A review by waownou
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

A satire on Japanese societal pressures and norms that escalates from tragic to abhorrent. 

First book in a while to really make the world around me disappear.
I like how trauma coping mechanisms were shown through a child's perspective as her "magic powers". Strong juxtaposition of a child's perspective vs what is happening in reality. How she carries that belief throughout the story demonstrates a mind traumatised in place.


I do wonder how much the taboo subjects contributed to how shocking the book got or if it was Murata's skill? I didn't feel like immediately tossing the book when it came to the more gruesome acts, so that's surely skill?

I would liken this book to a confronting piece of performance art. Glad I observed the piece and was confronted, but not going to go out of my way to seek it out again.
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