Reviews tagging 'Eating disorder'

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

65 reviews

alexandrabelze's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

oh wow. where to even start? a unique, extremely dark, and satirical take on the constraints and pressures of society’s expectations: a portrayal of extreme anomie. murata did not hold back on the scrutiny. she captured the whimsical and overactive imagination of children so perfectly, especially when it came to processing trauma. this was an amazing portrayal of childhood trauma and how that affects people differently in adulthood. the last two chapters or so were a whirlwind of “wtf” but i was still captivated. extremely excited to read convenience store woman.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Gaslighting, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence, and Eating disorder

Minor: Bullying, Grief, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Death of parent, and Vomit

ollyboston's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Eating disorder, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Abandonment, Violence, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, and Dysphoria

touchmyrobe8's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Blood, Cannibalism, Incest, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Gore, Eating disorder, and Child abuse

cocchan's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Blood, Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

sveaannika's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Murder, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Violence, and Sexual assault

morebedsidebooks's review

challenging dark

3.0

 ‘What came first: the system or love?’ 

 

Earthlings by bestselling Japanese author Murata Sayaka can be a little difficult to sum up. It’s the story of Natsuki a (magical?) girl from age 11 to her 30s. Her beloved cousin Yuu, in and out of her life before he’s drawn in again. And finally, her husband Tomoya, a partner in a marriage that’s far from traditional. Oh, and the hedgehog toy named Piyyut which graces the cover of various editions. Can’t forget the laconic Piyyut from Planet Popinpobopia. 

Reading a book like this is a test of sanity. At least when the world and the three primary characters are decidedly not OK. From childhood trauma, incest and to farther edges it is a terrible descent just as much as the structures that confine and fail them. The extremes of the way one frames the self, (traumatic) experiences, family, and society and all the tensions between and therein. This trio’s severe alienation leads to breaking taboos and (horrific) transformation. What exactly makes you human? Or other? How do you survive? Murata brought the social commentary down hard. If she doesn’t break the reader first. 

Earthlings with the primary isolated rural setting and idea of aliens on Earth also reminded me of a short older comic by Kawakami Junko named Galaxy Girl, Panda Boy. Chiefly about puberty, Kawakami presents nowhere near as dark a story. In it the 13-year-old character who feels so differently thinks the others, i.e., the boy she likes who hit a growth spurt and the adults (who are up to something) are the aliens. In Earthlings it’s Yuu’s childhood belief he’s an alien. One that sticks with Natsuki who has had Piyyut since she was six. And how the ‘unbrainwashed’ thinking of Tomoya too starts to bring its own cultish associations in the face of conformity. 

Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori English editions came out in 2020. Like other work by Murata examining gender roles and bringing up questions surrounding asexuality. Which if I’m being honest, on the latter I’m not comfortable with the English copy in that regard. There’s nuance that’s lost. 

Earthlings is also a very complicated novel to recommend as a result. For strong stomachs and strange fiction lovers. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Murder, Pedophilia, Incest, Cannibalism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Vomit, Death, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Suicide

This book also looks at the many ways victim blaming occurs.

emilyandthewhippet's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Uncomfortable and something that you're not going to forget for a long time. I'm not sure that's a good thing though. The first half was traumatic and the second... I don't even know? Not a nice read but well written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Violence, Pedophilia, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Bullying, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Vomit, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Sexual content, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Pregnancy, and Mental illness

gabrielaresende's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Self harm, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Bullying, Cannibalism, and Adult/minor relationship

markwillnevercry's review against another edition

0.25

Yeah, no, thanks, I'm good, me and Sayaka Murata are just not chilling together, such is life sometimes. This was just not good, not for me at least. I kinda get what the author was going for, but just because an idea exists, it does not mean that it should be put to life. The amount of trigger warnings that this book needs is way to big, even tho it says basically the same thing as Convenience Store Woman. I will not continue with this author.

Reading notes:

Just a reminder, that we have two sex scenes, where Natsuki is 12.

The second she started talking about copying the way her friends talk it was just like "Ah yes, this is just reskinned convenience store woman".

There is victim blaming. 

This book is published in 2018 and there is talk about how Natsuki does not have permission from her husband :)
Why are we here :)

Ah yes, Natsuki has the responsibility to have sex with her husband :)

-//- 

Ah yes, Natsuki was so lucky that her teacher was in love with her :)

Of course only Natsuki cares about love, it is not a manly thing :)

I am tired :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abandonment, Blood, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Ableism, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Vomit, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Pedophilia, Confinement, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Violence

plumdustsuns's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Blood, Gore, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual violence, Violence, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Suicide, and Toxic relationship