15.4k reviews for:

Earthlings

Sayaka Murata

3.65 AVERAGE

pasfootblack's review against another edition

3.0

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I don't know what I just read, but yes.

anxiousgoth's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

vislavie's review against another edition

3.0

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Really more of a 3.5. I appreciate the book’s message of being true to yourself and not mindlessly going along with what society expects of you. As strange as the rest of the book was, the ending still felt abrupt and kind of came out of left field for me. Be aware that there are some disturbing elements in the book, as other reviewers have referenced.

mr_b_read's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Well, if you thought Convenience Store Woman was weird, strap in.

I think there’s a lot to unpack in Earthlings, from the obvious (Japan’s birth rate crisis impacting the collective psyche) to the harrowing (some child abuse in a variety of forms), but I think the ultimate message of this tale is that of belonging and alienation, how some attempt to circumvent or flat out refuse to accept societal norms, and how they cope with existence. It’s hard to imagine the characters in Earthlings getting away with what they’ve done, but it is nice, I suppose. There still morally reprehensible and deeply frustrating, but you’d like to believe that they deserve a space just as much as anyone else.

Consistent in its refusal to accept normality, this is par for the course with Murata’s work, though she takes it one step beyond that which has already established. I’m curious and terrified to see where she heads next.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt

bookfullofcoffee's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder, Injury/Injury detail

bluryycheryy's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark funny reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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a very weird read, had me sitting here like 😦 over some of it. a lot of it had me going WTF but it was also an interesting read on society, immense feelings of otherness and responses to trauma. definitely an unpredictable read throughout
also definitely a book you need to check the trigger warnings for!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting

Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Incest, Pedophilia, Violence, Suicide attempt, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit, Acephobia/Arophobia, Pregnancy

jessieelliottcleo's review against another edition

4.0

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Gosh this was a really rough one. Please for the love of god check the trigger warnings. I wish I could go back and tell myself not to the read the last ten pages of the book because I’m going to be working on recovering from that emotionally for a long time. And I don’t mean that it was a sad last few pages. I mean that when I close my eyes I think of the horror of those scenes and need a hug.
Really beautiful writing about feelings of “otherness” and feeling like there are all these unspoken things we have to do to be accepted as “human”. But Sayaka owes me therapy money.

honeybear_01's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Murder

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gore, Incest, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

spoonofnutella_'s review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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I'm honestly not sure that I understood half of what I read, but I thought enjoyed it! 

It's a quirky and deranged read, and one that I could definitely see myself coming back to in the future. 

7537miles's review against another edition

5.0

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deranged but kind of incredible. needs different marketing though, was not prepared for the trauma