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ari76'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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Cannibalism and Body horror
nessxtea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Graphic: Cannibalism and Suicidal thoughts
sophiaroesler's review against another edition
Graphic: Cannibalism and Body horror
Moderate: Vomit
idahelene123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cannibalism
baguettekelly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Cannibalism
scruffie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Animal death and Cannibalism
schnooglefaceduthie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Graphic: Cannibalism
nuclearteapot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
While a very different collection of short stories, the only other time I have felt similarly was after reading The Birthday of the World by Ursula Le Guin.
The cast of characters living rent free in my mind is certainly becoming more eccentric.
Moderate: Cannibalism
mellowbread's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Cannibalism, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Minor: Death, Cultural appropriation, and Stalking
akira_outofthegravity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As someone who is an asexual lesbian I didn’t find a lot of the stories particularly disturbing, maybe that’s the point, but a lot of people found this to be crazy weird and while it was definitely that, it wasn’t as weird as I’d thought.
As in Convenience Store Woman, Murata talks about asexuality, aromanticism, life, sex, and the idea of not fitting into society. I enjoyed this collection!
The highlights were:
Life Ceremony
Hatchling
A clean marriage
Two’s family
Poochie
Graphic: Vomit, Cannibalism, and Confinement
Moderate: Death, Gore, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Stalking, Medical content, and Incest
Minor: Alcohol
A lot of talk about semen.