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zepharae 's review for:

The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai
5.0
dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: N/A
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This was my first time reading Osamu Dazai, and honestly, I'm at a loss for words to describe the impact it had on me. The book is beautiful, beautiful in a way that hurts. It wrenched my heart violently, each page turned felt like a tug at my heartstrings.

The story follows a family of three struggling to survive in post-World War II Japan, but beyond that, it paints a broader picture of the Japanese people as a whole. It captures the crushing weight of despair, the feeling of living in endless suffering, as if walking through hell every single day. Through every sentence, I could feel what Dazai wanted to express.

The novel reveals how loneliness and grief can be just as lethal as any physical pain. At its core, this book isn't just about one family, it's about humanity itself. For me, The Setting Sun deserves nothing less than five stars.