A Review: No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai
A rather depressing book, more so knowing the story of Dazai’s life (and end of it unfortunately) and how scarily it resembles the story. This novel is not something I’d read if I were in a bad state if mind as is. This is the first book I read after coming out of my reading slump, and it definitely was a good choice; the writing is enriching and engaging, but not so difficult to where it’s confusing and too slow of a read.
The narrator takes you through his tumults, his failures, even his mundane life where he somehow makes the reader’s lens grey and despairing for the entirety of the novel. I feel like books with such sorrowful tones are difficult to write; if done carelessly, they can come off as cheesy or romanticized, but Dazai does so in a way which the narrator genuinely and accurately depicts depression, mania, and addiction; this helps us understand the narrator, not envy. instead of romanticizing these disorders, we fear and pity the narrator (sometimes confused by the narrator as well, which more so aids in the idea of understanding).
Something important but so trivial is missing to where I can’t pinpoint it. Definitely one of the top books I’ve read.
book balms! 