No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai | Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

The last time I was that excited about a novel was more than a year ago, and it was Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.

I am spoiled by another recommendation by my daughter, No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai. The sincerity and honestly of the protagonist’s voice left me with renewed hope in humanity.

“God, I ask you. Is trustfulness a sin?”

I wonder if both Pachinko and No Longer Human have been translated into Vietnamese?

I mostly feel sad for those who could never get access to such incredible writing. And to be in the end at the mercy of the translators who they mostly revered with reverence as Gods. Like so with these gods bestow windows to their imprisoned subjects to unbetold magical worlds.

English is just another language like any other, it just happened to be a useful one.

Don’t be a slave to these gods..

Ah, again, I am talking to myself. But if I can not be honest with myself then with whom?

God, I ask you. Is honesty a sin?

Because I know to most, betrayal is not.