Goodbye

by Osamu Dazai, Shelley Marshall (Translator)

The war is over and life is returning to normal. A man must say goodbye to his ten or so lovers. However, he can't do this alone, he needs the help of a special but difficult woman.

Genres: Japan, Japanese Literature, Fiction, Classics, Short Stories

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1948

About the author

Osamu DAZAI (native name: 太宰治, real name Shūji Tsushima) was a Japanese author who is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan. A number of his most popular works, such as Shayō (The Setting Sun) and Ningen Shikkaku (No Longer Human), are considered modern-day classics in Japan.
With a semi-autobiographical style and transparency into his personal life, Dazai’s stories have intrigued the minds of many readers. His books also bring about awareness to a number of important topics such as human nature, mental illness, social relationships, and postwar Japan.

Reviews

[Maca]

It's hard to rate an unfinished book, but this one left me puzzled.. It's funny at parts, but also sad, like most of Dazai's work.
The dialogue near the end was really bad though, maybe it's due to the translation...

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good while it lasted

I wonder if the story was important to the author, considering that he committed suicide before its finish. Too bad.

[Laura Omairi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I debated writing this review because I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, but I have to be honest. I read Osamu’s Schoolgirl and was intrigued by his voice and the way his personal life seemed to seep into the character, I found his perspective and position relatable and decided to venture into his other works. When I found out this was his last book, left unfinished and on top of that, titled “goodbye”, before he tragically took his life, I though there would be a deep message, perhaps his version of a suicide letter, but was left thoroughly disappointed.
I fear I might have hyped the book up in my mind a bit too much. I read the synopsis and allowed my mind to wander. I thought, maybe each of the woman he is saying goodbye to is a part of his life that he is leaving behind or something more nuanced. That was not the case. The book is entirely what it is said to be, and perhaps my disappointment was brought entirely by my own expectations.
Even though I did not enjoy this manuscript, I would still have liked to read the entire finished story. Part of me feels like a book with this title, being left unfinished, right before he took his own life has to have a deeper meaning. However, if there was one, it failed to make itself seen.

[Cavak · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many hits towards gender, abuse, and narcissism that the punchline is left hanging by the cut off point. It's outrageously sexist as is, yet it feels like that was the base for building up something deeper. A shame we won't know how the dramedy would've ended.

[Wara Diyari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodbye is more of a sketch than a drawing, flawed yet interesting, it showcases Dazai’s signature touch of melancholy, on the other, it’s about outdated gender roles and an overwhelming sense of cynicism toward women. If you manage to look past the book’s blatant sexism and the emotional immaturity of its main character, Tajima, there’s something oddly enjoyable here. I couldn’t help but wonder where the story might have gone or whether it would eventually deliver the deeper message it hints at but never quite reaches.

The tension between Kinuko and Tajima is that part of the book I had an interest in. Kinuko, in her bold, no nonsense way, acts as a foil to Tajima’s emotionally evasive persona. For a moment, you can almost imagine them forming a brief messy bond.

While this lacks the power of Dazai’s more polished works it’s still worth the read especially for those who are drawn to voices that burn out before they fade away.

[Art Mlang · Rating 5 out of 5]

กำลังสนุกเลย อยากอ่านต่อ

[Aleja Uribe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amigos, la forma de escribir de Osamu Dazai es muy interesante, uno no puede parar de leer, y ver cómo en sus obras se nota su deseo de morir y desesperación con el mundo lo hace más interesante. En este libro nos cuenta la historia de Tajima, un editor que en este caso busca acabar con todos sus amoríos, y para esto «contrata» a una mujer para que se haga pasar por su esposa y así hacer los rompimientos más «lógicos» y sin tener que dar muchas explicaciones (a pesar de que Tajima sí estaba casado, solo que su mujer y su hijo estaban lejos de Tokio).
La historia no acaba en medio de una frase o una idea, pero sí te deja queriendo saber cómo rompió con las demás mujeres y qué fue de Tajima.
Y bueno, si no saben, esta historia queda inconclusa porque el autor se suicidó junto con su amante en 1948.

