This was an odd book. Its a good book and I appreciate it, but I'm not sure I "liked" it. Its about a man (loosely based on Dazai, so says the back cover, but the introduction from the translator says no) who all his life is disillusioned by people and feels he is incapable of understanding humans. It starts out as child, thru high school and into his later years, where he takes to alcohol and drugs at the expense of his friends and family. My first thought about the main character, was he's an incel, before there was a word for such a thing. Written in 1948, its still considered one of the top 10 books in Japan. Its a good book, just don't expect an uplifting narrative.

Quotes:
I was frightened even by God. I could not believe in His love, only in His punishment. Faith. That, I felt, was the act of facing the tribunal of justice with one's head bowed to receive the scourge of God. I could believe in hell, but it was impossible for me to believe in the existence of heaven

Her voice was full of tenderness as she explained each of the half-dozen medicines. The affection of this unhappy woman was however to prove too intense. At the last she said, "This is a medicine to be used when you need a drink so badly you can't stand it." She quickly wrapped the little box. It was morphine ( )

Unlikeable but captivating? ( )

Oh boy. This book makes different types of people uncomfortable for a variety of reasons, and most of them are in denial of certain realities (uh, sometimes their own). ( )

A taste of a different and tragic life. ( )

Hmmm... I read because Dazai comes up so often as classic Japanese author. My first book by him. I was ... underwhelmed... page after page of self indulgent braggadocio ... "smarter than anyone without studying" "everybody loved me no matter what" "i immediately saw through every one" "i am the only authentic person alive" ... ok- so that is an impressionistic summary of the content and yes, it is rings of salinger and lots of other young coming of age self obsessed boys, but this is rather over the top in its shameless single minded shallowness. We are supposed to be .. impressed? pity? i'm not sure exactly. So... why 4 stars after all that? (pretty high) well, it does grow on one - the vapid, immature child clinging to those passing by. Ultimately we have some charming, dark scenes ... i'm thinking of his 2nd wife and that loser friend of his. ( )