Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

338 reviews

olaolaheia's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

Didn't really find this book super interesting. Describing the plot of Earthlings is impossible without spoiling it. Bizarre and surreal. If your main reason for reading books is following a story, and you like off the wall, super weird stories then this is for you. If not I'm not sure I would recommend it. I like to think I like surreal media, but this was surreal on a surface level, on a "what happens"-level, not on a "how it happens" -level. Though writing about "otherness" and trauma in a interesting way, the writing style is almost eye-catching in how banal and uninteresting it is. Some of the side-characters mentioned on a few pages is more interesting and alive than the main character the book is about. Maybe this is the translation, I'm not sure.  The metaphor for society used by the main character is also so overused and tiresome and does not bring any interesting discussion on society. This is a miss, but I think I would still be interested in maybe reading "Convinience Store Woman" cause I think Murata still has a knack for interesting stories.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Abandonment, Incest, Physical abuse, Mental illness, and Murder

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

autumnwhite's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexism, Cannibalism, Violence, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Incest, Death, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Domestic abuse, Blood, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Misogyny, Gore, and Sexual assault

prod_atashi's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.75

WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Incest, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Medical content, Torture, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, and Murder

staticspider's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad 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? It's complicated

2.0

This book is marketed as a horror book but there is a difference between horror and depravity... this isn't horror. One thing I will say is that they depicted abuse perfectly. Unfortunately there is no help for those struggling in this story. Trigger warning for those interested: child abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, incest, cannibalism, victim blaming, and a large amount of undiagnosed/ untreated mental health issues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Gaslighting, Incest, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

shoelace's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Self harm, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Mental illness, Violence, Bullying, Confinement, Gore, Incest, Blood, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Infertility

readingintothevoid's review against another edition

challenging dark

4.5

WOAH. I did NOT expect this AT ALL. All I’d heard about this book is that it’s weird and that there’s this little alien hedgehog stuffed animal. So I went into this thinking it was going to be a silly book and that could not have been further from the truth.

MASSIVE trigger warnings for verbal and physical child abuse by parents, a teacher grooming and sexually assaulting an elementary school girl and then her mother beating her, not believing her, and blaming her. Attempted suicide. And then several more people throughout the book not believing and blaming the sexual assault survivor.

Honestly, if I’d known about these triggers beforehand, I wouldn’t have read the book and if I hadn’t read from and liked Sayaka Murata before, I would have quit when the grooming began.

BUT I had really enjoyed the book so far and loved Convenience Store Woman so I persevered and I’m glad I did.

I can see why this isn’t super highly rated—same as Convenience Store Woman, but I love a book that really truly dives deep in questioning social norms and pushing the boundaries of what’s acceptable. Sayaka Murata does this in a way that so many authors try and fail to—a way that is absolutely uncomfortable, but that in my opinion isn’t gratuitous, purely for shock value, or seemingly promoting the acts of horror depicted.

My heart aches for the children in this story and the adults they become and I feel only rage and disdain for the “normal” people in their lives. I 100% believed the feelings and actions of Natsuki and was horrified as well as astonished and understanding of the ways she coped with her trauma. GUH I am DISGUSTED by what happened in this book, but not by the popinpobopians who were surviving after terrible trauma. I’m not saying I’m advocating for following their lead (although Natsuki taking out that “witch”, I do support), but I do understand and they never sought to hurt anyone else—just survive against harm and attacks from the “norms”.

Anyway, I’m rambling now cuz this has me all twisted up especially because even while this story seems like it might be a little far fetched—it actually isn’t. Children and the adults they grow into deal with this type of trauma every day and they all find different ways to cope.

I think Sayaka Murata is now officially an auto buy author for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Physical abuse

frozenheartv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-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

4.25

4.25 stars

Wow wow... Writing this review is pretty challenging for me because i don't know at some points how i should feel after reading the ending. 

I'm going to start with the fact that the author has a profounding talent in building up the story, it hooks me from start to end and i couldn't stop reading it until almost 4am. It's heartbreaking to read, very traumatizing in some parts, very deep story that make me think a lot afterward but also horrific to read sometimes. I think the horrifying parts are there for a reason. At first, after reading the ending, i was like "wtf", it kinda ruin the whole book for me but then after thinking further, i think it was a spectacular ending. The ending has to be there for this story to mark a space in your heart.

I adore Convenience Store Woman from this author. My take is that Earthlings is kinda like Convenience Store Woman sequel but not really a sequel. Convenience Store Woman has very similar concept but stops in a middle way. Earthlings continues form there with different characters and story but delves deeper into the psyche and the way the society can push people over the limit.

All in all, i think it's a terrific book but i have to give it a little bit lower score than CSW because for me Earthlings' messages are delivered a bit less powerful compare to the other book. Less powerful in a sense that CSW story is more condense and easier to absorb, therefore, it feels more powerful while Earthlings messages are delivered too strong that it makes me sick physically 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, and Bullying

lollipup's review against another edition

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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I borrowed this audiobook from the library knowing only that the genre was horror. I definitely should have looked into it more before diving in. This book is very very dark.
I genuinely still don't think I even understand what I just read. If you like crazy mindfuck stories you will probably like this. Just check the content warnings for sure.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Incest, Murder, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

izzybell's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Body horror, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Murder, Death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship