A review by afi_whatafireads
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

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

4.75

Never in my life would I feel that I would be comforted by a very depressing story.

Before I start, I would like to say, to any of you who relates to this book in a sense that gives you so much pain, I hope that you're healing now at your own pace, and that you will find your own peace.


"Unhappiness. There are all kinds of unhappy people in this world. I suppose it would be no exaggeration to say that the world is composed entirely of unhappy people."


No Longer Human is said to be a semi-autobiography of Dazai before his death. A story that reflects of him but written in the character of Yozo, a boy who felt he no longer deserves to be called nor considered as a human. A story set in a journal-like-confession type of writing, of Yozo and his life.

Personal Ratings : 4.75🌟

I had to sleep on the book first before actually write my thoughts on this book. Its funny how a story like this serves somewhat a comfort read. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing positive in this book, but in some ways, it comforted you in a sense that you don't feel alone.

No Longer Human is a spiralling thought of Yozo who didn't feel he deserved to live, who sees himself as a monster and a menace to other people, and brings pain to everyone that he ever came across. You can't help but feel sorry for Yozo. Whilst his character was pitiful, he was also very very unlikeable, in which makes me sympathise him more. In a sense, as Yozo didn't see himself deserving to be human, he acted in the most inhumanely as possible, in which, drinking his woes away every night, sleeping with different girls everyday and turning to drugs to live. There is nothing likeable to his character and you will feel remorse and anger while reading as you'll feel he's somewhat wasting his life and talents away. What made it sad was how he acknowledged that everything that happened in his life, was His fault but he can't seem to break from the cycle. Since the story is set in the early 1940s, the idea of someone diagnosed is as foreign to taking drugs for your mental wellbeing, in which, Yozo became a character that is so hateful but you can't seem to hate him as he's trying to stay alive.

Not only that, this book reflected a lot on the political and societal expectations at the time, in which turned Yozo to the person he is. The inner-struggles that he faced with his parents and friends, the expectations of others for him. Dazai has a way in writing his stories in a cryptic way but with much to reflect. What made me sad was how at the end, Dazai had wrote that everything will pass eventually, and it hurts because he didn't make it. In some ways, he gave hope to us, that even if you feel life is hard, and hurtful and you feel that you're not a good person, you still and can change. It's not too late.

This is definitely a messy review. This book is NOT for everyone. I don't recommend picking it up if you don't need to. For those who feel that the story is comforting, I sincerely pray that better days are for you, and for those who can't understand, take the story with a grain of salt.
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