no longer human by osamu dazai
Translator: Donald Keene
"Now I have neither happiness nor unhappiness.
Everything passes.
That is the one and only thing that I have thought resembled a truth in the society of human beings where I have dwelled up to now as in a burning hell.
Everything passes."
― Osamu Dazai, No Longer Human
Everything passes. This novel was a tough read. You're presented with the mental anguish of the protagonist, Yozo, who cannot find a place for himself in the world or the society he was born in. Knowing it was semi-autobiographical, where the protagonist's suicide attempts and sadness was once experienced by the author made this particularly hard to process.
It was strangely therapeutic, dwelling in this feeling of hopelessness and societal alienation. We've all gone through this in our lives, some more intensely than others. I think this novel captures these web of thoughts that keep us down whilst remaining reverent by not hiding anything that comes with this. Suicide, putting on a content face when you're not okay, alcohol and drug abuse, escapism, and ultimately total submission to this feeling that nothing will be okay.
It makes sense that this was commentary on post-war Japan, where traditions were quickly being replaced by western ideals and the problems they come with. Being a part of both but not belonging to either.