Scan barcode
A review by icarusandthesun
The Flowers of Buffoonery by Osamu Dazai
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
i wasn't a huge fan of no longer human back when i first read it. i thought the main character, yozo oba, was extremely unlikable and a mysogynist. but though in the flowers of buffoonery, yozo oba is the protagonist once again (obviously, since it's the prequel), i still thought it was thoroughly enjoyable.
it was funny, and self-deprecating. dazai frequently breaks the fourth wall, poking fun at himself, at the reader, at life itself. if you know a little bit about dazai's life, you will quickly notice the autobiographical aspects of the bookâdazai as yozo oba, the very one he keeps talking down.
the flowers of buffoonery was also very wise, and though written in 1935, all the social observations still apply, it's really fascinating.
it was funny, and self-deprecating. dazai frequently breaks the fourth wall, poking fun at himself, at the reader, at life itself. if you know a little bit about dazai's life, you will quickly notice the autobiographical aspects of the bookâdazai as yozo oba, the very one he keeps talking down.
the flowers of buffoonery was also very wise, and though written in 1935, all the social observations still apply, it's really fascinating.
And while they dance across the surface with their smiles and their handshakes, in their minds they're both saying the same thing: what an idiot!
(on being "fake", as we would express it)
This world can be a boring place. Who can blame them for wanting something exciting to happen?
a very astute observation, could be tied to the way people enjoy creating "drama", or watching it unfold, be it on the internet or real life.
Young people never say anything straight. You can tell they're being honest if they hide behind a laugh.
we've come to see these kinds of quotes as a little pseudo-deep as they've already been used a lot, but it's still interesting to see some things haven't changed at all. self-deprecation. laughing at your own pain as to not make a situation awkward.
and some other quotes that i enjoyed:
and some other quotes that i enjoyed:
The fact is that my fear of being ridiculed is so intense, I'd rather beat my critics to the punch.
Beautiful feelings make bad literature.
No sooner had they suffered an insult than they wished that they were dead.
I'm a real-life artist, not a piece of art.
Never mind. I hate describing scenery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Suicide
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Injury/Injury detail