Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

352 reviews

auteaandtales's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

I don’t think ‘enjoyed’ is really the right word for this. I have a weak stomach so, a lot of the time, I was disgusted and it was a difficult and challenging read. 

Saying that, I did enjoy the social commentary about the ‘Factory’ and how our bodies don’t belong to us. I also enjoyed the storytelling via Piyyut and Planet Popinpobopia. Much like I did with Convenience Store Woman, I really related to the main character and I, too, spent my childhood wondering when my ‘real’ family, the aliens, would come and take me back home (although this was told in a much darker way). 

I’m sure this will be on my mind for a long time, much in the way Convenience Store Woman was. I would definitely read up on the trigger warnings before diving in, though, even if you don’t usually need them. It’s quite disturbing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Acephobia/Arophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Body horror

fdrcclmnt's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Body horror, Cannibalism, Murder, and Violence

mention of mpreg

ameliafr7's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Body horror, Child abuse, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Death, Blood, Murder, Incest, Death of parent, Mental illness, Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Gore

bibliobob's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Finished this in one day. Rollercoaster mind-bleep that I couldn’t put down.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Murder

jesssicawho's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-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? Yes

3.5

Without a doubt, the weirdest book I’ve ever read. Themes of assimilation, alienation, abuse - check the CWs because this one is HEAVY. I honestly don’t know how to rate this. Strange, unpleasant, but somewhat affecting. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Body horror, Incest, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Cannibalism

doogsley's review against another edition

dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.5

shocking, harrowing, and sickening. i loved the simplicity of the writing - i think it added a layer of casual absurdity that edged up the book’s fear factor.

please consult this book’s content warnings before diving in; i had no idea what was lurking in the depths of earthlings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cannibalism, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt

rowanine's review

challenging dark funny reflective sad 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

4.0

The brutal honesty and childlike innocence of the main character is heart wrenching. At times redundant and repetitive, overall the tragedy came through despite the complete break from reality. At a certain point, the metaphor for being a neurodivergent kid in a conformist society that ignores neglect and abuse got lost in the mass delusions, but nothing could prepare me for this book, and that has to count for something.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Cannibalism, and Incest

Moderate: Rape, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Gore

Minor: Body horror, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Physical abuse

sinja_a's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

Trauma galore. Painfully so. Unhinged for the sake of being unhinged. I understand why there are people enjoying this. I am not one of them. 
Please check trigger warnings. There is rarely something that fades to black. To go into this blind is not a good idea. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cannibalism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Incest, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Vomit, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Stalking, Bullying, Death of parent, Body horror, and Body shaming

joelle99's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.0

guys I think sayaka muraka feels alienated and isolated from society... just a wild guess 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Cannibalism, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

addysbaird's review against another edition

dark funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Body horror, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Suicide, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Gore, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Incest, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual content