Scan barcode
lidia7's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
very gross and disturbing
i enjoyed these stories the most: Body Magic, Hatchling
i enjoyed these stories the most: Body Magic, Hatchling
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Cannibalism, Excrement, Vomit, and Body horror
Moderate: Stalking, Death, Death of parent, Medical content, Animal death, Cancer, and Sexual content
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Eating disorder, and Incest
m4rtt4's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I have now read all Murata's works that are available in English, and dare I say I have never encountered anything similar; she has such a distinctive style of mixing (feminist) social commentary with gore and body horror, and despite all the nauseating imagery I'm left questioning if our societal norms are wrong after all. Her writing makes me uncomfortable in the same way that Junji Ito's drawings do — so if you like either Murata or Ito, I recommend you'd try the other one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Cannibalism, Death, Sexual content, Excrement, and Body horror
Moderate: Incest, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, and Vomit
ecox180's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sayaka Murata is the queen of beautifully written, shockingly disturbing magical realism that explores loneliness, societal norms, and what is considered “normal”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism and Vomit
fox_at_the_circus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
One of the main themes of this book and all the stories is societal norms and what is considered normal. With some of the stories I really saw the connection to her other two novels. She also likes reusing characters, eg there's a girl that visits her family's house in the countryside in summer in 2 short stories and her book "Earthlings" and there are also two friends that get kinda alternative universe stories.
A lot of her characters go on a journey of self acceptance in one way or another. Some of them have a weird sense of superiority about their way of living, that kinda went against the message of "there is no normal/everyone is weird in their own way", but maybe that's just the other side of the same coin, trying to say, that everyone judges others on their own standards.
Overall, i have mixed feelings about the collection. I really liked some stories, especially the two about Kikue and Yoshiko. Some stories I totally forgot. And some I didn't enjoy reading that much, mostly the ones that focused a bit too much on bodily fluids for my taste. Definitely check the content warnings beforehand.
A lot of her characters go on a journey of self acceptance in one way or another. Some of them have a weird sense of superiority about their way of living, that kinda went against the message of "there is no normal/everyone is weird in their own way", but maybe that's just the other side of the same coin, trying to say, that everyone judges others on their own standards.
Overall, i have mixed feelings about the collection. I really liked some stories, especially the two about Kikue and Yoshiko. Some stories I totally forgot. And some I didn't enjoy reading that much, mostly the ones that focused a bit too much on bodily fluids for my taste. Definitely check the content warnings beforehand.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism and Vomit
Minor: Incest and Stalking
TW for Body Dismorphia and Bodily Fluidscuteling's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
This was the 1st, of the only 3 (the other two being Earthlings and Convenience Store Woman) Sayaka Muratas books translated to english, that i've read.
Life Ceremony is a collection of 13 stories, some shorter - some longer, varying in topics going from furniture out of human remains, cannibalism, keeping a grown man as a pet, inanimate objects having feelings for a human being, obsession with bodily fluids, and overall just crazy and bizarre stories about the society and expectations people have for each other and how brainwashed everyone is.
In most stories there's a weird theme that's considered normal and the standard in that particular chapter and it highlights how society looks down on people that don't fit in or obey and become a "beneficial" part of the society.
I like how the book portrays basically the same message in most of these, because despite being about almost identical issues Sayaka manages to shine light on them in so many different ways and angles that they all feel very distinct.
Overall I recommend this book just would suggest reading it first with the order being
Life Ceremony (it gives you the best idea of what kind of a writer Sayaka Murata is, in my opinion)
-> Convenience Store Woman (shorter, milder compared to the other two, cleanses your pallet)
-> Earthlings (the most disturbing and strange of the three, HUGE TW for: pedophilia, incest, cannibalism, rape, domestic abuse, murder).
There were some stories that i wasn't particularly fond of, either because i didn't like the topic or found it a bit boring. On the other hand there were stories i absolutely adored with my favorite two being Body Magic and Puzzle!
I give it 4.25/5 ★.
