Reviews

Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata

poopierobroby's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

5.0

ashleighlousie's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective 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

3.5

shuvtterbug's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I genuinely enjoyed this so much and I do think it may be because of how partial I am towards Sayaka Murata and her writing style. While certain stories were a bit eerie they evoked such a strong emotion in me. It’s hard for me to stop reading with Murata’s works. I especially felt that the story hatchling was one I related to the most. While I feel that there’s a real me I often am unsure of which this one is. I encourage anyone to take a stab at at least one of these short stories if not the entire collection.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cannibalism, Cancer, Violence, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Stalking

bea112's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

szmnsk_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

rachjy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

isabellettres's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.25

È surreale e distopico, ma Murata si serve del surreallismo e delle distopia per sottolineare i disagi della società odierna e mostrarli al lettore. 

Se il film “Kinds of kindness” fosse un libro sarebbe “La cerimonia della vita”.

bbqxaxiu's review against another edition

3.0

best stories imo were Body Magic and A Magnificent Spread

ashalucienne's review against another edition

4.0

Sayaka Murata always throws me for a loop with her creeping magical realism. Enjoyed this at the beginning but toward the end I felt like I didn't fully understand the reason behind the fantastical aspects of her writing. Maybe that's just me not appreciating art for what it is and always searching for something more, I don't know. But a great read either way!  

snuffmumii's review against another edition

3.0

har sådan et love/hate relationship til sayaka murata og deres fucked up tankegang