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fr_eddie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ALLEGRIA!
Libro molto complesso e interessante, che racconta la fine della classe nobiliare giapponese, che deve provare a vivere in un contesto diverso e cupo alla fine della guerra.
La morte è uno degli argomenti fondamentali del libro: la morte del padre, le uova bruciate, la morte della madre, la morte del fratello. La morte e l'autodistruzione che sembrano essere l'unica risposta concepibile in questo periodo di crisi.
"Attendere. In una vita umana, si prova gioia, collera, tristezza, odio e molto altro, ma questi sentimenti occupano solo un centesimo della capacità del nostro cuore, il restante novantanove per cento è solo attesa. E io attendo, con l’impressione che il mio cuore stia per spezzarsi, di sentire da un momento all’altro risuonare nel corridoio i passi della felicità, ma invano. Ah, la vita umana è piena di dolore. La verità, come tanto spesso si sente dire, è che sarebbe meglio non essere nati. Così ogni giorno, dal mattino alla sera, aspetto che accada qualcosa. Che tristezza…"
Anche i sentimenti e la felicità stessa cambiano la loro importanza e il loro significato: la vita è vuota, nell'attesa che accada qualcosa, che il tempo scorra e le cose cambiano. E quindi com'è possibile definire la felicità, se la vita è una costante attesa?
"Tutt’a un tratto mi sono chiesta se lei fosse felice, in quel momento. Se la felicità non sia il debole bagliore di una sabbia dorata in fondo al fiume della tristezza. Al di là della tristezza estrema, la sensazione di un misterioso lucore… se la felicità è questa, allora l’imperatore, la mamma, io stessa adesso siamo felici, è vero. Una quieta mattina d’autunno. Un dolce giardino illuminato dal sole autunnale. Ho smesso di lavorare a maglia e ho guardato il mare, che scintillava lontano, all’altezza del mio petto."
La vita diventa una cosa difficile da comprendere («Neanche io ne so granché. Ma chi è che lo conosce? Nessuno, credo. Per quanto tempo passi, siamo sempre tutti come bambini. Non capiamo niente.»), qualcosa di difficile da fare, come se la morte fosse l'alternativa più facile ("I morenti sono belli. Vivere invece, sopravvivere a qualcuno… questo mi sembra odioso, qualcosa di sporco che fa odore di sangue.").
La ricerca della felicità diventa quindi quasi impossibile, un percorso disseminato da autodistruzione
(«Bevo per desiderio di morte. La vita è troppo dolorosa. Solitudine, tristezza… non sono in grado di sopportarle, mi spezzano il cuore. Ogni volta che sentiamo oltre le quattro pareti che ci circondano gemiti e sospiri sconsolati, come possiamo pensare che per noi, per noi soli, esista la felicità? Ti sei mai chiesta quali sentimenti provi una persona, quando si rende conto che in vita sua non conoscerà mai la felicità, o la gloria, mai in vita sua? Sforzarsi, impegnarsi. Roba che finisce solo in pasto a belve affamate. Perché ci sono troppi miserabili in giro. Allora, la mia è una posa?»), e la figura dell'aristocratico diventa una figura morente, esclusa e difficile da comprendere ("Quando sono entrato al liceo e ho iniziato a frequentare ragazzi cresciuti in una classe sociale molto diversa dalla nostra, mi sono sentito oppresso dal loro vigore e per non essere da meno ho cominciato a fare uso di droghe, perdendo quasi la ragione: è stato il mio modo di fare resistenza. Poi sono partito soldato, e la mia ultima risorsa per sopravvivere è stato l’oppio. Non credo che tu possa comprendere quale fosse il mio stato d’animo, non è così?
Volevo diventare volgare. Diventare forte, anzi, brutale. Credevo che fosse il solo modo per potermi considerare un “amico del popolo”. E l’alcol non era sufficiente. Avevo bisogno di essere in una condizione permanente di vertigine. A questo scopo, serviva solo la droga. Dovevo dimenticare la mia famiglia. Dovevo contrastare il sangue di mio padre. Rifiutare l’amabilità di mia madre. Mostrarmi freddo verso mia sorella. Altrimenti non avrei ottenuto un biglietto d’ingresso per la casa del popolo, questo pensavo.")
L'unico finale comprensibile, oltre la morte, diventa quindi la ricerca della vita, ignorando la società che ci circonda che prova a morire e a ignorare il dolore intrinseco nella vita con le droghe. O almeno, questo è l'unico finale che vede la protagonista, scegliendo di creare una vita senza arrendersi alla tristezza del tempo.
