Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

12 reviews

augustst's review against another edition

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Rape, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Vomit, Death of parent, and War

pata's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

cashboulder7's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Terminal illness

letheii's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

yozo was such a feminist! he loved women so much that they made him suicidal 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Drug abuse

Minor: Terminal illness and Vomit

akane_readsyt's review against another edition

dark sad 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Sexual content

Minor: Rape

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

klara12's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Such an interesting book! Its a bit difficult to read because some things are only mentioned vaguely and you have to guess what the author ment. Still, its sad to think that there are people who feel the same way as the main  character in this book did. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

katie_n_doyle's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

royourboat's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

Such a captivating book. Yozo is an apathetic narrator who mostly speaks in short  sentences, which made the book hard to read at first but once I got used to it I was able to appreciate how genius the writing style/decision was. 

The writing style was extremely affective at portraying Yozo’s isolation and alienation. And while I recognize that it was a genius decision, because it accurately represents the thought process of a fractured mind, it did make the book less enjoyable at times, which is why I’m not giving it 5 stars. Yes, it succeeded in portraying the protagonist’s disconnection from the world around him, but it also made me feel disconnected from the story.

Nevertheless, the decision to have a very plain, monotonous narrator did make the book more compelling in a way. Yozo always got straight to the point in an almost shocking way which made me eager to know what happens next.

I have very conflicting feelings about our protagonist, I dislike him but I also feel for him at times. The misogyny was revolting, and since this book is semi-autobiographical it really makes you wonder which of these thoughts belong to the protagonist and which belong to the author himself?

I really disliked the epilogue. It was so unnecessary. I wouldn’t say it ~ruined the book for me but I would have definitely enjoyed it more if I hadn’t read the epilogue. 

Finally, here are 2 things to keep in mind to make your reading experience more powerful 1) Osamu Dazai committed double suicide alongside his lover right after this book was published and 2) Japan’s views on topics regarding mental illness and how taboo they are to this day, let alone when this book was first published 70 years ago. Osamu Dazai was a brave man. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, and Death of parent

Minor: Incest, Terminal illness, and Religious bigotry

cait's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol