est_her's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am relieved to find i'm no longer mentally ill enough to find comfort in this novel/enjoy it as much as the first time i read it. Yozo starts out as a child having difficulties understanding the people around him and incapable of building genuine connections with other humans. There, his struggles are almost relatable to the reader. As he grows up, Yozo makes so many mistakes, allows so many terrible people to influence him negatively that the main character even completely alienates the reader from himself. Every time it seems he may have a chance to turn his life around, he repeats the same mistakes, each time in a more horrifying manner than before. By the end of the novel, it is so sickening that it qualifies as a horror story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Suicide, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Rape, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Child abuse
aliennnn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Alcoholism, Suicide, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, and Suicide attempt
chinola's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Addiction, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
venusynth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
I have never experienced such misfortunes or the misery, that is Yozo’s greatest enemy and oldest friend—and I wish all that Yozo experienced on no one, nobody— but I enjoyed this story. Like, as the commonly used simile states, a car crash you can’t look away from. Except it gets worse as you turn the pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault
jadejoro's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
No Longer Human is difficult.
I imagine like many of the novel's current readers, I started this book entirely because of the anime Bungo Stray Dogs. I expected to get a clearer understanding of the anime character based upon the novel's author (Dazai). I wasn't prepared for how much I would connect with this book.
"Mine has been a life of much shame," the book starts. "I can't even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being." Though the events of the plot more or less progress from Yozo's childhood to his adulthood, the entire story is told from the viewpoint of an adult. Though we start by reading about Yozo's picture books and childhood appetite, we do not get to know our protagonist as cute, innocent child. As it is Yozo telling his own story, we are immediately thrust into his mindset -- this child isn't human. Any resemblance to a human is a carefully crafted mask. Indeed that difference itself is Yozo's story -- we follow him to Tokyo as he bounces through bars and the arms of women, his struggle to hide and cope with his alienation more a driving factor than anything that occurs in the world around him.
Unlike how most authors treat their protagonists, I find that Dazai makes no attempt to convince us to like Yozo. Often he's arrogant, selfish, and misogynistic. Sometimes he recognizes these flaws within himself, other times if there is recognition we don't linger upon it. Yozo, as something inhuman himself, rarely tries to see the humanity in others, unless it's to compare his own shortcomings to what the people around him seem to expect. At times "humanity" almost seems like a checklist for Yozo to perform rather than something to be valued in himself or others.
This dim view of the human race and its members might turn some people away from the book. There is no happy ending (see my content warnings), no positive resolution of any of Yozo's struggles, and a pretty dim outlook on humanity's entire existence. If you're looking for an upbeat story of a man overcoming mental illness, this isn't it, and I'd wager that most anyone that hasn't had their own mind take them to dark places will not enjoy, and may even be repulsed by, this story.
But if you've been there, if you too have dropped "steadily, inevitably into unhappiness" and have "no specific plan to stave off [your] descent", you may find solace in this book. Not solace in the sense of anything getting better, but solace in community. Dazai Osamu put into words feelings I have struggled with since I was eight years old, feelings I was forbidden to discuss, feelings I thought furthered disqualified me from the human connection I was already sorely lacking. Simply put, as a child I thought I was alien. Though modern science and psychology gave me the technical and scientific words needed to explain why I too am no longer human, Dazai gave me a home. In a way, Dazai defined the alien race to which I belong. I may not be human, but I am not alone.
And in the end, isn't that what we all want?
I imagine like many of the novel's current readers, I started this book entirely because of the anime Bungo Stray Dogs. I expected to get a clearer understanding of the anime character based upon the novel's author (Dazai). I wasn't prepared for how much I would connect with this book.
