Although i think it’s a weaker, but more emotional Underground Man, I still loved it. The descent into self destruction was something to behold, and it just kept getting worse.

Had to stop myself and think about my initial reaction of trying to rationalize what he’s doing.

You’re not supposed to like him. It’s a tragic story, him being abused as a child spiraled him into a truly contemptible man, not just some sweetheart with a few flaws.

His trauma just slowly builds up over time as his life gets sadder and sadder and he punishes himself more and more for something that isn’t his fault. He’s terrified of being himself, because he thinks he’s not human and that in turn, manifests into him truly losing touch with humanity.

It deals with mental illness in such a raw way, and the self destruction is so irrational, but that’s exactly how it works. His hatred for humanity is just his hatred for himself, and his attitude towards women (turns out that the guy who hates everyone hates women too). He’s terrified of loving someone in a productive way, and sabotages any potential relationship.

I loved the novel but the selfishness, self loathing, and disgust he had for the world around him made it difficult for me to sympathize for a man who created all his problems.

Sorry, but anyone that’s dealt with mental illness first hand knows that people only care when it’s making you a victim. Everyone is supportive when you tell them you have xyz, but when it makes you miss plans, act out, then suddenly they have no real compassion. People like the idea of mental illness as a vector for their virtue signalling. Not when it actually manifests.

Mental illness is truly part of you, and makes you do reprehensible stuff. I could easily empathize with him, even if I cannot justify any of his thoughts or actions, and think he’s horrible. Sadly mental illness isn’t just quirky tik toks and being sad sometimes. It manifests negatively all the time, and Yozo took it to the extreme. Falling through every crack imaginable.

Sorry for a barely related rant, but I think your comment is a symptom of something bigger. The novel is being criticized for having an unlikeable character when that’s quite the point. And if you’ve never had any of those thoughts he’s had, I’m jealous.

I rate, but I rate for myself. I don’t write a sales pitch, or anything like that. I use reviews for myself, to remember how I felt reading it. Over the years, some books kind of slip your mind and it’s fun reading how much you hated or enjoyed it at the time.

Or even more common, when reading non fiction, it all flying past your head, then it all starts making sense over time.