Reviews with content warning for Suicide - Earthlings

Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

mellbutrin's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

"Magical powers. I have to summon my magical powers. The power of darkness, the power of wind--any magical power will do, but I need something. I have to use my magical powers on my whole body before my heart feels anything."

Murata tells a horrifying, yet beautifully written, story of Natsuki, an elementary school student, experiencing sexual abuse from her teacher and emotional and physical abuse from her close family. To cope with this abuse, Natsuki creates a magical system and imagines herself as an alien wizard, distinct from the "Earthlings" around her.

As a grown woman, Natsuki's belief that she is an alien only intensifies, a consequence of her husband believing in both her fantasies and her description of society as a "Factory" for reproducing and working. This folie à deux encourages the couple to perform despicable acts in order to escape the "Factory" and distinguish themselves from "Earthlings."

Natsuki is vividly brought out as a character. She is compellingly sympathetic, and though Natsuki's actions frequently go against social taboos, Murata’s careful exploration of Natsuki’s philosophy and psychology makes it easy to understand why she performs them.

I cannot recommend this book to anyone. However, for those who can endure painfully explicit scenes of sexual and physical abuse, suicidal ideation, incest, and cannibalism, this book offers a worthwhile portrayal of self-discovery and survival, along with decent social commentary.

Content Warnings

ccate's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

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

katyamarcelle's review

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challenging dark sad tense

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

5.0

Content Warnings

alek_n's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

me for most of the book: 🫣

Content Warnings

spooky_coochie's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

maggierish's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.75

Read the content warnings! The cover and quote on the front make this out to be lighthearted, but it gets dark fast. By the end you’ll be sitting in silence thinking about what you’ve just read.

Content Warnings