4 stars

TW: Child abuse, rape, sexual assault, graphic violence

This novel is WILD.

A few months ago, I read and loved _Convenience Store Woman_. That book is so fresh and dives deeply into an outlier's experience, not as a mechanism for judgement but as a pathway to understanding an experience that may be (and likely is) quite different from the reader's.

I expected that this novel would also reflect Murata's characteristically sparse and creative style and that there would be some unexpected twists, but I was NOT PREPARED. The characters live by a motto - "Survive, no matter what," and they do. I found the exploration of trauma to be challenging realistic, and I love the way that the notion of vacating the body comes through here. In surprising ways, this novel is very much about resiliency in the face of the worst of circumstances. It is difficult to judge the characters' actions in some cases, even when they are clearly criminal or otherwise in violation of basic social norms, when one considers what the very society from which they are trying to separate has done to them in different ways.

I won't tell you to pick up this novel because it is undoubtedly fully polarizing. I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed it - even its most challenging moments - and that you might, too. Or you might be scarred for life.

What the fork did I just read. Earthlings is a strange, bizarre, and insane read. There is so much going on that I think it would be easier to list what wasn’t in the book. And with all that is going on you think that it would be too complicated to follow but the book was very simple in its execution which is why I think all the crazy things that happen can happen it’s not overly complicated. the pacing and the exceptional. I will say that it is very hard to review because I find I may gave something away or deter someone from reading, just go in with an open mind you will not be disappointed.

I was overjoyed when Netgalley accepted my request for review. But sadly, the book didn't work for me. Though the book was intense, it felt forced and all the gruesome incidents seemed strained.

What an incredible, bizarre, fantastic, human story. I'll admit, when I began reading this I put it down. It was the story and where I could see it going. It felt like it would be too much at the time. But I picked it up again and finished in one sitting. The flat (although excellent, don't let the word flat misrepresent what Murata has done here) prose makes the most horrific situations feel.... light. The weight of the situations remain. The devastating effects of people acting upon one another. But, unlike too many novels, the horrific events are not the main drive. It's what happens after these events which matter.

I had to DNF this one. I enjoyed Convenience Store Woman (except for the "boyfriend" character), but there's a huge CW for child abuse from more than one adult, including sexual assault.

I won't be reviewing or sharing opinions on social media or through reviews, because I don't want to give it a bad rating, but readers should be aware of the content warnings.

How far are you willing to go to be truly free? This is the question that is at the heart of Sayaka Murara's latest novel 'Earthlings.'

Natsuki is not like other girls. She believes herself to be an alien from the planet Poppinpobobia. She does not fit in with 'Earthlings' and their strange eagerness to join 'the factory' (a.k.a society) where they will be trained to become productive worker bees and 'wombs for hire' for the continuation of the human race. At first, she is desperate to be 'brainwashed' by the status quo, rather than continue to suffer life as an outsider. But when this hope of assimilation fails she makes a pact with her cousin, and fellow Poppinpobobian, Yu that they must survive 'no matter what.'
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Don't be fooled by the cute cover, this book is as dark as they come, exploring topics such as: trauma, abuse (verbal, physical and sexual), depersonalisation, violence, misogyny, murder, incest and cannibalism, to name a few. Nothing is off limits, no subject is considered too disturbing or taboo for Murato to explore. I particularly love her use of the metaphor of aliens to explore the theme of alienation. Being autistic, the feeling of being from another planet is something I can totally resonate with.
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This book is social critique at its finest, and most unsettling, and will leave you questioning everything that you know. Though, undoubtedly, shocking, 'Earthlings' is a unique, thrilling, and strangely enjoyable experience and I devoured it like a true Poppinpobobian. It definitely isn't for everyone, but it you can handle the dark subject matter I strongly recommend that you give it a chance.

It feels like the only way to describe Sayaka Murata books is by saying they are Sayaka Murata and this one was VERY Sayaka Murata. We get a similar message in this book that we got in Convenience Store Woman, where we encounter characters that wish to be free of the expectations of society, specifically, of breaking away from the idea that women are only demure baby factories. Except that in Earthlings, Murata pretty much shoves us out of our comfort zones as we follow the life of 11-year-old Natsuki who only wishes to fit in somewhere and to make her life her own

This book is not for everyone but it's a reality that we can't just ignore. Warnings for sex between minors, sexual abuse, child abuse, incest, and more

I loved Convenience Store Woman and was thrilled to read Earthlings. I rarely read about asexual characters so that made this book stand out. I can't try to explain the plot, I'll just say, read this!

Oh my goodness! I wanna say I expected nothing less from SM but this was... this was just.... the only things I kept uttering while reading (from beginning to end) was... wtf...

