A review by fernfuentes
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“I could not feel the joy of hope a man experiences when he opens his eyes on young leaves.”

This book goes right up there on my pedestal of incredible works of art alongside A Little Life, The Painted Bird, and House of Leaves. What a masterpiece of sad literature. My heart breaks for Osamu Dazai and all the pain he suffered before eventually taking his own life. I feel bad for anyone who doesn’t understand the raw emotional beauty of this book. Dazai was a masterful writer with beautiful prose. I’m grateful his work exists.