Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

447 reviews

starfish_endymion's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Incredibly different from Convenience Store Woman, though brilliant in terms of structure and prose. The writing is concise, clear and to the point, with the same voice that made Murata's last novel so relatable and easy to read. 

But Natsuki is not Keiko. The way she reflects on her childhood, from happy summers with her cousins in Akishina to horrific abuse that she endured back home, paints a portrait of a believable and complicated woman in a short space of time.

Chapter 2 onward was very hard to read because of the heavy subject matter though the scenes are made somewhat bearable when seen through Natsuki's well-crafted lens: she believes she's an alien with magical powers. From this perspective, the way she disassociates is treated like a superpower. It's a very real portrayal of how a lot of kids cope in response to traumatic situations.

This book is very well done, by way of pacing, plot and voice. The score is very much based on personal preference -- I felt very frustrated by just how obtuse and cruel the "Earthlings" were. While I understand they needed to be that way for illustrative purposes, I was left feeling disheartened and frustrated by the end.

This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you do decide to pick it up, consider the triggers warnings beforehand.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

imchelsi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.75

I can't wholeheartedly recommend this book. I was recommended this countless times online and it feels that people really did not provide trigger warnings, and I myself did not do my due diligence and look at the trigger warnings before picking up this book. 

That being said,  I am giving this a 3.75 because Murata did an expert job critiquing our modern society and the issues of bodily autonomy. Her writing was beautiful and blunt and so matter- of- fact,  it effortlessly moved me. 

This book was disgusting,  horrifying,  and absolutely heartbreaking. Please read the trigger warnings before  deciding to pick this up 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, and Murder

pameana's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Cannibalism, and Suicide attempt

snowiceblackfruit77's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment

norarara's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-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

3.75

Extremely tragic story dealing with CSA. Very blunt with the absurdity of societal norms that makes our MC crescendo into the crazy ending. I think I like the book and but will never read it again!! All the content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Cannibalism, and Suicide attempt

wetflowers's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

4.5

I don’t know why many are confused by this book. my interpretation: it’s about childhood abuse, specifically sexual abuse. traumatized children find each other in adulthood & traumatized children can cause harm to other children. 

it shows the ripple effect of childhood trauma & how it lasts into adulthood. trauma can stunt your growth. the coping mechanisms the main character takes on is because she realizes she can’t escape the world having control over her body & mind. she disconnects herself as a survival mechanism. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death and Cannibalism

anditsreal's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.5

wtf did I just read

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Sexual harassment

juliiitschka's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad 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

4.5

Disturbing but great. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Death, Incest, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Blood, Vomit, and Abandonment

kittytales's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

My current favorite novel of all time, but difficult to recommend because of it's very twisted subject matters. What can I say, I love it when a woman writer explores weird topics. Interesting social commentary. Very graphic depictions of abuse that makes me sick and heart-broken, which helps make the writing very effective and powerful. Those who are triggered by these topics please stay away.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Body horror and Mental illness

j3d's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Cannibalism, and Sexual harassment