"Mine has been a life of much shame," the book starts. "I can't even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being." Though the events of the plot more or less progress from Yozo's childhood to his adulthood, the entire story is told from the viewpoint of an adult. Though we start by reading about Yozo's picture books and childhood appetite, we do not get to know our protagonist as cute, innocent child. As it is Yozo telling his own story, we are immediately thrust into his mindset -- this child isn't human. Any resemblance to a human is a carefully crafted mask. Indeed that difference itself is Yozo's story -- we follow him to Tokyo as he bounces through bars and the arms of women, his struggle to hide and cope with his alienation more a driving factor than anything that occurs in the world around him.
Unlike how most authors treat their protagonists, I find that Dazai makes no attempt to convince us to like Yozo. Often he's arrogant, selfish, and misogynistic. Sometimes he recognizes these flaws within himself, other times if there is recognition we don't linger upon it. Yozo, as something inhuman himself, rarely tries to see the humanity in others, unless it's to compare his own shortcomings to what the people around him seem to expect. At times "humanity" almost seems like a checklist for Yozo to perform rather than something to be valued in himself or others.
This dim view of the human race and its members might turn some people away from the book. There is no happy ending (see my content warnings), no positive resolution of any of Yozo's struggles, and a pretty dim outlook on humanity's entire existence. If you're looking for an upbeat story of a man overcoming mental illness, this isn't it, and I'd wager that most anyone that hasn't had their own mind take them to dark places will not enjoy, and may even be repulsed by, this story.
But if you've been there, if you too have dropped "steadily, inevitably into unhappiness" and have "no specific plan to stave off [your] descent", you may find solace in this book. Not solace in the sense of anything getting better, but solace in community. Dazai Osamu put into words feelings I have struggled with since I was eight years old, feelings I was forbidden to discuss, feelings I thought furthered disqualified me from the human connection I was already sorely lacking. Simply put, as a child I thought I was alien. Though modern science and psychology gave me the technical and scientific words needed to explain why I too am no longer human, Dazai gave me a home. In a way, Dazai defined the alien race to which I belong. I may not be human, but I am not alone.
And in the end, isn't that what we all want?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Child abuse
If you struggle with mental illness, I recommend not reading on your bad days. The book is fairly short, so prioritize taking care of yourself.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
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
villin's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is the worst book I've ever read. It felt like i was eating burned popcorn.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse, Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, and Suicide
rionardo'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
5.0
This book is incredilby depressing and deals with hard topics. While reading I found myself relating to the main character, but I also hated and despised him throughout the book. I also felt bad for him. Still one of my favorite books and has a big impact on me and what I think about mental illnesses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Grief, Child abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexism, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
snepai's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
golpesar818's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
considering this book within the imperialist context of post WWII Japan, i found this book to be even more unsettling and depressing, because then i started to feel like Yozo’s character represents postwar Japanese society broadly (i.e kinda like how Yozo, in his many attempts to understand society, asks “what is society?” and answers: “a society is just an individual”). yes,
he’s a patriarchal misogynist. his hatred of women is overt. he experiences multiple overlapping dependencies and isolations, he is not very likeable, but what’s even scarier, he is dangerously recognizable in SOME specific ways. namely his social anxiety. it’s all very banality of evil. overall though, by the end of the book i felt that the title “no longer human” or “disqualified as human” suggests to me that his loss of humanity (attributed to his psychiatric institutionalization), much like his many desires to unalive himself, is systemic. i don’t normally read “classic” literature but appreciated the vibe shift even though this book medium key fucked me up. major tw that i listed below.
he’s a patriarchal misogynist. his hatred of women is overt. he experiences multiple overlapping dependencies and isolations, he is not very likeable, but what’s even scarier, he is dangerously recognizable in SOME specific ways. namely his social anxiety. it’s all very banality of evil. overall though, by the end of the book i felt that the title “no longer human” or “disqualified as human” suggests to me that his loss of humanity (attributed to his psychiatric institutionalization), much like his many desires to unalive himself, is systemic. i don’t normally read “classic” literature but appreciated the vibe shift even though this book medium key fucked me up. major tw that i listed below.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Mental illness, Suicide, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Xenophobia, Addiction, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Misogyny