The social commentary was sharp just like her previous novel, of not more. The entire tone of the book was intensely eerie that gives you a sense of foreboding at every turn of the chapter. It was just an experience reading it and I can’t wait to see what else she comes up with cause she’s definitely becoming a favourite author of mine.

I was happy when Netgalley accepted my request for read this book .

Honestly, I was interested to read the book because of the cute cover. When I just started reading the book it totally cut me off because the storyline kind of fantasy which is I don’t quite read a fantasy book .

As the story goes , the storyline really intense which makes me totally angry towards Natsuki’s Mum and her teacher.

I just could not understand why Natsuki’s Mum not even listened to her when she told her that her teacher is sexual harassment her. Many actions of Natsuki’s Mum treated her are so wrong .

After the sexual harassment case , the storyline become more and more RIDICULOUS. I just feel I can’t even continued reading the book but I want to know the ending makes me keep on reading.

The book seriously dark - the book contains mental illness, sexual harassment, child abuse , incest ,cannibalism .

If you are a person who can stand all of the dark elements , maybe the book is for you.

Seriously , I don’t get what’s the point of writing this kind of book. Then , after have a discussion with my friend about the book.

Maybe , the book is to create awareness about mental illness , child abuse , sexual harassment. Parents need to know parenting tips to avoid their children face mental illness. Parents need to observe and listen to their children.

Oh and, seriously this book totally reminds me of a proverb : “ Don’t judge a book by its cover “. Despite of the cute cover page the book totally not as cute as the cover :p

On GoodReads, this book is categorised as contemporary Japanese literature, literary fiction, magical realism and horror, the latter I wouldn't really agree with apart from the 15% (or so) of the book. It is the most bizarre book I've ever read and has such interesting points about how society functions as a machine or factory and everyone has to play their part or they'll be ostracised and viewed as a part that doesn't work. While it was very bizarre at times, as well as disturbing, difficult to read and horrifying, I found myself compelled to carry on turning the page until I realised that I read the book in just over a day.

It is difficult to read at times especially how Natsuki's mother abuses her, the awful abuse her experiences from her teacher and the final section of the book which is quite graphic and grotesque. Abuse, cannibalism, bullying, murder and incest are all mentioned within the book. I find it difficult to articulately describe my thoughts about this read as it read like a bizarre fever dream with some potentially triggering topics and disturbing scenes but it will also stay with me for a while and I love the musings on society, the role everyone is forced to play and what happens when you feel alien (or Popinpobopian) within your society. I definitely want to read more from this author in the future!

Earthlings will be familiar territory for readers of Convenience Store Woman but with freshly sharpened edges. Here, Murata also challenges Japanese society's clinical and restrictive expectations for its inhabitants but she pushes the boundaries much further. Following Natsuki as a child and later as a married woman, Murata delves into what truly makes someone human, the intricacies of what makes someone a "functioning component" in society and the lasting effects of abuse.

Natsuki is a fascinating and sympathetic character: whilst a naive and imaginative child, she also possesses a mature eye for the unfair and manipulative ways in which adults treat children, from small everyday injustices to horrific abuse. In her later life this continues as she identifies quirks and discrepancies in society's standards, leading to her belief that she is from another planet.

The earlier sections of the novel steadfastly focus on abuse in and out of the home, and the pressures of adult issues that parents can place on their children. Murata represents the effects of trauma on Natsuki very clearly, in particular Natsuki's coping mechanisms which include her stuffed animal hedgehog, Piyyut, as a channel for her magical powers which originate from her supposed home planet, Popinpobopia.

I particularly enjoyed the early sections focussing on childhood and family, and the bonds between cousins as children. Murata's depiction of the Akishina mountains, where these episodes take place, captures both the natural beauty of the landscape as well as the idyll and awe in which Natsuki holds them. As the only place she meets with her cousin, Yuu, it becomes their own world, a respite from the world that Natsuki can't fully let herself meld into despite on some level wanting to assimilate.

As much as Murata touches on a range of topics, it's hard to really grasp what she's trying to say beyond "society's standards don't make sense!" and after a certain point the constant talk of the "factory" and its deluded "components" did start to grate. The first half of the novel was captivating and original and felt much more assured in what it wanted to say so perhaps it's the omission of the twenty years of Natsuki's life that we don't see that creates the distance of the second half. I would have liked more development of Natsuki's relationship with her parents and sister as an adult as this would have created a smoother transition between her childhood and adulthood.

Overall, I admired Murata's approach to showing the extreme effect that abuse has when suffered as a child, and the far-reaching, life-long and even unanticipated consequences it continuously produces. She is clearly an astute observer of people and society with a unique perspective that constantly calls on you as a reader to question what you think you know about everything that it means to be human. Though it doesn't seem totally convinced in its own message, this is still a worthy read.

