Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - No Longer Human

The darkest novel I have yet to read, and I don't say that lightly. So much of how you read this novel is dependent on your own beliefs and biases. While the three notebooks pose a slight a question of subjectivity, the way Yozo is viewed in the prologue and epilogue are what truly form the thoughts of the reader. I can, and will, write an analysis on my thoughts around No Longer Human at some point. There is so much more that just cannot be said in a review.

The last line haunts you; this book will haunt your mind. I don't feel as though I can rate this properly because there is something so human despite the inhumanities described. Also, knowing this work is semi-autobiographical enables you to approach the topic with more humanity as opposed to an entirely fictional rendition.

Yozo is textually represented as a bad person, yet at the same time, he manages to be more than his evils to the people around him, whether that is realized or not. Everyone is important to somebody. At the heart of this novel lies the question of redemption and rebirth. No Longer Human, despite its name, invites the question of where humanity lies; is it inside or outside of us? We must extend the hand of sympathy to others, but to what degrees is society willing to extend sympathy? Yozo fills us with the uncomfortable and we must carry that haunting every day. Who is the real clown?

P.S. The more direct translation, disqualified as a human being, packs a better punch.

He was a good boy, an angel (177)

Content Warnings

sp0okysandwich's review against another edition

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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

Content Warnings

not_gabylc's review against another edition

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dark sad 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

1.5

It’s a dreadful read, with a character who seems very much wounded from the beginning but with no improvement. It’s just sad and I’m very sorry if this truly is semi autobiographic. In my humble opinion not worth a re-read or a read….

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nabaraditi's review against another edition

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dark 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

I don't know what rating I want to give this book. So, I won't.
Don't read this book, if u have problem with violence, violence against women, if you're struggling with depression, are not in a good head space.
So the guy named Yozo is narrating his story and he's abused in every possible way in his childhood and how this incident or rather series of incidents affects him all his life. There is mysogyny in this book. There is alcoholism, morphine addiction, prostitution. There is suicidal thoughts and attempts. There's no ounce of hopefulness or optimism in this book. It's filled with hopelessness, emptiness, depression. There wasn't a single minute where I enjoyed this book. But this book wasn't written for entertainment or enjoyment. It's eye-opening for the society that there are people who are living an emotionally destitute life. It's about about how low one can get that even if they try to pick themselves up, their habits and their dreadful thoughts and beliefs don't let them.
There are many quotes in this book that hit like a punch for the society.

"Society won't stand for it.

It's not society. You're the one who won't stand for it-right?

If you do such a thing society will make you suffer for it.

It's not society. It's you, isn't it?

Before you know it, you'll be ostracized by society.

It's not society. You're going to do the ostracizing, aren't you?"

Content Warnings

gabriella_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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

3.5

This book is heartbreaking when you read it as a

suicide note.

It’s very deeply troubled and misogynistic. It simply reads like a cry for help. His depiction of

childhood trauma

is so visceral I had to put the book down at a couple points. There’s real heart here but it’s being squeezed. More than anything, I just felt an overwhelming sadness reading it.

Content Warnings

dagaezoomer19's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

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