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strawberrygrapejelly's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
I picked up this book after reading a few chapters of Junji Ito's depiction of it, which in, in my opinion, illustrated the damage Dazai suffered at the hands of his abusers in a very profound way.
I finished this in one go. Hard not to. There is a darkness that is unique to this book, and it is compelling.
But can I be real with you?
I definitely think my life is not better for reading this.
And I would not recommend anyone read it.
I didn't learn or gain a damn thing. Let me explain.
People often act like if you don't read this you're missing out/are deliberately sheltering yourself, but I think that shows their own immaturity and lack of life experience and perhaps even their inexperience with literature? I'm ranting but people also think it somehow makes them so enlightened lmao to "be able to" look past the horrific levels of misogyny that stemmed from his horrific and fucked up life experience no one should ever go through (SAed as a child at the hands of women ). It is not "missing out" to not want to read about an abused person becoming an abuser if you already understand the mechanisms in place. The MC also inflicted profound levels of violence and damage on his victims.
And guess what? All of this? Extremely, unfortunately, common and even mundane. All of it.
Sure, you could possibly gain perspective from this if you're like 15 and untouched by the world. But if you've lived any amount of real adult life, the perspective offered here is not extremely unique and not much more than a BEYOND extremely depressing and disturbing reminder of what victims go through, including Dazai, and including his victims, and how ugly humanity can be.
His depiction of the brain fog and extreme darkness that happens when you're suicidal/ near suicidal is also very accurate and no I will not elaborate. But is it worth reading the book?
I'll also say no to this.
I'm repeating myself, but this story is not unique. A story does not have to be unique, but again, people getting up in arms about people not enjoying this book probably don't realize either of those things.
It's not a bad book. It's also not worth the read. Again, I genuinely
I wish the NLH/Dazai glazers understood the following.
A book can incite a lot of feeling and not be good. A book can accurately describe the depths of human darkness, which this book absolutely does, and not be good. A book being damaging to the soul does not make it good. It just makes it damaging to the soul.
Now if you read all this and value this book for those things, you're entitled to your opinion.
But plenty of people do not love this book but also fully understand it. End of rant that definitely did not get written because of the braindead, unnuanced take I see everywhere that you're missing out because you want to avoid the, AGAIN, very awful and unfortunately realistic content of the book. Imagine telling a woman who has suffered violence at the hands of man that she could learn something from this book. Or even a woman who has had to to witness it happen to others. Chances are she already has.
I finished this in one go. Hard not to. There is a darkness that is unique to this book, and it is compelling.
But can I be real with you?
I definitely think my life is not better for reading this.
And I would not recommend anyone read it.
I didn't learn or gain a damn thing. Let me explain.
People often act like if you don't read this you're missing out/are deliberately sheltering yourself, but I think that shows their own immaturity and lack of life experience and perhaps even their inexperience with literature? I'm ranting but people also think it somehow makes them so enlightened lmao to "be able to" look past the horrific levels of misogyny that stemmed from his horrific and fucked up life experience no one should ever go through (
And guess what? All of this? Extremely, unfortunately, common and even mundane. All of it.
Sure, you could possibly gain perspective from this if you're like 15 and untouched by the world. But if you've lived any amount of real adult life, the perspective offered here is not extremely unique and not much more than a BEYOND extremely depressing and disturbing reminder of what victims go through, including Dazai, and including his victims, and how ugly humanity can be.
His depiction of the brain fog and extreme darkness that happens when you're
I'll also say no to this.
I'm repeating myself, but this story is not unique. A story does not have to be unique, but again, people getting up in arms about people not enjoying this book probably don't realize either of those things.
It's not a bad book. It's also not worth the read. Again, I genuinely
I wish the NLH/Dazai glazers understood the following.
A book can incite a lot of feeling and not be good. A book can accurately describe the depths of human darkness, which this book absolutely does, and not be good. A book being damaging to the soul does not make it good. It just makes it damaging to the soul.
Now if you read all this and value this book for those things, you're entitled to your opinion.