You want crazy? I’ll give you crazy!

This is the most bizarre and unique book I’ve ever read, hands down. Going into this, Geek Love held the title of Weirdest Book Ever, but this book knocked that one off the shelf and stands proudly in its place. Everything in this book is OVER THE TOP (yes, in all caps)! This is just what I needed in a time when our country is over the top in so many ways. Everything in your face, a big deal, all exclamation marks. So why not escape into a book that takes me out of this reality and plops me into a way worse bizarro-land that I can laugh at and marvel at from afar?

I felt nervous at first. Eek, I’d ventured outside my genre. (I seem to be doing that this year.) I was patting myself on the back for that one. I don’t really even know what genre it is. It’s a combo: Dystopian. Sort of. Family drama. Sort of. Horror. Sort of. Here I had landed on the moon, but now what? I was afraid to get out of my spaceship! How bad would it be with moon rocks under my feet? What would I find? Scary!! I finally stepped out, and holy moly was it ever wildly exciting out there!

As I read on, I was getting downright cocky—I’ve got this, oh yeah. For sure it’s one of my favorite books ever! I love every second of it! But then…BUT THEN!! I get to the last scene and it’s WAY too over the top for me. Erase! Erase! Why oh why did the writer go there? But when I think about it, the whole book is so intense and strange, why would I expect anything less as the finale? Suddenly it’s a 4-star read; I can’t give it any less even though I’m pissed that the author went there, went to a place I could not handle. If I take off that final scene (which I can’t, and which I’ll never forget), this is a 6-star read.

It’s hard to talk about the plot without giving too much away, so I’ll just say it’s about a woman who doesn’t fit into society. She wants desperately to conform but she’s no good at it. The book starts with her 11-year-old self. She thinks she’s from another planet (that has a weird, long, and interesting name). Ho, hum, another alienated kid. That part seemed sort of dumb and I wondered if the story would get more interesting (believe me, it does!). Her family is mean and puts pressure on her. There is one very disturbing situation but she takes care of it in the most unusual way. You think she’s pretty cool, but then it gets iffy. Still, you’re on her side.

I could not stop reading. The story is full of nutso ideas and dialogue. At one point, a guy blurts out that he wants to have sex with his grandfather. His friends say it’s not the right thing to do, and then the guy says it’s okay because his grandfather is in a vegetative state. Whaaaaaat? I realize that doesn’t sound funny; you had to be there. You can see what I mean when I say it’s over the top.

The author is Japanese and the book is translated. I wasn’t conscious of the fact that it wasn’t written in English, always a good sign. The writing is simplistic and has a YA feel to it, but note that this cannot be called YA. And the simplicity works because it contrasts so well with the intensity of the story.

I read the author’s earlier novel, Convenience Store Woman, and I liked it. That book, too, is about a woman who doesn’t conform. Of the two books, Earthlings is the knockout. I will follow this writer anywhere.

You have to enjoy bizarre, dramatic stories and have a tolerance for the horrific to like this book. For me, the upsetting scenes were trumped by the wonderfully crazy plot and characters, but this book is not for everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

What a very strange book. Lots of taboo subject matter. The story follows the main character as a 12 year old and then picks up with her as an adult. As in the author's other book, Convenience Store Woman, the main character is very outside the main stream and refuses ( or can't) live life as expected. In this book I think that could have been portrayed without so much of the weird. The over-the-top weird pulled me out of the book and brought me away from the message I think the author was trying to make about societal norms? <- Big question mark there.

Unfortunately this book just didn’t work for me. It was difficult to read through the majority of the novel due to a lot of gross scenes inserted for the sole purpose of shock factor.

I am sorry but I have DNF it.
I really tried with this one, because as far as I have read it is pretty unique, and I really appreciated Natsuki. She is a child who is trying her best to make sense of the world (and let's be honest, it is hard for us grown-up, for a child is a real challenge!) and she is smart, she tries to figure out all, and her self-explanations aren't bad at all. Quite naive, yes, but bittersweet and real. Also, not farfetched at all.
But this book is just too much for me. It made me just so mad (and not because the book is poorly done, it is that it is too well done, and you are there, with Natsuki and with all the adults of her life. The adults that should cherish her, protect her, and make her feel special and brilliant and precious, but that betray her time and again) and it hurts so much. It was overwhelming, and it was just the beginning so I had to stop the reading because it was just too much.

But if you think that this book can be right for you, please give it a chance, because for what I have read of it (I had to stop before hitting 30%, sorry) it is well done and it really deserves to be read.

While there were some very interesting and underlying aspects to this story and the cultural elements added to it. This was probably one of the strangest, most unexpected, and at times disturbing stories I have ever read. Overall it was good - just really weird.

