Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

17 reviews

anni_o's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

1.5

Protagonist / Writer of the Notebooks is rather sexist. I guess it is a product of its time, but it sure did not age well. The prose is beautiful in parts, and a mix of vague and too detailed in others. The insight into his depressive episodes was very meaningful/insightful, and it was a rather quick read. I related to the protagonist in part, especially with the view of the world, but in other parts it was frustrating to see him spiral further and further. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Suicide, Sexism, Addiction, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Self harm, Rape, Vomit, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Death, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Blood, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Ableism, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Grief

lizzield's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Medical content, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Rape

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault

radiosys's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

It might be a tough read for people who have/had suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors, so remember to take breaks if you need it everyone<3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, Drug use, Self harm, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Mental illness

Moderate: Body shaming, Medical content, Chronic illness, and Blood

Minor: Grief, Infidelity, and Adult/minor relationship

abibliophobic_nerd's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Alcohol

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Drug use, and Drug abuse

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Blood, Infidelity, and Vomit

bookssupremacy8920's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Medical content

Moderate: Suicide, Sexual content, Rape, and Misogyny

marissasa's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is depressing, strange, dark, difficult, and somehow so real. Despite the consistent themes of alienation throughout the book, the main character's thoughts and feelings, while quite intense, are at times surprisingly relatable. Instead of feeling sad for him or rooting for him, as I read on about his spiral into depression, alcoholism, and suffering I found myself simply understanding him. I can appreciate that this story feels like it was written not to make you cry or have sympathy for its main character, but to simply show the main character's unfiltered thoughts and feelings and make you think about what makes us human and what can make people feel like they aren't.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Rape, Vomit, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Grief, Physical abuse, and Suicide attempt

thespencerj's review against another edition

dark reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Incest, Child abuse, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

squidknees's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Ableism, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Rape, War, Vomit, Violence, Self harm, Pandemic/Epidemic, Alcohol, Misogyny, Infidelity, Gaslighting, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Drug use, and Death of parent

straaay's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Suicide, Blood, Drug use, Suicide attempt, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death of parent

myynverse's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

No Longer Human is such a good book to show the hypocrisy embedded in our mindset of mental illness. The actions and words never align, and when they do, they start to change completely. We see the perspective of this man who is struggling and can acknowledge it, yet cannot change it. He is stuck in this pattern of vices to try and feel, even if it hurts in the end because he wants to feel something.  Oba struggles with the perception of himself, how others see him, and how society will see him.  He treads on the fine line between feeling above and below everyone. We get to see the perspective of someone being stuck in this void, especially during a time period and culture that doesn't speak of mental illness as human. 

The misogyny and his vices were hard to look at but I don't think it ruined the book for me. I don't think he was meant to be liked as an individual. It is harder to try and want him to do better due to the impact he has had on others, but that doesn't make his trauma any less. He still deserves to have good mental health - but man, he is pretty annoying with his actions.

The Epilogue was also amazing in terms of commentary about societal views on mental illness.  

Spoiler

The fact that his journals were viewed as a good story instead of a narrative about someone's life? Whewww. The fact that Oba was referred to as a madman and had his private journals viewed shows an immense lack of empathy. He was judged harshly for not having good mental health and considering this was Osamu Dazai's last book before committing suicide, one can assume Osamu experienced a similar harshness.

Spoiler

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Death, Infidelity, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Suicide, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault

Minor: Rape