Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

190 reviews

_n_'s review

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

---

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

eyelessaura's review

dark emotional funny tense fast-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

4.25

please stop saying testes.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism and Sexual harassment

Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

book_kid's review against another edition

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Cannibalism

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.

---

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

autumnwhite's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? It's complicated

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Sexism, Cannibalism, Violence, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Incest, Death, Body horror, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Domestic abuse, Blood, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Misogyny, Gore, and Sexual assault

kleine_elster_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Body horror, Blood, Murder, and Sexual assault

shoelace's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Self harm, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Mental illness, Violence, Bullying, Confinement, Gore, Incest, Blood, Cannibalism, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Infertility

sannesbooks's review

challenging dark reflective sad fast-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

4.25

Wow, this is an absurd and disturbing book! Stomach-turning and dark, which makes it a challenging read. Beware that this book is not meant for the faint of heart! I recommend looking up content warnings if you're a sensetive reader. Don't let this adorable cover fool you! 🦔

It's hard to describe what this book is about without giving away too much. Gernerally, I would describe this as a horror book about a very unorthodox girl who doesn't fit in society, feeling like an alien in society, wanting to break free from societal norms. 

Especially in the beginning, I felt so sad and protective of her. Some scenes were so hearth wrenching! The depiction of society (the 'factory') and the feelings of the characters on society are strangely relateable at times, even though everything that happens is bizarre and weird. Oddly enough, you might find yourself kind of rooting for characters to break free.

The writing is simple and straightforward and includes a lot of dialogue wich makes it a fast read. The words almost sound childlike at times. However, I don't know if this simple writing is due of the translation or if this was an intentional artistic choice. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual harassment, Murder, Pedophilia, Violence, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Cannibalism, and Sexism

Moderate: Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, and Incest

frozenheartv's review

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• 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

4.25

4.25 stars

Wow wow... Writing this review is pretty challenging for me because i don't know at some points how i should feel after reading the ending. 

I'm going to start with the fact that the author has a profounding talent in building up the story, it hooks me from start to end and i couldn't stop reading it until almost 4am. It's heartbreaking to read, very traumatizing in some parts, very deep story that make me think a lot afterward but also horrific to read sometimes. I think the horrifying parts are there for a reason. At first, after reading the ending, i was like "wtf", it kinda ruin the whole book for me but then after thinking further, i think it was a spectacular ending. The ending has to be there for this story to mark a space in your heart.

I adore Convenience Store Woman from this author. My take is that Earthlings is kinda like Convenience Store Woman sequel but not really a sequel. Convenience Store Woman has very similar concept but stops in a middle way. Earthlings continues form there with different characters and story but delves deeper into the psyche and the way the society can push people over the limit.

All in all, i think it's a terrific book but i have to give it a little bit lower score than CSW because for me Earthlings' messages are delivered a bit less powerful compare to the other book. Less powerful in a sense that CSW story is more condense and easier to absorb, therefore, it feels more powerful while Earthlings messages are delivered too strong that it makes me sick physically 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, and Bullying

whimsicalish's review

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.0

Earthlings follows the same themes of  from Convience Store Woman; not fitting in society's roles, pressure to conform, and feeling isolation. Sayaka Murata knows how to create an engaging story with these same themes as page turners.

This wasn't as hopeful as the previous novel, but the message was more visceral in imagery. I couldn't help but feel sadness for the characters.

I look forward to more work from this author. I only wish I could read it as it was originally written rather than translation.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Mental illness

Minor: Suicide attempt and Incest