Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

1108 reviews

nutsacktragedy's review

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

It took me several days to process whatever the hell just happened in this book, but it's been long enough. Earthlings is a story about the pressures of Japanese society and how people with unresolved traumas deal with them. Seems tolerable enough, but it's clear from the first two chapters that the story isn't fucking around.

No book has ever made my skin crawl like with Earthlings. I almost DNF'd it because I was so close to vomiting at certain parts of the story. Natsuki's inability to cope with her trauma and how everyone around her dismisses her are maddening. 

The writing is a bit disconnected, but I don't know if that's intentional or an unfortunate consequence of translation. It works well, though, knowing Natsuki's overall detachment from everything. It's blunt, and it doesn't shy away from telling stuff as it is, which is somewhat comforting given the insanity happening in the book. But it's also unpleasant, because some scenes are hard to stomach.

PLEASE read the content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Murder, Rape, Incest, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Death

loudonuts's review

dark funny mysterious reflective fast-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

3.25

as expected of murata san, loads of intense existential issues that i could really relate to. in the last hour it all got kind of insane, which was also expected. this was definitely not for the faint of heart. unfortunately i did not feel as attached to the characters and story as i did in CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN, but it was still a wild read that will stick with me for a while.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Murder, Cannibalism, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment

quazimodo's review against another edition

3.0

A very wild ride and such casual cannibalism too! Definitely a weird experience.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Cannibalism, and Pedophilia

pryingblackbird's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.75

Unhinged and dark, cynical and surreal, and yet much too real. Some people said it's "hilarous" or "funny", to me it read more like a horror novel about the terrors of being a child, of being forced into society, of being a woman, of being different. It never made me laugh, it just filled me with unease. I enjoyed it immensely, but I am hesitant about recommending it. This one comes with a lot of content warnings and will leave you unsettled.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Rape, Cannibalism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Child abuse

Moderate: Body shaming, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Gaslighting

Minor: Incest

oatmilky's review against another edition

challenging dark funny tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Only after adding the content warnings did I realize how freakish this book is. Great read - gets gory and gooey, treads the line btwn dark humor and just dark.

For those that liked The Vegetarian by Han Kang minus the mundane with more taboo.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Incest, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Gore, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Blood, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship

minamouse's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective sad fast-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

Wtf was this book?

And why could I not put it down?!

I was shocked at how enthralled I was with this novel. Everything about it is weird, and unsettling. But I also felt like there was this aura of reliability embedded in its pages. Do I believe I am an alien from another planet, no. Do I occasionally have moments in my life where I feel like I don't understand society as a whole, yes. It's strange, it's creepy, it's worth the read. 4.25 out of 5 ⭐.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Body horror, and Cannibalism

Moderate: Incest, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

ccate's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Incest, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Acephobia/Arophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Physical abuse, Blood, and Suicide

strange_abalone's review

challenging dark reflective tense 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

5.0

Initial reaction:
I have no idea what to rate this…. I have no idea what I just read… a brilliant depiction of society and trauma…. But also, what did I just read?????

Reaction after sitting with it for a day:
I think the initial reaction is to be stunned, and that makes a lot of sense, it’s a very diabolical read. But a lot of the reviews here seem to be shocked by the nature of the book without exploring more into what ideas are being presented. It’s deranged to make a point, and in that way it is exceptional. The “factory” and popinpobopians are concepts that will sit with me forever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Vomit, Child abuse, Death, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Body horror, Gaslighting, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts

beanreader's review against another edition

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

shrewdbard's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Incest, and Pedophilia