TW for physical & sexual abuse, and graphic violence.

EARTHLINGS by Sayaka Murata is an original coming-of-age story that revolves around Natsuki. As a child, she was abused by her parents and they favored her sister. Her best friend, a plush toy hedgehog named Piyyut, tells her that he has come from the planet Popinpobopia on a special quest to help Natsuki save the Earth. In one summer, when Natsuki was visiting her grandparents, her cousin Yuu reveals that he is an alien that wants to go back to his home planet.

What did I just read?! Through a utterly bold plot, Murata does a brilliant job of writing a heavy commentary on humanity and social expectations in modern society. Murata masterfully makes use of metaphors to explain human nature and tackles issues on oppression, identity, conformism, life's purpose and procreation. Instead of being repelled by the endless disturbing scenes, I was even more absorbed and able to capture the story's message.

When it came to Natsuko early life's abuse, I was angry at her mother's negligence concerning her own daughter. I applaud the cleverly-crafted analogies between factory and society/ conformism and brainwashing in regards to human's life stages - this creative approach is unlike anything I have ever read. Also, the author blatantly examines the (standard) natural course of life - such as marriage and have kids - and questions whether there's a pre-determined path to happiness.
While the characters weren't exactly captivating, they were perfect in showing multiple perspectives and hence a deeper understanding. Lastly, when you think you couldn't be more stunned, there's a shocking ending!

Different from her debut novel "Convenience store woman", EARTHLINGS is an unconventional work and has a completely opposite take. It is an insane journey which the readers will have to trust on Murata's intention.

TW: incest, attempted suicide, cannibalism, sexual abuse, murder, trauma

“Convenience Store Woman” author Sayaka Murata brings us the story of another Japanese society outsider in her most recent novel, “Earthlings.” Natsuki has always felt alienated from those around her, whether it be her parents, who dote on her self-centered sister Kise, or the math teacher who sexually assaults her under the guise of teaching her, or the community, referred to by Natsuki as “the Baby Factory,” which dictates that she must marry and have children to be of any value. When she was young, Natsuki dealt with this alienation by pretending that her plush hedgehog, Piyyut, was an alien being who bestowed magical powers on her; her equally societally-estranged cousin Yuu clings to the belief that he is actually a native of Planet Popinpobopia, a fantasy which Natsuki wholeheartedly embraces and which leads to some unexpected consequences.

Fast forward a few years later and Natsuki is now married to Tomoya, a man she met on a website “where people seeking to evade society’s gaze for some reason...could appeal for information or find collaborators.” Tomoya becomes Natsuki’s ultimate collaborator against the Baby Factory, as the two settle into a “pleasant” but sexless marriage of convenience. But when the demands of society and the Factory eventually start to encroach on Natsuki and Tomoya, they—along with Natsuki’s cousin Yuu—decide to retreat further and further from it and into the resurrected world of Planet Popinpobopia—with devastating results.

This is a hard book to review—it’s quirky and weird and disturbing and totally original (the closest book I’ve read to it might be “My Sister the Serial Killer”). I admired the almost delicate way Murata uses the device of a child’s plush toy to depict the horrific psychological consequences of assault: Natsuki’s belief that Piyyut has taught her the “magical trick” of floating above and outside her body is a clear manifestation of psychological dissociation. But all delicacy disappears by the last act of the book, as an unexpected (and somewhat outrageous) plot development sends “Earthlings” hurtling into the realm of graphic and almost gratuitous violence—made even more jarring by Murata’s flat and affectless delivery. In the end, I admired the skill evident in “Earthlings” more than I enjoyed the novel, but I will definitely read other Sayaka Murata books—she’s a strangely compelling and original voice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The degree of trust Murata places in her readers—that they will connect with the broader conversations in the narrative and not see the sexual violence or extremities in the plot as gratuitous—is mutual. The reader also must trust that Murata has a purpose to it all. Reaching the end of this text, my understanding of where Murata was taking the conversation shifted at times. The representation of the characters as cogs in the greater social wheel, this “factory” as she articulated it, allows for a nuanced conversation around purpose and identity, particularly around gendered understandings of procreation. What she puts her protagonist through in the plot pushes this conversation, and it felt intentionally shocking to read. For me there was a shift in the direction the narrative took in the latter part, and without giving away any spoilers, felt it became more meta even than these initial discussions that had been prompted.
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I couldn’t put this one down and honestly read it with my eyebrows raised for the majority of the book, stopping to let it swirl once I’d finished. It takes a lot for a book to completely catch me off guard and engage in such important discussions in a way I hadn’t anticipated. Read it if you want to continue thinking about some of the conversations she raised in CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN particularly.
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Many thanks to @groveatlantic for a review copy.