No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai is a psychological thriller set in the future. The book is about the first person narrator, Yozo, who tries to reconcile himself with the world while being bullied in high school and later attempts suicide. The graphic novel adaptation was written by Eisner Award-winning horror manga-ka Junji Ito. NoLH is a compelling read.
The first part of the novel is set in Japan, and the novel is told in the form of notebooks, written by the protagonist. The story of Oba Yozo, who attempts suicide a number of times, is told through three chapters. In the first one, the reader meets Oba Yozo’s family, who is a troubled man who has been cheated on by others. In the second chapter, the protagonist meets his first love and falls in love, only to discover that he is gay.
The third chapter is the epilogue, which explains how Yozo came to be the person he became. In NoLH, Yozo is the reflection of Dazai’s personality. He is an alcoholic and drug addict, and attempts to’socialize’ by acting as a clown. However, despite his efforts, he remains estranged from his family and friends. The book is set in the present day, but it is set in the past.