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catapillar's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Murder, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, Death, Violence, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Self harm
Moderate: Incest
haruday's review against another edition
I saw the spoiler warnings of graphic content, so I prepared myself before diving into it, but this book was so hyped I thought I could look past it. And I did for the most part.
On the surface, this story is a horror tragedy of a young girl abused and controlled by the adults around her, unable to be taken seriously, losing her voice, autonomy, right to her own body and free will. She struggles to make sense of the world and her womanhood the best she knows how, with no healthy adult figures around to guide her or to rely on. So she disassociates. Believes she is anything but an Earthling. Things become an out-of-body experience, and she is only an observer, biding her time for reasons unknown. The only solace she finds in life is her childhood "sweetheart," Yuu.
Again, unfortunately these types of horrid situations happen, with teachers taking advantage of children, family members that turn a blind eye, parents that are abusive and controlling, "friends" who have something to say about your sex life and family life, people that think they make up for their past actions by having children and contributing to the population... The book is shocking in its subject matter as it slowly unravels these gruesome experiences in an innocent, child-like perspective. Some of the thoughts are almost comedic and very fantastical, with mentions of aliens and magic. But the horror slowly dawns on you as you continue to flip the pages - a feeling that creeps up, slowly but surely, a sure warning for what's to come.
All fine. And then, it gets to the latter half of the book.
One after another, everything hits you on the head like a brick. Things happen. And I drew the last line at the
Overall, I feel very mixed about this book, so I'll refrain from giving it a rating. I can see how it's so divisive, but I did feel like it was very raw and real in the beginning half. I'm glad I was able to power through though and finish for my October reading challenge... you just probably wouldn't catch me reading it through a second time.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Body horror, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Bullying, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Incest, and Suicide attempt
lunchtime11's review against another edition
- 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
1.0
Graphic: Death, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Incest, Bullying, Rape, Self harm, Pedophilia, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Gore, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
gabrielaresende's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Blood, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Death of parent, Self harm, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Bullying, Cannibalism, and Adult/minor relationship
elanilanella's review against another edition
Picking up this book, with a reviewer using the word 'hilarious' on the front, with its bright green, cute hedgehog plushie and vibrant energy, I thought I was settling in for a lighthearted while at times sad read about a girl who was navigating being different and had a vivid imagination. While those things are true of the book, nothing could have prepared me for the horrors within the pages (though some content warnings would have been much appreciated).
Before I knew it I had been frozen for half the book, unable to stop reading, my own trauma being triggered time and time again by this innocent looking book rooting me to the spot. At one point I almost threw up. I know they say not to judge a book by its cover but you'd think there'd be some correlation in tone between the graphic design and the content within. Nothing about the book was 'hilarious' in the slightest, nor was it cute.
It was very well written and I have no doubt it's a good book, but I am currently not robust enough mentally to continue with it, though I might one day pick Earthlings up again when I'm more prepared for what may ensue.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, Acephobia/Arophobia, Sexual assault, Incest, Child abuse, Violence, Suicide attempt, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, and Mental illness
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
skyeuqx's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Violence, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Physical abuse, Self harm, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexism, Body shaming, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Confinement, Eating disorder, Excrement, Infidelity, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual harassment
amanda_bristol's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Incest, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Violence, Sexism, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Body horror
Minor: Vomit and Toxic friendship
anninaso's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I want to add tho, that this book is incredibly dark on a psychological level through and through and i was really caught off guard.
I also would have wished for a more interesting end.
Still, it held what it promised. I would recommend if you‘re looking for an unusual read.
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Pedophilia, Suicide, Murder, Self harm, Cannibalism, Death, and Incest
Minor: Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Gore, Pregnancy, Vomit, and Murder
justmys's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.75
Sayaka Murata has a hell of a skill in making you deeply, deeply uncomfortable very quickly. This book begins following an autistic girl who doesn't fit in with the world but has found her coping mechanisms through fantasy and a friend in her cousin who thinks similarly. And then...we just yeet ourselves off the cliff entirely.
We go from child using fantasy to find understanding in a world that's always just to the left of their understanding, to SA to finally
I mean, hats off to Murata for the book. Just as disturbing and powerful as Convenience Store Woman. She writes neurodiversity and the way the world is viewed with such terrifying accuracy and isn't afraid or ashamed to tackle hard topics through their lenses.
But, yeah, fair warning going in this gets wild and dark fast. The ending felt like I'd stepped off the edge of a hill and was rolling fast to the rocks below.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Gore, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Cannibalism, Death, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Bullying, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Body shaming
Please read Trigger Warnings before going into this one if it's something you require. The most notable right off the bat are: Child SA Grooming Child Abuse SA Cannibalismcamillesim's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, and Cannibalism
Minor: Death, Blood, Gaslighting, Incest, Pedophilia, Violence, Physical abuse, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Rape, Suicide, and Self harm