Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

91 reviews

meenaoz's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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

4.5

I feel like this book is popular for the wrong reasons. 

This man is not made to be relatable, nor a caricature. He isn’t good, he’s actually in my eyes a pretty self absorbed, egotistical, self-serving sociopath. He is mysogynistic (but what can you expect from a book published in post-ww2 Japan) and frankly, a coward. 
What makes this book good to me is seeing the glimpse in the mind of someone I could never understand. Obviously we all have aspects of this man we can relate to to some degree. Alienation, fear or others, the confusion as to why people act the way they do, etc. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Rape, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny

Minor: Death of parent, Alcohol, and Infidelity

sedumglitter's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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

Definitely take your time reading this as there is triggering content in this book, I may reread.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Grief, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Suicide, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Death of parent, and Sexual assault

indigosparrow's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, and Sexism

Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Alcoholism, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

Minor: Forced institutionalization and Death of parent

jasminemilktea's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

arthur_ant18's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, and Rape

alex_lad's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Amazing book following the life and would be deaths of oba yozo. Written so sporadically yet so structred as to make the book feel so fast paced, yet as if nothing has changed, because yozo hasn't, not really. Very reflective book that you can never be truly ready to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Addiction, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual assault, Classism, Sexism, Sexual content, Rape, and Sexual violence

Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, Blood, and Death

ollie_again's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

2.5

While there are some thoughtful parts of the narrative, a lot of the struggle of the main character is pushed onto other people, mainly women. Every time he spirals, the fault is put onto women, it's their fault he both feels inadequate and above all others, it's their fault they get abused and raped, their tragedy is their fault and the man's tragedy is also their doing. 

The first part of the story was somewhat good, focusing on the feeling of alienation by society, feeling lost and putting on a mask. The part I thought about a lot is when Dazai talks about that not even the best actor wants to perform in front of his family, as it is the hardest performance one has to do. After the first half of the book, though, I had no sympathy for Yōzō because of how he treats other people in his life. I felt sorry for most of the other characters, but not him.

As I said, some good nuggets here and there, but I was ready to be done with the book pretty early on.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Vomit, Pedophilia, Drug abuse, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent and Forced institutionalization

daynacruz01's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Cursing, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Death, and Drug use

Moderate: Sexual assault and Blood

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

tragedies's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense 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

3.75

At first glance, No Longer Human is a grim portrait of depression. However, it is also a powerful piece of social commentary. It explores Japan at a time when traditions are waning and Western imperialism is on the rise, leaving people to grapple with an aching sense of loss and displacement. The writing is sharp and gut-wrenching, almost as if every word carries with it a heavy weight of despair. "The wound has gradually become dearer to me than my own flesh and blood, and I have thought its pain to be the emotion of the wound as it lived or even its murmur of affection," Dazai wrote.

The story follows Yozo as he grows up, struggling to grasp his purpose and place in life. For as long as he can remember, he has always felt empty and lost. We watch as he spirals into his depression, a blackhole of self-loathing and destruction slowly consuming him and everyone around him. It's painful and messy and ugly, but I think that's what makes No Longer Human so powerful and moving.

I do have some issues regarding its portrayal and treatment of women. Since the story is set in 1930s Japan, there is plenty of sexism and misogyny going on. I can understand though as the book reflects the conservative beliefs of its time, but it does not make it any less uncomfortable to read. There are also graphic depictions of suicide, alcoholism, drug addiction, and more. They can be very triggering at times, so I suggest looking up a list of content warnings if you plan on reading it. Nonetheless, it's a devastatingly beautiful piece of literature, one that made me and my past self feel so seen and understood. I can't wait to read more of Dazai's body of work.

And yes, I did learn about Dazai through Bungo Stray Dogs. Am I the only one? I hope not. My favorite character in the anime is inspired by him, and now that I've read No Longer Human, I can totally understand why fictional!Dazai is the way he is. If you liked this book, I highly recommend checking out the Bungo Stray Dogs as well. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Addiction, and Death of parent

vaiurle's review against another edition

dark tense

• Strong character development? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts