Reviews

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

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oryx_and_crake's review against another edition

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challenging dark sad

3.0

necrabelle's review against another edition

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challenging 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

3.5

justinkhchen's review against another edition

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4.0

4 stars

Utterly deranged and has no sense of boundary, how one absorb Earthlings commentary on suppressed childhood trauma, and social conformity depends on you level of tolerance on its limitless insanity.

200+ pages is the perfect length for the story it's telling; while I was engrossed throughout, Earthlings will never be a book I recommend in earnest, simply because there are too many triggering events present that can potentially be interpreted as exploitative and crass, even though their existence align with the story's overarching theme: criticizing the suffocating docility of our society through the eyes of those who don't fit in. The graphic contents are so sensational, they tend to overwhelm the core message underneath. Earthlings is also heavily set within the Japanese way of living, I can see readers unfamiliar with that aspect be even more at loss, and missing some of the commentary.

I think most people will stuck on ridiculing the literal happenings depicted in Earthlings (definitely some of the most outlandish, ridiculous scenes I've read this year), and not bother decoding what it's really trying to say. Nevertheless, it's still an interesting, deranged little book, if you have the stomach for it.

If you want something in the similar, 'extraterrestrial observing humanity' vein, but with a little bit more sanity intact, I would recommend The Humans by Matt Haig.

**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**

maya_heinz's review against another edition

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1.0

terrifying

ktindol's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

shrewdbard's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny medium-paced

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

4.75

I read some incredible analysis on this book on Reddit, and that’s what drove me to read it. This book was a balls-to-the-wall crazy, depressing, dark, and even funny reflection on what it is to live outside of society’s expectations.

The first half of the book made me want to cry. The second half, my jaw was on the floor.

Content Warnings