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lailybibliography's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
"...it's a wife's duty to be intimate, you know. Tomoya finds it hard to hold down a job, doesn't he? You have to support him in that regard, Natsuki. You're his wife!"
My body was not my own. I had always been secretly shirking the role I had been assigned as a tool of society. The time had come for me to be taken to task for this, I thought.
My mother-in-law sighed. "Look, Tomoya. Do it a lot and make a family, then once the relationship has cooled, you play around outside the marriage. That's the way it is for lots of couples, isn't it? Playing around is a man's reward. Your father has had his fair share , haven't you dear?..."
Gee no wonder your son is a sexually traumatized freak on the verge of a complete psychotic break, lady.
It was ludicrous. Grown-ups used children to satisfy their sexual desires, yet the very idea of children having sex of their own volition sent them into a total fit. It was laughable.
Truthfully, I cannot in good conscious ever recommend this deeply unsettling bildungsroman. This is one, I think, should be found and read by oneself. It's fast-paced, but reflective. There is a lot to contemplate with this one. What is indisputable though is the impressive literary talent of author Sayaka Murata. Her reputation precedes her and rightfully so. Earthlings, without a doubt, stands out as some of the grimmest, outlandish and subversive novels I have read, probably ever.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Incest, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Eating disorder, Infertility, Infidelity, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
renjamin's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Murder
hocuscrocus's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Murder
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Bullying, Eating disorder, Vomit, Stalking, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
mellbutrin's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Murder
Minor: Suicide
pryingblackbird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Incest
ccate's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Murder
crimsonjoy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Cannibalism, and Murder
Moderate: Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Vomit
katyamarcelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Incest and Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Confinement and Suicide
spooky_coochie's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Eating disorder, Suicide, and Vomit