Reviews

Faith by Sayaka Murata

woolf's review

funny fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

kiramke's review

3.5

Interesting ideas as always, not my favorite, but I like when she does sympathetic annoying characters. 

corinnajl's review

adventurous challenging reflective tense fast-paced

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

vetlehove's review

funny reflective fast-paced

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

3.5

emilime's review

medium-paced

4.0

sanmeow's review

challenging reflective fast-paced

4.75

god, i love sayaka murata so much 😭 in this story, she talks about cults and the psychology of them, what reality is versus what we consider delusion, what is socially acceptable for a person to spend a lot of money on, etc. she does this through the character that is nagaoka, and two people she used to know in school who want her to start a cult with them. one of them, saizawa, used to be in a cult before, where she was selling water filters and genuinely believed it was making her happy. nagaoka has been criticized throughout her life for seeing 'reality' as it is, and calling out what she perceives as scams. her sister even cut her off because of this behavior. so nagaoka joins the new cult saizawa has started, wishing she would actually get brainwashed.
i'm always impressed by how thought provoking sayaka murata's stories are, even when they're this short. i love the clever commentary on societal expectations and norms. i love her peculiar characters. i just adore her work and will read literally anything she comes up with. 

slippybird's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-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? Yes

4.0

i genuinely hope this woman never stops writing

autumn_wind's review

dark 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

4.0

princessbethany's review

3.0

An interesting short story involving a cult. I am interested in the psychology of cults and pyramid schemes, I think I wouldn't ever get caught up in one but then again, no one does. I wonder if I will ever have that experience.

You can read it here:
https://granta.com/faith-sayaka-murata/

loxeletters's review

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Gore, and Blood

Minor: Violence and Toxic friendship