A review by girlapostle
No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai

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

3.75

 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 
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