Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

Do not be deceived by this cute little cover; the fascinatingly unique and talented Sayaka Murata delves into the nature of trauma, taboo, and the limits of societal normalcy in Earthlings.

We are taken with Natsuki, our protagonist, from her middle school experience to her adulthood, where she is abused, ignored, and ostracized at every turn. The novel shows the dark side of the impacts of abuse, escapism, and feeling like an outsider, with an utterly gruesome finale. Murata really created something special here, and I love how strange and disgusting and absolutely unapologetic her work can be. She clearly has a fascination with the dark side of humanity, with what we are on an animalistic, feral level without the influence of society, and I think that’s very interesting. I also think there’s a lot to be observed in Earthlings about only being able to take so much before one breaks under all the pressure and scrutiny and embraces madness/rejects society in all possible forms.

I will say that the latter half of the book, while fascinating for sure, felt a bit bizarre to read, not just due to my social conditioning to feel pretty disturbed and repulsed by what I was reading at some points (hey, I’m still conditioned as an Earthling) but plot wise as well? It felt a bit random at parts, which was probably a part of the shock value of how drastically things changed; I also simultaneously wish all of the talk about alienhood in the characters’ adulthood was a little less literal while also totally understanding why it had to be so literal.

Earthlings is a success in the completely weird and fucked up department, but it’s also a success in raising several uncomfortable questions: what societal boundaries deserve to be rejected? If we let go of convention, is the only other choice to succumb to insanity? Is insanity inherently irrational or immoral? What can trauma and morbid introspection turn us into; what are we, as humans, on a base level?

This was my first Murata novel, but certainly not my last! I’m especially looking forward to reading Convenience Store Woman next.

Rating: 4/5