Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Earthlings

Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

426 reviews

triforcefusion's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This book was a solid 4.5 until the last moments. It's very traumatic and taboo material, which was the point of the novel. The descriptions of the action in the end was very confusing and I wasn't quite sure what was really happening.

I would actually not recommend this book. Sure, it's an interesting look at someone who is not neurotypical, perhaps with a severe mental illness, who suffers many abuses, but it doesn't say anything about any of it. There's no takeaway other than "this is taboo, how does it make you feel." Or "being human is a social construct."

This book says basically the same thing her other book, Convenience Store Woman, says. A commentary on society. I prefer my literature to have more fantasy or some catharsis to it because I already experience the horrors of society. That's why I personally did not care for it. I don't want a book to make me more acutely feel how fucked up everything is, I read to escape.

Content Warnings

loudonuts's review

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dark funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

as expected of murata san, loads of intense existential issues that i could really relate to. in the last hour it all got kind of insane, which was also expected. this was definitely not for the faint of heart. unfortunately i did not feel as attached to the characters and story as i did in CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN, but it was still a wild read that will stick with me for a while.

Content Warnings

pryingblackbird's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes

4.75

Unhinged and dark, cynical and surreal, and yet much too real. Some people said it's "hilarous" or "funny", to me it read more like a horror novel about the terrors of being a child, of being forced into society, of being a woman, of being different. It never made me laugh, it just filled me with unease. I enjoyed it immensely, but I am hesitant about recommending it. This one comes with a lot of content warnings and will leave you unsettled.

Content Warnings

grrrlbrarian's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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cati's review

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dark funny reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

what the fuck was that at the end

I started reading this after Convenience Store Woman and found that I enjoyed Earthlings a little more because of how longer it is. Dear God, poor Natsuki. I don't know what to say. This book has moments of depravity, but then it goes in in the final chapter. Please heed the warnings, because there is a scene of graphic CSA.

Content Warnings