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A review by b33
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
challenging
dark
emotional
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
Speculated to be written as Osamu Dazai’s suicide note, No Longer Human centres around a protagonist, Yozo Oba, that feels subhuman. He spends his life searching to fill the void and in return, finds drugs, women, and alcohol.
Dazai is one of my favourite authors. He manages to capture sadness and isolation in a way no author I’ve read has before. I’ve read No Longer Human 4 times and in each read, I manage to find another element that stands out. I’ve probably got a note on each page of the book. Half of the book is just my writing, at this point.
While the book undeniably has its less savoury aspects, like the visceral misogyny Yozo displays towards women characters, they still manage to fit into the plot and make sense in relation to the character. Not to say Yozo or Dazai should be excused for any prejudice.
Dazai’s writing style is quick and fluid. The poetics are exaggerated enough that I enjoyed reading them and it didn’t feel like a textbook, but subtle enough that it didn’t feel like I was reading a thesaurus. He’s able to capture a wide range of emotions, showing the beauty and suffering Yozo experienced.
Overall, I understand the criticisms of No Longer Human. It’s a miserable book, to put it simply. But I enjoyed the way Dazai was able to write the misery of Yozo, and No Longer Human remains one of my favourite book to date. Beautifully written and emotional.
Dazai is one of my favourite authors. He manages to capture sadness and isolation in a way no author I’ve read has before. I’ve read No Longer Human 4 times and in each read, I manage to find another element that stands out. I’ve probably got a note on each page of the book. Half of the book is just my writing, at this point.
While the book undeniably has its less savoury aspects, like the visceral misogyny Yozo displays towards women characters, they still manage to fit into the plot and make sense in relation to the character. Not to say Yozo or Dazai should be excused for any prejudice.
Dazai’s writing style is quick and fluid. The poetics are exaggerated enough that I enjoyed reading them and it didn’t feel like a textbook, but subtle enough that it didn’t feel like I was reading a thesaurus. He’s able to capture a wide range of emotions, showing the beauty and suffering Yozo experienced.
Overall, I understand the criticisms of No Longer Human. It’s a miserable book, to put it simply. But I enjoyed the way Dazai was able to write the misery of Yozo, and No Longer Human remains one of my favourite book to date. Beautifully written and emotional.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Misogyny, and Suicide