Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

175 reviews

bekiethebanished's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Incest, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Sexism, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Violence

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Emotional abuse, Abandonment, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Minor: Pregnancy, Death of parent, Medical content, Vomit, Suicide, Grief, Excrement, Body shaming, and Bullying

krispym's review against another edition

just a bit too dark for me

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Bullying, and Child abuse

emjbarnes's review against another edition

dark sad fast-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

A very sad and vivid book.

The main character's actions are uncomfortable, but the magical realism/psychosis elements make Natsuki's experiences feel really vivid.

This is very readable but was a tough read. Highly recommend checking the content warnings for this one before you begin

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide attempt and Incest

Minor: Infertility, Death of parent, Bullying, and Infidelity

svimm2056's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

One of the darkest books I read in 2023. The author doesn't shy away from horrific things that the MC and crew go through, while also having an almost-dreamlike presence, like an out-of-body experience. At the same time, the book has a big emphasis on gender roles and how society pressures people into following said roles, which does more harm than good.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Body horror, Acephobia/Arophobia, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Incest, Gore, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Violence

etwasinspired's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Have to commend this one as it’s so unusual. You won’t know what’s coming at all. Ultimately a bizarre story about three outcasts who have basically the worst influence on each other. I didn’t particularly enjoy it, but it was unexpected.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Incest, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Cannibalism, and Sexual assault

_n_'s review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Incest, Murder, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Bullying, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Gore, and Sexual violence

alexandrabelze's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

oh wow. where to even start? a unique, extremely dark, and satirical take on the constraints and pressures of society’s expectations: a portrayal of extreme anomie. murata did not hold back on the scrutiny. she captured the whimsical and overactive imagination of children so perfectly, especially when it came to processing trauma. this was an amazing portrayal of childhood trauma and how that affects people differently in adulthood. the last two chapters or so were a whirlwind of “wtf” but i was still captivated. extremely excited to read convenience store woman.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Gaslighting, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Violence, and Eating disorder

Minor: Bullying, Grief, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Death of parent, and Vomit

staticspider's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

2.0

This book is marketed as a horror book but there is a difference between horror and depravity... this isn't horror. One thing I will say is that they depicted abuse perfectly. Unfortunately there is no help for those struggling in this story. Trigger warning for those interested: child abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, incest, cannibalism, victim blaming, and a large amount of undiagnosed/ untreated mental health issues. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Gaslighting, Incest, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

sofiam19's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

3.75

Messed up! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Cannibalism, and Incest

stardustdreamer's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Incest, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexism, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

Minor: Excrement and Suicide