book recs

okay so theres a toooon of options for you in this catergory, most of which fall into the genre of like horror. the first book I thought of when I read your post was No Longer Human by Ozamu Dazai. I haven't read it myself but it kinda checks all the boxes, at least from what I heard of it. its not horror as far as i'm aware. 

if you do wanna go down the horror route and you have about a few weeks to spend trying to wrap your head around a book, House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski is a good pick. Most of the characters in that book are unhinged to some extent and its a good (but incredibly complicated) read. I haven't finished it but it was a REAL good read of the bit that I did get to.

Another "depressing book" that ive heard good things about is A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I don't know much about No Longer Human or A Little Life, other that they are very depressing and VERY easy to find in bookstores (coming from someone who works in a bookstore). Not really familiar with this genre so I hope that helps you out to some extent!!! :)

i'll give u a little list lol:

- girl in pieces ( literally soul taking, you will be feeling things after reading )

- its kind of a funny story

- catcher in the rye (classic)

- the perks of being a wallflower (tons of great quotes)

A depressing and honestly very weird book I've read recently was this book called My Year of Rest and Relaxation by author Ottessa Moshfegh! I can't say it was a book that I loved but it sure was quite an interesting read!

someone already mentioned osamu dazai and although i agree no longer human is a very good piece, i like The setting sun by him even more! Its abt an aristocratic family and it is set in the time of WW2 but it dives into many more themes beside war.

I was reading it around this time last year and i think some parts captured my then current thoughts and feelings about the ongoing war in ukraine since im living so near it. I wouldnt recommend it to anyone who doesnt exactly ask for depressive literature so im glad u asked!! (it ruined me) (in a good way) (sort of)

also abt no loger human, i read it and its even worse when you go into it with the knowledge that is a autobiography to a certain extend. Its a really good look inside of a head of someone like dazai (except for those misogynistic parts...) however, i would still reccomend it! :) and besides those two books, i also really liked schoolgirl by him.

and for some other authors, i really enjoyed notes from underground by Dostojevkij.

And a really good, short and beautiful yet a bit morbid and tragic poetry is May by Karel Mácha - i tried to find the best eng translation !:) https://www.lupomesky.cz/maj/may.html

The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker. A story about a neglected young girl who murders a young boy, and as an adult now has to deal with the aftermath of the murders while trying to provide her young daughter with something she never had - a good childhood. Broken up into two parts - Chrissie, the young girl. And Julie, the new name she chose for herself as an adult. Psychological horror.

Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo. A slow-paced, first person narrative of a young Chinese girl struggling to adjust to modern society. No horror in this.

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh. This book takes place in the 1960s and is about a 24 yr old woman named Eileen who lives at home with her alcoholic father and works at a correctional facility for boys. Eileen is inwardly unstable and seen as odd. Suspenseful but not scary.

The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker. A story about a neglected young girl who murders a young boy, and as an adult now has to deal with the aftermath of the murders while trying to provide her young daughter with something she never had - a good childhood. Broken up into two parts - Chrissie, the young girl. And Julie, the new name she chose for herself as an adult. Psychological horror.

Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo. A slow-paced, first person narrative of a young Chinese girl struggling to adjust to modern society. No horror in this.

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh. This book takes place in the 1960s and is about a 24 yr old woman named Eileen who lives at home with her alcoholic father and works at a correctional facility for boys. Eileen is inwardly unstable and seen as odd. Suspenseful but not scary.

If you want a break your soul book please read every last drop by Sarah Robinson or always by Lindsay becs. A thousand boy kisses by tillie cole is also very great for a tear jerker 

some of the best books i've ever read:

- every last word (amazing plot and doesnt feel as cliche or cringe as most y/a books + if u like dead poets society i recommend this)

- 

- lie with me (heartbreaking but also a quick read)

- the girls

- porno (irvine welsh is one of the t authors to ever exist imo, hes the one who wrote trainspotting)

some of the best books i've ever read:

- every last word (amazing plot and doesnt feel as cliche or cringe as most y/a books + if u like dead poets society i recommend this)

- 

- lie with me (heartbreaking but also a quick read)

- the girls

- porno (irvine welsh is one of the t authors to ever exist imo, hes the one who wrote trainspotting)

Anything written by Donna Tartt, but also The Cruel Prince has one of the most unhinged protags I've ever read in a YA fantasy.

Anything by Matthew Stokoe