Life Ceremony is a collection of 13 stories, some shorter - some longer, varying in topics going from furniture out of human remains, cannibalism, keeping a grown man as a pet, inanimate objects having feelings for a human being, obsession with bodily fluids, and overall just crazy and bizarre stories about the society and expectations people have for each other and how brainwashed everyone is.
In most stories there's a weird theme that's considered normal and the standard in that particular chapter and it highlights how society looks down on people that don't fit in or obey and become a "beneficial" part of the society.
I like how the book portrays basically the same message in most of these, because despite being about almost identical issues Sayaka manages to shine light on them in so many different ways and angles that they all feel very distinct.
Overall I recommend this book just would suggest reading it first with the order being
Life Ceremony (it gives you the best idea of what kind of a writer Sayaka Murata is, in my opinion)
-> Convenience Store Woman (shorter, milder compared to the other two, cleanses your pallet)
-> Earthlings (the most disturbing and strange of the three, HUGE TW for: pedophilia, incest, cannibalism, rape, domestic abuse, murder).
There were some stories that i wasn't particularly fond of, either because i didn't like the topic or found it a bit boring. On the other hand there were stories i absolutely adored with my favorite two being Body Magic and Puzzle!
I give it 4.25/5 ★.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Eating disorder, Incest, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Excrement, Cannibalism, Stalking, Vomit, and Medical trauma
sophiaroesler's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism and Body horror
Moderate: Vomit
candiemarsh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
If you're looking for stories that challenge the norm, this is one of the books to read. The collection of stories are dark, wild and triggering. They aren't for the faint-hearted and easily-queasy readers, and will provoke odd thoughts or question certain ideals that society has ingrained in us. But they aren't entirely illogical either; there are definite elements of a possible dystopian future but still includes some heart-warming moments. I enjoyed every story; "Life Ceremony" and "Puzzle" were personally the wildest for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Body horror, Vomit, Ableism, and Mental illness
annagerman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Sayaka Murata's mind is such a wonderfully wierd place, like a parallel universe that is close to ours but utterly disfigured, situated somewhere in uncanny valley.
Murata creates such bizzare and grotesque scenes, but with such ease and clarity, it's dissorienting.
I love her unique views on the subjectivity of morality and normalcy, human interactions and the weight of societal expectations.
My favorite stories were First-rate material, Eating the city and Hatchling. There were a couple more that were interesting or though-provoking. But as is expected in a collection of short stories, a few others just fell flat.
Usually what bugs me about short stories is that there is no time to develop the characters and explore deeper ideas. But with Murata, the abstract concepts and questions play a bigger part than the actual characters. Her characters are so bizzare and intense, that their belief system basicly defines them. So it actually works fine even in short story format.
Murata creates such bizzare and grotesque scenes, but with such ease and clarity, it's dissorienting.
I love her unique views on the subjectivity of morality and normalcy, human interactions and the weight of societal expectations.
My favorite stories were First-rate material, Eating the city and Hatchling. There were a couple more that were interesting or though-provoking. But as is expected in a collection of short stories, a few others just fell flat.
Usually what bugs me about short stories is that there is no time to develop the characters and explore deeper ideas. But with Murata, the abstract concepts and questions play a bigger part than the actual characters. Her characters are so bizzare and intense, that their belief system basicly defines them. So it actually works fine even in short story format.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Vomit, and Excrement
mellowbread's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Life must be tough for you – why not just enjoy yourself in this momentary world of lies?
I am so repulsed, uncomfortable, queasy, creeped out, unsettled, but this was so thought-provoking that it seriously deserves a 4 star. I’m convinced I’m not normal, and I’m also convinced no one is normal. But every short story made me think about it what is acceptable and how do we draw the line between borderline gross/disgusting and acceptance?
My favourites, and my thoughts:
A First-Rate Material - I often recycle, but never in this way
A Magnificent Spread - I’m vegetarian, which many people don’t understand. It also made me think about cultural appropriation
Life Ceremony - What is normal if not decided by society?
Hatchling - Everyone sees a different side of you, but this takes it to an extreme
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cannibalism, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Cultural appropriation, and Stalking