But plenty of people do not love this book but also fully understand it. End of rant that definitely did not get written because of the braindead, unnuanced take I see everywhere that you're missing out because you want to avoid the, AGAIN, very awful and unfortunately realistic content of the book. Imagine telling a woman who has suffered violence at the hands of man that she could learn something from this book. Or even a woman who has had to to witness it happen to others. Chances are she already has.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
cuucmber's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism
fortunetree's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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
4.0
It was a bit challenging to get used to the writing style since the narrative is sometimes fractured: seemingly banal things get described in detail while others are portrayed very short, raw and direct. This wasn't easy to get used to but helped a lot to immerse yourself in Yozo's mental state. I found the book very thought-provoking in the sense that Yozo's struggles were portrayed in a way that you would judge him but also find him relatable. Essentially, I would say that this is the kind of book where you could have a meaningful philosophical discussion about it and even though it is quite short it is not fast to think through or easy to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
girlapostle's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is a hopeless, bleak, and exasperating look into the mind of someone who gravely suffers from depression among other things. The first half of the book had me in an eternal eyeroll because it's like yeah ok self-proclaimed lady killer welcome us into your dark and twisted mind. The narrator (and I guess essentially the author) really does not try to convince readers that he is at all redeemable, he is just stating life as he sees it and I think when I realized that at the end of the book it made it a much better read. I think what really frustrates readers in the first half is that the author is in a pretty decent socio-economic position and has the means to take his life by the reins and change its course - but he doesn't and doesn't intend to. And that's kind of how depression is, you're just stuck in this hell hole of bleak thoughts and inaction.
The second half of the book continues to be just as bleak and depressing but I had an easier(?) time not eyerolling because when you're an alcoholic and a drug addict, the reader can at least pin your shitty actions on something and the empathy for the narrator is easier to come by. It is a worthwhile read in my opinion but definitely not something I would outright recommend to someone if they were asking lol
The second half of the book continues to be just as bleak and depressing but I had an easier(?) time not eyerolling because when you're an alcoholic and a drug addict, the reader can at least pin your shitty actions on something and the empathy for the narrator is easier to come by. It is a worthwhile read in my opinion but definitely not something I would outright recommend to someone if they were asking lol
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, and Sexual violence
historyoftape's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.75
This was hard to read, it was like watching someone sink into quicksand in slow motion. Fascinating, horrifying, depressing, cynical, at points slightly hopeful- haven't read anything like this in a long time.
Getting a look into the psyche of someone who cannot understand humanity, therefore struggles to define himself, defines himself as a monster and the watches himself become one, and in the end is just so incredibly human even while he believes himself not to be. That is what I would summarize this book to be, even though there is so much more.
Read the trigger warnings though. Would not recommend this to anyone currently struggling with depression or suicidal ideation. I'd say I'm mentally doing well right now, don't know what this would have been like if I'd read it at other points in life.
Getting a look into the psyche of someone who cannot understand humanity, therefore struggles to define himself, defines himself as a monster and the watches himself become one, and in the end is just so incredibly human even while he believes himself not to be. That is what I would summarize this book to be, even though there is so much more.
Read the trigger warnings though. Would not recommend this to anyone currently struggling with depression or suicidal ideation. I'd say I'm mentally doing well right now, don't know what this would have been like if I'd read it at other points in life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Blood, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Pedophilia
the_rookie_reader's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Now I have neither happiness nor unhappiness, everything passes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
ilsabelle's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide attempt
Minor: Rape and Sexual violence
sandstromej's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Sexual harassment
lifepath7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Minor: Confinement
natcrash's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book captivated me from the first sentence. I hadn’t read for fun in so long (like 3 years?) and this book brought me out of my reading slump. It’s short, at least for me (>200 pages), so it was perfect.
It’s beautifully written.
I love me some existential ramblings. Yozo is (maybe) relatable if you’ve ever felt out of place and/or have had depression, which makes you feel bad sincehe’s basically a piece of shit and treats everyone around him horribly . He calls you out, making you uncomfortable, but that’s just what I love. But DON’T read this book if you’re currently depressed. This book would’ve sent me spiraling down a hole five years ago. It’s definitely not for everyone, it’s harsh and heavy. It’s not something I usually read, but I couldn’t put it down.
It’s beautifully written.
I love me some existential ramblings. Yozo is (maybe) relatable if you’ve ever felt out of place and/or have had depression, which makes you feel bad since
Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable
- Cesar A. Cruz
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Some of the minor trigger warnings are listed as “minor” as they’re only mentioned in passing and are not major plot points of the book.