#110 The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai
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A popular suggestion from the Blue Book Challenge.
The Setting Sun (1947) tells the story of a declining aristocratic family in post-World War II Japan. The narrative is presented from the perspective of Kazuko, a young woman from a once-prosperous family, and chronicles her experiences as her family falls into ruin. The novel explores themes involving The Decline of the Old Order in Japanese society, The Lingering Effects of Trauma, and The Persistence of Optimism.