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jtom93 's review for:
Earthlings
by Sayaka Murata
I get the feeling that Murata may have read the reviews on her other book, Convenience Store Woman, and noticed the somewhat tepid feeling people had about her main character suddenly wanting to stab a baby. She then decided the answer was to up her weirdness game.
First off, this book was hard for me in places. The issue of child abuse, both emotional and sexual, is extremely frank. My stomach sank as I read the inner monologue of a little girl who had convinced herself that her sexual abuse was just part and parcel of becoming a part of 'the Factory'. However, whilst some found the absurdity of it jarring, I found it terrifyingly real. Young girls find all sorts of ways to internalize their trauma and convincing themselves it is inevitable, a part of being a woman, is prominent in our day and age.
I enjoyed the first part of the book more than the latter. It was cathartic to read about the death of the Wicked Witch, heart wrenching to hear a little girls thoughts but most of all, strangely familiar. I often think Murata does write books for strange, dislocated women who find themselves at odds with the world. Although, in the ending I feel Murata took a leap too far for my familiarity to last. I understood 'the Factory', I recognized the bad friends and the constant questions. I didn't relate to the cannibalism. Though, that may be the point. Sometimes, trauma can't be undone. Sometimes, lines are crossed and no amount of 'wanting to be normal' can fix them completely.
What I did like was Murata's out and out honesty about the world; how she portrayed the people so vested in their own interests they were able to speak horrible truths without conscience, from parents admitting husbands cheat to friends assuming someones infertile. Once again, Murata made a world so terrifying real and self obsessed I could almost say I felt it in my bones. As for the last few chapters... well, they truly took off and went to another world.
First off, this book was hard for me in places. The issue of child abuse, both emotional and sexual, is extremely frank. My stomach sank as I read the inner monologue of a little girl who had convinced herself that her sexual abuse was just part and parcel of becoming a part of 'the Factory'. However, whilst some found the absurdity of it jarring, I found it terrifyingly real. Young girls find all sorts of ways to internalize their trauma and convincing themselves it is inevitable, a part of being a woman, is prominent in our day and age.
I enjoyed the first part of the book more than the latter. It was cathartic to read about the death of the Wicked Witch, heart wrenching to hear a little girls thoughts but most of all, strangely familiar. I often think Murata does write books for strange, dislocated women who find themselves at odds with the world. Although, in the ending I feel Murata took a leap too far for my familiarity to last. I understood 'the Factory', I recognized the bad friends and the constant questions. I didn't relate to the cannibalism. Though, that may be the point. Sometimes, trauma can't be undone. Sometimes, lines are crossed and no amount of 'wanting to be normal' can fix them completely.
What I did like was Murata's out and out honesty about the world; how she portrayed the people so vested in their own interests they were able to speak horrible truths without conscience, from parents admitting husbands cheat to friends assuming someones infertile. Once again, Murata made a world so terrifying real and self obsessed I could almost say I felt it in my bones. As for the last few chapters... well, they truly took off and went to another world.