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hydejosie 's review for:
Earthlings
by Sayaka Murata
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is really gonna stick with me. I read the whole book on a 2hr train to london, reading the last page on the platform after getting off the train. I do not recommend doing this as it really messed up the vibe of my day.
I read convenience store woman last year and really enjoyed that; this has similar themes of alienation from societies expectations & a very matter of fact + passive main character. This book just took it to a much darker place.
I forgot to check the CWs and big oops there. This was an upsetting read for sure. My lasting impression is just feel so bad for Natsuki. She has clearly never had someone in her close life who actually gives a shit about her in a normal way. Like yeah dang it’s a hell of a way to manage trauma but still. Oof.
Overwhelmingly Natsuki is someone who has things happen to her. Even as an adult she has seemingly no agency; being pulled around by her family or her husband.
I really thought they were just going to die in the mountains at the end so I was very surprised by them being “rescued”. I’m also assuming their swollen bellies are from malnutrition rather than actual mpreg because that would be a baffling conclusion.
I found the scenes with her teacher very disturbing & upsetting, and frankly I felt the same about the scenes with Yuu when they were children. Her family were foul to her, even in the face of other adults disagreeing with their cruelty.
The manifestation of her trauma is certainly interesting. Her mouth being “ruined” and losing taste for over 20 years, until she leaves society completely behind, kills multiple people and then eats one of them? Okay sure.
I’m confused by all the reviews printed on the book talking about it being funny? That would not be how I’d describe it at all.
I read convenience store woman last year and really enjoyed that; this has similar themes of alienation from societies expectations & a very matter of fact + passive main character. This book just took it to a much darker place.
I forgot to check the CWs and big oops there. This was an upsetting read for sure. My lasting impression is just feel so bad for Natsuki. She has clearly never had someone in her close life who actually gives a shit about her in a normal way. Like yeah dang it’s a hell of a way to manage trauma but still. Oof.
Overwhelmingly Natsuki is someone who has things happen to her. Even as an adult she has seemingly no agency; being pulled around by her family or her husband.
I’m confused by all the reviews printed on the book talking about it being funny? That would not be how I’d describe it at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Murder
Minor: Confinement, Suicide, Violence