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bookemrocko's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, and Cannibalism
mellbutrin's review against another edition
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.
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
Graphic: Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Blood, Cannibalism, Incest, Rape, Murder, Violence, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Suicide
miki514's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism and Child abuse
nutsacktragedy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It took me several days to process whatever the hell just happened in this book, but it's been long enough. Earthlings is a story about the pressures of Japanese society and how people with unresolved traumas deal with them. Seems tolerable enough, but it's clear from the first two chapters that the story isn't fucking around.
No book has ever made my skin crawl like with Earthlings. I almost DNF'd it because I was so close to vomiting at certain parts of the story. Natsuki's inability to cope with her trauma and how everyone around her dismisses her are maddening.
The writing is a bit disconnected, but I don't know if that's intentional or an unfortunate consequence of translation. It works well, though, knowing Natsuki's overall detachment from everything. It's blunt, and it doesn't shy away from telling stuff as it is, which is somewhat comforting given the insanity happening in the book. But it's also unpleasant, because some scenes are hard to stomach.
PLEASE read the content warnings.
No book has ever made my skin crawl like with Earthlings. I almost DNF'd it because I was so close to vomiting at certain parts of the story. Natsuki's inability to cope with her trauma and how everyone around her dismisses her are maddening.
The writing is a bit disconnected, but I don't know if that's intentional or an unfortunate consequence of translation. It works well, though, knowing Natsuki's overall detachment from everything. It's blunt, and it doesn't shy away from telling stuff as it is, which is somewhat comforting given the insanity happening in the book. But it's also unpleasant, because some scenes are hard to stomach.
PLEASE read the content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Murder, Rape, Incest, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death
rosaretiisi's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism and Sexual content
kkouh's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
olatino's review against another edition
dark
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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Incest, and Sexual assault
gross readredrabbitali's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Incest
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.
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
Graphic: Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Murder
Victim blaming and shamingloudonuts's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Murder, Cannibalism, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment