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A review by starfish_endymion
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
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.
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.
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