longer human part 2, a mistake from my side since the book is so beautiful in its own way
Plot-wise, we follow Kazuko's life as she moves into a small country cottage, finds and struggles at a menial job, and watches the people around her wither away, which is not as memorable as specific instances of brutality and humanity's desertion. The naive refusal to accept the death of a loved one when a character is diagnosed with consumption; the remark that it might not even be worthwhile to counsel someone to abstain from binge drinking because it might make them more likable; the abrupt emptiness of an entire group of people waiting to die while sitting around and amusing themselves.
The first-person narrative is crucial to the book, the perspective-narrowing shows how dispossessed Kazuko is by the way her society is being destroyed and how she looks for an escape in any framework she can find, whether it is socialism, Christianity, or lust. Her partner Uehara demonstrates this as well; the two are called "victims of transitory morality." This, combined with Dazai's vivid vision, made the novel haunting (in the best way possible) the imagery was beautiful.
PS- this is my second Dazai read and I had to sit down and accept that this isn't the no longer human part 2, a mistake from my side since the book is so beautiful in its own way
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
soooooo slow but should reread some day. loved the writing style, need to read it in a quick jump so i remember it all next time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, War
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have read 5 books from Dazai (No Longer Human, The Flowers of Buffoonery, The Beggar Student, Schoolgirl, The Setting Sun), and The Setting Sun is the most hopeful. If you hate No Longer Human but want to give Dazai another chance, I think this book will be a good choice. This has more story that is more fleshed out so it's not entirely self-indulgence. There are lots of references to other literature too here, if that's your thing. Personally this is memorable. The main character isn't necessarily a character I find likeable nor relatable, but she's not bland either. I'm so glad Dazai decided to do character development in this book. It fits Kazuko (the mc) really well. The more I think about this, the more this grows on me. Definitely on the top 3 list of my favorite from Dazai.
" Perhaps the sensation of happiness was something like gold dust shining faintly at the bottom of the river of woe."
"In destruction there is pathos and sorrow and beauty. The dream of destroying, rebuilding, bringing to completion. Once destruction is achieved, the day of completion may well never come, but even so, all one’s love and devotion require one to destroy, to start a revolution."
"To be alive. To be alive. Oh, what an overwhelming undertaking it was, leaving one gasping for breath."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
sad
medium-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