Lo consiglierei? Sì, è una lettura interessante anche se un triste. Ne avrò spoilerato tre quarti in questa recensione, sì, ma è un libro da leggere, molto scorrevole nonostante sia cupo. Almeno il finale è leggero, anche se comunque resta dolce amaro.
Graphic: Drug abuse, Suicide, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
nolongerhuman_'s review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicide, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction and Drug abuse
Minor: Animal death, Pregnancy, War, and Miscarriage
gaugedgage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Death of parent, Death, Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Terminal illness
rondeezy's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Death, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
emelie0_0sofia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Drug use, Animal death, Death of parent, Suicide, Alcoholism, Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Death, and War
dyingotters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: War, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, Drug use, and Grief
toffishay's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Suicide, Drug abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness
Minor: Antisemitism, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Animal death, Vomit, and War
ruslan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Alcohol, Suicide, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Addiction, and Death
zakcebulski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It is always a lovely feeling when you realize that you have discovered a new favorite author. That is exactly what happened when I was reading Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami and I picked up the name "Dozai" within.
That led me to reading No Longer Human earlier this year and then picking up and reading this novel- The Setting Sun .
Holy fucking hell. Dozai does something within these books that is absolutely amazing.
This book takes place from the point of view of Kazuko, who is a 29 year old woman and member of an aristocratic family. However, the setting of this book takes place in post- war Tokyo, in the time shortly after the second World War, which is also when the book was originally written- published in 1947.
I thought that this was a fascinating exploration of the experiences of people who come from hifalutin society and are forced to live in ways which run in direct contradiction to the way that they were accustomed to before and even during the war.
Kazuko has a brother named Naoji who was a soldier, who she and her mother thought to be deceased. However, about a third of the way through the book Naoji returns as a cruel opium addict.
He is frequently off in Tokyo's literary circles where he also indulges in alcohol as a substitution for his opium habit.
The story, what little there is to speak of, I think is enough of a framing device to explain character's actions. However, the story and the characters are mainly there as a means of exploring the impact that the radical shift in the sociopolitical landscape of Japan had on people. This is a fascinating lenses to view the world through as it shows aspects of Japan which are sorely missing from many history lessons of the subject. The discussion of revolutionary ideas and lifestyles is something that beforehand would never have been even an option for women in Japan, but, this book ends with Kazuko extolling the desires of raising a child conceived of wedlock on her own which runs in direct contradiction to the traditional values of Japan at the time- or so I have read.
I also appreciated the ways in which the personal struggles with Naoji are written- they are exceedingly raw with nothing left to imagination. He struggles with his history of being an aristocrat to the point where he feels genuinely inadequate and weak in his upbringing. These feelings are what leads him to drink and use opium as a means of numbing out these feelings. You get the feeling that throughout the writing of this book that Dozai was pulling from deep in his own personal feelings of isolation, inadequacy, desperation, malcontent and hopelessness, as he would very unfortunately go on to commit suicide the year following this novel's publication. I fully admit that I do not have anywhere near the understanding necessary to comment on the socioeconomic aspects of Marxism and socialism in Japan, but, I would be interested in reading further about this topic and the potential impact that it could have, should it be available.
One thing that I know that I am going to get from Dozai's work is a heaping load of symbolism. This book is no different as there is the frequent discussion of snakes, specifically snakes in this book. Snakes are seen as an omen, which is fascinating as in many cultures they reflect and represent this same idea.
I like the implementation of the karmic process wherein Kazuko attempts to burn some snake eggs of a snake that she perceives to be dangerous. This can later be seen as putting negative energy or karma in to the world- which is then repaid to her by the deaths of her mother, the suicide of her brother and the loss of her lover.
What I like is that this is just an interpretation and that Dozai did not give a definitive answer to if this is the correct interpretation or not. Rather, he lets the reader make a decision.
The prose is absolutely stunning. This book is filled with passages that beg to be read and re-read over and over again, and it is a pleasure to be able to do so. I have seen some instances wherein Kazuko's behavior is viewed as very mopey, and overtly complaining. I can absolutely see this, however, I am reticent to hold this against the writing. I think that this was an intentional choice by Dozai who wanted to make it apparent that these aristocrats were living in a time when the idea of the aristocrat was crumbling around them. While it is hard to muster up sympathy for people who had a very easy time by comparison to many other people, they are also dealing with a huge cultural and personal shift.
I also want to extend my praise to translator Donald Keene for his impeccable work, as always. I have read two works of Dozai's both of which were translated by Keene. What I most appreciate is that while reading these books they still have an air of the original heritage preserved, and not whitewashed, which is, from my research, a tough thing to toe the line on.
We are lucky to live in a time where Osamu Dozai wrote books.
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Drug use, and Classism
corneliag's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death and Drug abuse
Minor: War