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A review by softmiso
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The premise of No Longer Human follows the spiral into the shady and degrading life of crime, suicide, prostitution, substance abuse, etc. Teetering on the edge of morality, Dazai has portrayed the harrowing reality of depression, alienation and addiction in a person.
It was a hard read. Not in terms of immersiveness but more so the experiences of the protagonist made it hard to digest. As confronting and cynical as the book was, it was unique in a way that showed the ability to be completely disassociated from a personality and yet still be capable of feeling. I found it fascinating to read through despite the heavy content. The deep-dive into searching what it means to live and the amount of existential dread that comes from existing left me feeling strange as it pulled me into that headspace. I had to take many breaks from the book itself in order to complete it and it’s quite slow at the beginning. It was definitely different from other literature I’ve read- not to say that it was bad but it brought a new perspective towards aspects of life and is very much evident in the book.
It was a hard read. Not in terms of immersiveness but more so the experiences of the protagonist made it hard to digest. As confronting and cynical as the book was, it was unique in a way that showed the ability to be completely disassociated from a personality and yet still be capable of feeling. I found it fascinating to read through despite the heavy content. The deep-dive into searching what it means to live and the amount of existential dread that comes from existing left me feeling strange as it pulled me into that headspace. I had to take many breaks from the book itself in order to complete it and it’s quite slow at the beginning. It was definitely different from other literature I’ve read- not to say that it was bad but it brought a new perspective towards aspects of life and is very much evident in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide