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val_readsbooks4fun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Vomit and Cannibalism
jlukecampos621's review against another edition
3.0
Murata touches on issues of taboo, food, life, death and sex in this collection of short stories. Specifically, there is an emphasis on questioning the roles that society imposes on being female. The short stories include Murata's unique brand of strange that allows us to look at our own normal from the view of an outsider. These stories are not written to be subtle nevertheless they are generally effective.
Although many stories are thought provoking, some stories come off as a little half baked or as a potential teaser for things to come.
Although many stories are thought provoking, some stories come off as a little half baked or as a potential teaser for things to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
nzmerchant's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.25
Errr…. A bit odd. Fantastically written and had really enthralling analogies. But a lot of bodily fluids and rather grotesque bodily descriptions. Made my skin crawl but in a good way??? I breezed through this and enjoyed how quirky the stories were! Not for the faint hearted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexual content, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Incest
farenmaddox's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- 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
4.0
A brilliant short story collection, although I found a couple of the stories a little tepid. The titular story was spectacular.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, and Cannibalism
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, and Pregnancy
hookandbookclub's review against another edition
dark
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
This short story collection won’t surprise you too much if you’ve read Murata’s novel Earthlings, but be ready for a little more gore and creepiness.
Several short stories make up Life Ceremony, including the self-titled one.
Its not clear whether the stories all take place in the same alternate reality but many could be called speculative fiction.
The author clearly questions society and our arbitrary rules and customs. In the book new traditions are presented and they might have you wondering, why we do the things we do anyway, and why wouldn’t we take it a step further?
If you have a leather sofa, and a woolly jumper, why not a teeth chandelier, or a human hair sweater?
In the stories we get glimpses into the human condition, existential questioning, and glances at human relationships.
These stories feel like a contemporary kind of satire, or something speculative.
There is a disquiet to them.
Having read Earthlings towards the end of last year, I was keen to read this but I preferred Earthlings. It’s along the same vein of weirdness but being a standalone novel, more time is given to develop the world and the characters.
Life Ceremony gives us instead many vignettes of alternate visions of social customs, without much room for plot or character development. I feel like many of the short stories could be the basis for longer works though, and some of them seemed to recall Earthlings.
One point of advice for the squeamish or just in general: Avoid snacking while reading!
Several short stories make up Life Ceremony, including the self-titled one.
Its not clear whether the stories all take place in the same alternate reality but many could be called speculative fiction.
The author clearly questions society and our arbitrary rules and customs. In the book new traditions are presented and they might have you wondering, why we do the things we do anyway, and why wouldn’t we take it a step further?
If you have a leather sofa, and a woolly jumper, why not a teeth chandelier, or a human hair sweater?
In the stories we get glimpses into the human condition, existential questioning, and glances at human relationships.
These stories feel like a contemporary kind of satire, or something speculative.
There is a disquiet to them.
Having read Earthlings towards the end of last year, I was keen to read this but I preferred Earthlings. It’s along the same vein of weirdness but being a standalone novel, more time is given to develop the world and the characters.
Life Ceremony gives us instead many vignettes of alternate visions of social customs, without much room for plot or character development. I feel like many of the short stories could be the basis for longer works though, and some of them seemed to recall Earthlings.
One point of advice for the squeamish or just in general: Avoid snacking while reading!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Body horror, and Cannibalism
sarahjroos14's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Eating disorder, Infertility, Body horror, Sexual content, and Vomit
eohzy's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
Moderate: Vomit and Excrement
Minor: Incest
Not for the squeamish!miranda_graham's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
3.75
Some stories were very good, some mediocre. Nearly all made me shudder.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
yajairat's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Found these stories to be thought provoking and unsettling at times. In them, Murata is exploring topics that are considered taboo and customs that are ingrained in society. As I was reading them, I started to question why we do certain things and judge others who do not follow what the majority does. I was seeing their vision!
I believe this is the 4th short story collection I’ve read this year and I can finally say that short stories aren’t for me. BUT there were some standouts in this like ‘Life Ceremony’ and ‘Hatchling’. The longer ones had more meat to them.
I believe this is the 4th short story collection I’ve read this year and I can finally say that short stories aren’t for me. BUT there were some standouts in this like ‘Life Ceremony’ and ‘Hatchling’. The longer ones had more meat to them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
thespinystacks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
fast-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism