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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
Not a bad book, but as a non-native English reader I felt I only understood part of it.
I also struggled with the way women are portrayed. Yet, if you know Dazai’s own story, the book takes on an extra layer of depth that makes it worth reading.
I also struggled with the way women are portrayed. Yet, if you know Dazai’s own story, the book takes on an extra layer of depth that makes it worth reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly, it's 3.9 out of 5 and I'm quite adament about that because I think rating it any higher or lower just sounds.. unbelievable to me.
The book definitely has its downsides and many times throughout the book, I considered locking myself up in the mental asylum too because Yozo was taking me down with him. But undeniably, I don't think any book as come quite as close as this book has in understanding me and for that, I hated every second. The ending especially.. "he was an angel" I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!! Whatever man...
At least now I know the path I cannot end up on.
The book definitely has its downsides and many times throughout the book, I considered locking myself up in the mental asylum too because Yozo was taking me down with him. But undeniably, I don't think any book as come quite as close as this book has in understanding me and for that, I hated every second. The ending especially.. "he was an angel" I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!!! Whatever man...
At least now I know the path I cannot end up on.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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
oh
dark
sad
tense
dark
emotional
fast-paced
dark
reflective
fast-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
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of my favorite books. Diving into Yozo’s (and by extension since this is semi-autobiographical) Dazai’s psyche was truly harrowing especially considering that this was his final book before his death. Yozo’s feelings of alienation and his need to constantly mask himself before others are relatable. One of the most common criticisms I see about this book is regarding Yozo’s misogyny, but I feel like this flaw is an essential part of the main character’s self destructive tendencies. Yozo doesn’t understand women, he’s scared to view them as human (likely due to his childhood trauma) and this in turn leads him simultaneously craving emotional connections while being unable to reciprocate. Also this book is the epitome of unreliable narration, yozo hates everything about himself and so his most loathsome qualities including his misogyny, alcoholism and drug addiction are displayed as the primary actors in his dysfunctional life. It’s only in the epilogue that the reader gets to witness a brief outside perspective.