Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Gagal Menjadi Manusia

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

Content Warnings

hkveit's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-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

2.5

Content Warnings

boyreadinginacherrytree's review against another edition

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dark reflective

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

3.75

I felt like when I was reading the book that the language felt disconnected and emotionless which felt intentional considering the character. There were sentences and paragraphs that were linguistically very interestering and I think from a language perspective it's a very interesting book. However, in my personal opinion, I did find parts of the book quite boring in a way I just wanted to put the book down and read something else. Whether that was intentional or not I'm not sure, I think it could have been to express the characters lack of expression but there were parts I didn't find boring so I'm not really sure. I think it was a read to remember, mostly in terms of language, but I don't think I'd read it again, just not so much my kind of book.

Content Warnings