Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Maan asukit by Sayaka Murata

170 reviews

bellebeaumont95's review against another edition

Explicit child sexual abuse. It serves its purpose in the story but I do not have the stomach for it nor do I wish to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

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

sannesbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad fast-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

Wow, this is an absurd and disturbing book! Stomach-turning and dark, which makes it a challenging read. Beware that this book is not meant for the faint of heart! I recommend looking up content warnings if you're a sensetive reader. Don't let this adorable cover fool you! 🦔

It's hard to describe what this book is about without giving away too much. Gernerally, I would describe this as a horror book about a very unorthodox girl who doesn't fit in society, feeling like an alien in society, wanting to break free from societal norms. 

Especially in the beginning, I felt so sad and protective of her. Some scenes were so hearth wrenching! The depiction of society (the 'factory') and the feelings of the characters on society are strangely relateable at times, even though everything that happens is bizarre and weird. Oddly enough, you might find yourself kind of rooting for characters to break free.

The writing is simple and straightforward and includes a lot of dialogue wich makes it a fast read. The words almost sound childlike at times. However, I don't know if this simple writing is due of the translation or if this was an intentional artistic choice. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual harassment, Murder, Pedophilia, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Cannibalism, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Incest

olived218's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.75

This book is pretty unhinged, I was truly not expecting things to go where they went at the end. Really made me think about societal expectations and pressures and how it affects mental health. Particularly gender roles, misogyny, childhood trauma, and sexual abuse and its affect on a person. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Sexual content, and Pedophilia

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gore, Mental illness, and Violence

Spoiler

child sex, cannibalism

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

meghannleavy's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

mini_malist's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective 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

3.75

This is THE BOOK that people had in mind when they came up with "Don't judge the book by its cover."

Raw, chaotic, disturbing, and thought-provoking. Finished it in one day because it was just too hard to leave the story without finding out what would happen next.
Definitelt not everybody's cup of tea, but reading it certainly was an experience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Rape

bigblackclock's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense fast-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? Yes

3.25

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3.25/5)

"Earthlings" by Sayaka Murata is a deeply unsettling yet thought-provoking exploration of the shadows that lurk within the human psyche. At its core is Natsuki, a character who endures a life marked by abuse and cruelty, simply because she dares to be different.

Natsuki's coping mechanism, her steadfast hedgehog toy, is a poignant symbol of her resilience. With a vivid imagination, she conjures up imaginary powers in her beloved companion, turning to it for solace and refuge during her darkest moments. The conversations she has with her hedgehog, her silent confidant, are both heart-wrenching and strangely touching.

Through Natsuki's eyes, we witness a world where she often feels like an 'alien' due to the way her own family treats her. Sayaka Murata deftly navigates the treacherous waters of societal conformity and individuality, highlighting the profound importance of living a life that brings happiness, rather than adhering to rigid societal norms.

"Earthlings" is an unflinching exploration of the human condition, a stark reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of cruelty and adversity. Murata's narrative compels us to reflect on the enduring quest for authenticity and the courage it takes to break free from the constraints of a conformist society.

This novel is a harrowing journey into the depths of human emotion, a story that will linger in your thoughts long after you turn the final page. "Earthlings" is a powerful and unsettling work that challenges our understanding of what it means to live a life dictated by happiness rather than conformity. A must-read for those who seek thought-provoking literature that lingers in the soul.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Sexual violence

sumaia_'s review against another edition

dark fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Cannibalism, and Rape