[Pidge · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of Dazai's work, I had to read his final piece. It reads similarly to his other pieces, though it isn't as fluid and is more of a clunky read. The beginning read like an internal monologue of a man wanting to change and live with his family though not having the strength to change without help.

If only this book were finished—no, even though it wasn't—it was a good read, an angel.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wished this was finished. Unfortunately it isn't. Due to the time and culture it was written under, some of the ideas contained (TW: rape ideation) are treated in a much less sensitive way. The story itself shows a shameless man in a comedy of errors that had a cartoonish sort of humor. I did enjoy it despite its issues. 3 stars.

[Samuel Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

So truly unfortunate that this was never finished. The beginning was very well written and had me enthralled in the story and characters. Would have loved to see where this story would go. I have no doubt that it would be another classic written by Osamu Dazai.

[RKanimalkingdom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review Found Here

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is unfinished, I still enjoyed the short read. In a way I'm glad that Dazai never finished writing it; the ending I've envisioned is probably happier than the one he had in mind.

[natalia !! · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most charming part of the story was the end.

[Ryan Quick · Rating 5 out of 5]

i let out the biggest gasp i’ve ever done whilst reading a book… it just… ends. the author commits suicide. i knew it was coming, but i thought this story at least had a conclusion. i was enjoying this little story a lot as well. it’s kinda poetic that this peace is called ‘goodbye’. i already miss dazai. i’m gonna buy more of his books today

[Shalom Oluwabunkunmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this book even though it’s unfinished. it was an easy read, and i felt genuinely felt upset when i remembered there wouldn’t be more to read.

nagai and tajima had such a good dynamic, and i would’ve loved to see it’s development.

also the fact that his dazai’s last ever book is called goodbye, having a double meaning as tajima is saying goodbye to his lovers but it could also be a goodbye from the author himself. honestly a bit tragic to think about.

[Tom]

titled goodbye, unfinished due to his suicide and focusing on his relationship with women which has been a key theme throughout his work. obviously sad as he’s my favourite author but seeing people read the 30 so pages available and label it as shallow and misogynistic might just pain me more. truly a waste of time to attempt to quantify the worth of this work or what he was trying to do, instead let’s be happy we got 30+ more pages

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ebook] Dazai’s last work before he took his life.

The ending to this story would have been the best kind of satirical punchline. Unfinished and unpolished but still a joy to read. Its abrupt end (where Dazai stopped writing) caught me off guard.

Remarkably lighthearted, in fact.

Humorous till the end.

[Antor Chowdhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's sad to think this is the the last book I'll ever read by Osamu Dazai. I wonder how the story would have ended if he hadn't committed suicide? Perhaps someday I'll try writing the ending myself. For now this was an enjoyable read.

[Nagisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

色男の田島が、美人だが下品で金に目のないキヌ子を妻に仕立て、愛人たちと縁を切ろうと企む話。ユーモアたっぷりでおもしろかったのに、未完なのが残念。

[Tuyet Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do wish he could finish this book.

[Milly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so sad. Even though my Japanese is not very good I still cried over it.

[Irem · Rating 4 out of 5]

okumak istiyorum ama türkiye'de satışı yok😩

[Xyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's clear that a lot of the book is sexist and insensitive, which is probably also due to the social norms and views of the time. If you manage to look past that, you can enjoy the book. And I did, I really enjoyed it and I'm a bit sad that it couldn't be finished.
I wonder how the book would have developed and whether it would have had a message.
It made me giggle quite a few times. I found the dynamic between Kinuko and Tajima very refreshing as Kinuko is not one to mince words and puts Tajima in his place.
When Tajima wanted to carry out his "plan", which I can only shake my head at, I really loved Kinuko's reaction to it and I was really proud of this woman. 🤭
I would have loved to continue reading it.

So far I've only read "The Setting Sun", "Flowers of Buffoonery", "No Longer Human" and this book here by Dazai, but Dazai's works always seem to have a sexist touch.
As a woman, I was still able to read it because I really like Dazai's writing. But unfortunately, the author's books are not for people who can't see past that.
When reading, you always have to bear in mind that people at that time were not yet so advanced in their thinking about gender roles, the value of women and the world view. Nevertheless, I also find it instructive that the author shares these views from back then with us, because it shows how people thought back then. Unfortunately, the feminist part of our brains has to be switched off for a while, otherwise it is not possible to read these books.

