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uyen_ii's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Sayaka Murata, you crazy freak. I will read everything she publishes, even her grocery list.
tldr: 4.5/5, short stories, societal commentary, disgusting (in a good way)
This gave me the same vibes as Earthlings wherein Murata explores topics regarding society and conformity through deprave and disgusting ways by turning the abject into a literary device.
Murata has such a gobsmacking talent for capturing ordinary moments and transforming them into unsettling, strange but heartwarming moments. For the times I was repulsed, I was equally enlightened. These two polar opposite emotions were evoked so well because Murata is great at making the weirdest shit seem normal. They’re so absurd to us, a reader in this current world, but ordinary to our characters, creating a moment of questioning. I caught myself many times thinking — this situation doesn’t seem farfetched, and that’s TERRIFYING!
Here’s an example. In the first story “A First-Rate Material”, we follow a couple with disputing views on something deeply embedded into this society—using human body parts as products. Human hair jackets, teeth necklaces, human leather-wrapped furniture. This was a revolting story that made me gag a couple of times, but captures the essence of Life Ceremony’s purpose—making you revolt at the absurdity while pondering the possibility of it. Doesn’t it seem possible, with the way that we use animal products?
Overall, it’s always hard to review short stories as each story is so vastly different from the other. Regardless, my favorite stories were:
- A First Rate Material
- Life Ceremony (WHAT A STORY!). Humans eat loved ones after death to celebrate their “life” at a life ceremony and encouraging the copulation of new life.
- Lover on the Breeze. This was so wacky and FUNNY. All you need to know is that our narrator is a curtain :)
- Hatchling. My FAVORITE STORY!! A girl has five personas to respond to the various communities she is part of. Despite some people seeing her as two-faced, in general, she is well-liked by all due to her adaptability, and this raises the question of who she really is.
tldr: 4.5/5, short stories, societal commentary, disgusting (in a good way)
This gave me the same vibes as Earthlings wherein Murata explores topics regarding society and conformity through deprave and disgusting ways by turning the abject into a literary device.
Murata has such a gobsmacking talent for capturing ordinary moments and transforming them into unsettling, strange but heartwarming moments. For the times I was repulsed, I was equally enlightened. These two polar opposite emotions were evoked so well because Murata is great at making the weirdest shit seem normal. They’re so absurd to us, a reader in this current world, but ordinary to our characters, creating a moment of questioning. I caught myself many times thinking — this situation doesn’t seem farfetched, and that’s TERRIFYING!
Here’s an example. In the first story “A First-Rate Material”, we follow a couple with disputing views on something deeply embedded into this society—using human body parts as products. Human hair jackets, teeth necklaces, human leather-wrapped furniture. This was a revolting story that made me gag a couple of times, but captures the essence of Life Ceremony’s purpose—making you revolt at the absurdity while pondering the possibility of it. Doesn’t it seem possible, with the way that we use animal products?
Overall, it’s always hard to review short stories as each story is so vastly different from the other. Regardless, my favorite stories were:
- A First Rate Material
- Life Ceremony (WHAT A STORY!). Humans eat loved ones after death to celebrate their “life” at a life ceremony and encouraging the copulation of new life.
- Lover on the Breeze. This was so wacky and FUNNY. All you need to know is that our narrator is a curtain :)
- Hatchling. My FAVORITE STORY!! A girl has five personas to respond to the various communities she is part of. Despite some people seeing her as two-faced, in general, she is well-liked by all due to her adaptability, and this raises the question of who she really is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Sexual content, and Slavery
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