[ConvallariaSomnial · Rating 2 out of 5]

رواية "الوداع" للمؤلف أوسامو دازاي تُعد من أكثر أعماله الأدبية المثيرة للفضول، لكونها رواية لم تكتمل!
كانت آخر أعماله التي لم يُنهها قبيل انتحاره.
هل يا ترى عكست هذه الرواية فساد وفوضى حياته مما قاده إلى إنهائها؟
أم كانت عملًا لم يهتم بأمره؟
بل ربما أراد منا وضع نهايتنا الخاصة لها.
لو أكملها، لكانت رائعة أدبية ساخرة أخرى، كشاهد على قدرة المؤلف في مزج الكوميديا بالمأساة وفوضى النفس البشرية.

تتحدث الرواية عن "تسوشيما"، محرر مجلة فاشل اجتماعيًا، متعدد العلاقات، يمتلك زوجة وابنة في الريف، يعيش في فوضى تامة هربًا من المسؤوليات والواقع.
ناجح في أعمال السوق السوداء وصنع المال.
يعقد صفقة مع امرأة جميلة وغامضة تعمل في السوق، لترافقه في مواعيد ينهي بها علاقاته مع نساء متعددات، متظاهرة بأنها زوجته.

التصنيف:

كوميديا سوداء

سيرة ذاتية ساخرة


مواضيع الرواية:

العلاقات المتعددة

الهروب من الواقع

الهروب من المسؤوليات


رواية مناسبة لمن يود إطلاق العنان لخياله ووضع نهاية تلائمه.

التقييم الشخصي: 2 / 5 ⭐
لكونها حبكة غير مكتملة

[Wasin Waeosri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reivew is based on Thai translation version.

นิยายเรื่องสุดท้ายของดะไซ โอซามุ เรื่องราวของผู้ชายเทาๆ ที่ตั้งใจจะบอกเลิกผู้หญิงที่พัวพันกับเขานับสิบคน แต่เขาไม่กล้า เลยไปจ้างสาวสวยปากร้ายคนนึงมาสวมบทเป็นภรรยาเขาเพื่อบอกเลิกสาวๆ แต่ละคน มันเป็นนิยายที่เขียนไม่จบ แต่ขนาดไม่จบยังอ่านสนุก เปี่ยมไปด้วยอารมณ์ขันแบบ darkๆ เรื่องเจือไปด้วยบรรยากาศญี่ปุ่นหลังแพ้สงครามที่น่าสนใจ

เสียดายที่เขียนไม่จบ อยากรู้จริงๆ ว่าจะจบยังไง

[lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars cause I love it but how do I rate an unfinished book, worse is there’s no way I can know how it will turn out 😭. This is a draft version so it’s very blunt but the humour timing was so entertaining for me like I laughed so loud my neighbour would have heard it. This one screams his signature and it’s a shame we won’t get to find out the whole thing he planned to tell.

[Balu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodbye

Goodbye is my first book of Osamu Dazai, the book carries a tragic masterpiece not because of its content, but because of its context. Reading a comedy written by a man on the brink of suicide adds a layer of profound irony to every joke. The act of saying "goodbye" to the mistresses mirrors a larger cultural desire to say goodbye to the messy, dark past of the war years.

[Ele]

Ca faisait tellement longtemps que je voulais lire ce livre… je m’attendais a cette fin abrupte a cause de son suicide mais je suis quand meme déçue de ne pas pouvoir connaitre le reste, vu son écriture encore une fois passionnante.

[valeria hoffmann assing · Rating 3 out of 5]

"This story was never finished. The author Dazai Osamu committed suicide with his lover Yamazaki Tomie on June 13, 1948." and the fact that at the end of the book we have the picture of manuscript of his last literary work...

[Zhixuan Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

幽默风趣，但看到最后“未完”两个字心里还是咯噔一下。