Reacting to one-star reviews of Earthlings

Earthlings by Sayaka Murata (tr. Ginny Tapley Takemori) is a difficult read. It's haunting, upsetting, and unpleasant. It's also a punk and daring book with big themes and ideas, and not everyone likes it. I love it. Here's me defending it.
*****
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[@imsommergewitter]

In my opinion, Earthlings is a book about child abuse and the tragic ways abused people try to overcome or deal with their pain. As a person, working with traumatized people and as a person who's experienced a abuse herself, my best guess is that most 1 star reviews are written by people who cannot understand, because they've never been subjected to such circumstances. Alienation is a prime symptom of cPTSD. Not fitting in, troubled relationships, all of that. Earthlings is a tough read and on the surface its disgusting. But there is so much meaning beneath that.

[@kaniabalach]

Yes, absolutely agree! I was crying out loud while reading this book because amount of struggle to explaining herself the unexplainable was heartbreaking for me. I was rooting for those kids (coz for me they’ve stayed kids and didn’t have opportunity to grow up fully) and was fascinated by the ways they try to stay grounded, connected to anything. It was really painful. But also felt like I was exercising my empathy and ability to understand the pain of destroying connection to own body by someone. And pain of lack in autonomy that is experience of children all over the world.

[@SocksPropaganda]

I loved it, 4/5. But what bothered me was how it seemed so random that Yuu randomly turned a complete 180, going from having been another factory member to then in less than a week, becoming an alien. Maybe it was just hidden in him all along? Just felt hard to believe Yuu's part

[@bhavya5692]

He was the very person who introduced the alien 'culture' to the protagonist

[@idk-il8rv]

really late but i think it was just to show that Yuu still just did exactly what people wanted him to do and he never really got out of it. when around uncle teruyoshi he rejected all alienness and bea came a earthling but when natsuki came back he just went along with her

[@asliyase]

⁠@@idk-il8rvyess. there are quite a few mentions -even a couple direct statements from Yuu- about how impressionable Yuu is. I think this is a large part of part of the final message for me, which is how many if not all methods of living outside a factory can often mean just becoming another factory.

[@silja6838]

I went into this book thinking it would be a lot lighter as it was marketed as a hilarious read like Convenience Store Woman. And during the first half I was much like these reviews, thinking how a book about abused child could be thought as funny or even good. And then the second half of the story started, when the characters were adults, and it all started to make sense. The last chapter legit made me laugh almost hysterically because it was so horrible and absurd and yet so brilliant my brain almost couldn’t take it. What a book, one of the best ones I’ve read this year. I’m currently reading The Vegetarian by Han Kang and it has a similar vibe to it, though I’m only about half way finished so I don’t know yet how I feel about it.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yes! Comparing it to The Vegetarian is valid! And I also agree, the book is a whirlwind of upset and absurdism that really keeps you on your toes, emotionally.

[@kayligo]

I also expected it to be very different than it was, which is why I totally understand people giving it one star. It’s an upsetting book and not for everyone.

[@dawnofthesecondday]

This book reminded me of the fact that it's so cool that when it comes to literature you can agree with both 1 star and 5 star reviews at the same time without having any of that affect your own thoughts on it. When I was reading Earthlings earlier this year I kept feeling so conflicted, my brain kept telling me that this is brilliant, but at the same time my heart hated it. I initially gave it 3 stars simply because it felt like so much, but as I sat with my thoughts for a few weeks I changed my rating to 4 stars. Truly a fantastic work, but demands a lot from the reader. Whereas Convenience Store Woman was relatively easily approachable, this one definitely requires one to be a bit more experienced as a reader in order to find the greatness in the book.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

This is a really good point! The book is frightening and uncomfortable but that does not a bad book make. You really have to balance your feelings and opinions and considerations, which is tough.

[@zoer4414]

Your experience of dropping this book at the end is so relatable - I listened to this on audio (which is amazingly performed) and was doing the dishes when I got to That final scene. Ended up just staring out the window above the sink, sponge dropped, basin filling, totally frozen in horror at what I was hearing. Love this book so much 🤩

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Hahaha what a reaction! But yeah, same!

[@katie5737]

I just finished listening to it as well! I think it's read by Nancy Wu...She was amazing!!!! Every single character had a distinct voice and personality, it was a great listen. Nancy Wu is the whole factory

[@Odzerful]

I loved Earthlings. Like you, it was my favourite book of the year. It has stayed with me for a long long time. I loved Natsuki's character. I could relate to her loneliness and anger towards a rigid system. I just understood her so well. And I loved how she eventually breaks away from the norm. I agree that this book is not for everyone but it deserves more than just one star. Once in a while, it does us good to read books that don't make us feel good. Why must we only try to read books that make us feel great? or entertain us? Life is a horror show for some people. I honestly didn't flinch in the end because after reading several works by Japanese writers, I knew something like this was coming. Sayaka Murata is one of the best writers today. End of story.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I agree with absolutely every word of this! I sympathise with the upset that people feel but I don't agree that their reactions justify a one-star review. That's childish and unconsidered.

[@bgp2k]

Read the book a few weeks back and enjoyed it a lot. I didn’t even think that it was crazily offensive, it’s not like the book glorified incest or cannibalism, also the part about the teacher was rather realistic. People like him do exist. But yeah, maybe I am just desensitized lol

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Desensitised is the word I'd use as well lol. I sometimes think things don't impact me as much as they probably should

[@Repulsiastorm]

I love that you clutch at imaginary pearls while voicing the most delicate and offended reviews! I'm reading Earthlings now and I don't think I would be viewing it as satire and a commentary on society without your valuable insight. Yes it's confronting and uncomfortable but reviews like yours give other readers confidence to try more challenging works. Its like walking into the darkness but knowing your friend walks this road all the time so you might be scared but you'll be ok.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Wow that's very kind of you, thanks!

[@jonathonglover6488]

I have to admit that I found the 2nd chapter particularly confronting and had to take some space from the novel. The grooming of her as an 11 year old, the description of the assault and the mother’s response to her trauma were truly harrowing and hard to get through. I found the final chapter, and it’s pacing to be gripping, and thought that the execution of the prose captured the unhinged nature of what the characters were doing in this darkly hilarious (I laughed at the three different meals prepared from the man) way. Enjoyed this format as it is both a fun dialogue but also a way to really engage with the book and it’s construction.

[@dargalanaflitanip7356]

Not going to lie, I picked this book up having fallen for the cute sound of it and the equally cute cover. Girl thinks she's an alien and struggles with society? Relatable! I got midway through chapter two and put it down because I had a PTSD meltdown. I planned to get rid of it the very next day. The next day came about and I couldn't stop thinking about it because... I relate to the main caracter, in how she thinks (same reason I enjoyed Convenience Store Woman.) And yes, the story of Earthlings got worse. WAY worse. It's disgusting and vile and I'm totally going to read it again... Well done Sayaka Murata for introducing a somewhat new reader to a genre I didn't know I would love to hate - or hate to love! Also, I legitimaely dropped the book the moment I read it, too. I also couldn't stop laughing at the "what the fuuuuuuuuuuuudgery" of it all... I'm stil mentally rocking back and forth in the foetal position.

[@jamandbutter]

I loved it. Couldn't put it down. I didn't drop the book when I finished it but that ending did make my jaw drop. I was so disgusted on so many levels and didn't know what to tell my mom when she asked me what I was reading lol. Loved it.

[@Ashmont27]

"a grotesque horror film unfolding mercilessly in your mind" yea that's exactly what I'm looking for actually! Just read Earthlings based on your recommendation and it's probably one of my favorites of all time now!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Amazing!! In a few days I’m putting out a video about why I love her books so much

[@jassdad5202]

I found Earthlings fantastic. I gave it 5 stars along with her first novel Convenience Store Woman

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Me too! Convenience Store Woman is one of my all-time faves and Earthlings left a real impact on me.

[@willcacti8302]

Just finished reading it, rented it from my library. Wow, that was a very satisfying ending, I almost smiled reading the last two pages! Uncle Teruyoshi was one of my favorite characters cause I like how mostly sympathetic he is towards Natsuki and Yuu

[@Hafessor]

I really love your channel. The books that I’ve read in the past months were almost all from your recommendations. Keep’em coming!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Wow, that's quite the compliment! Thanks for watching!

[@chrisreadingcorner3816]

I feel I read this book and did struggle with the themes but hearing the way you explain it makes so much more sense.

[@lacamila666]

Just finished this book, I read it because of you and I just want to say thank you hah, such a ride.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

You are very welcome!

[@danielavaldes3301]

I completely love Sayaka Murata. So funny to review different opinions on this book.

[@allegraalberoni]

I went in blind because I had loved Convenience store woman and I am SO GLAD I did. It was a roller coaster and I don’t think I would have picked it up had I known what it was about. Such a good book

[@h.a.leuschel7491]

Fantastic review! I just finished the book and agree that it is scary and gut-wrenching. However, it is very thought-provoking and sad because of the deep loneliness the main character is left with when she steps away from society's expectations. I'll have to digest (oups) this one. :-)

[@WillowTalksBooks]

lol that choice of words properly made me chuckle. And I completely agree :)

[@1hailsss]

I did not love this book but your perspective is awesome and refreshing to hear :)

[@MarinaUz]

I loved Convenience Store Woman! Now I'm really interested (and a bit scared) in reading this book too! I love this video, the combination of your analysis and these bad reviews is great ☺️

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed! This book is a very different beast from her first but equally rewarding!

[@aliceg202]

Great video, I loved Earthlings and read it after convenience store women. I just bought ‘Life Ceremony’ I love the way Sayaka Murata makes the absurd seem ordinary, the imagery was grappling, I need more of her mind!!!

[@steveurick3044]

Wow. I didn’t like her first book (or the first one available in English) so much, because I wanted to know about the suffering beneath the protagonist’s way of life. I thought that there had to be something there other than “I am fine with this simple life.” This looks quite different. I actually have the Japanese version, but I fear I won’t be able to get through it in Japanese, my second language. After watching your video I now want to try to read it in English. Cheers!

[@Guguchina]

I'm a bit late to the party, but I loved this video. The first review was the best - ugh so funny. And I too felt offended by the second. I love this book so much, even though admittedly I did have to skim the final part because I was too repulsed by the detail - though unlike the reviewers I appreciate that YES! - Murata went there! I love the story of how Murata wrote the book - I can't remember where I read this but apparently she herself did not have an idea of how it would end when she started writing it and she just went with the flow, which honestly makes it all the more genius and raw and punk. It adds so much to the chaotic energy.

[@Nixx0912]

Spoilers... I guess. I just got trough chapter four, and that was satisfying. Since I finished the first part I violently hated that disgusting excuse for human being and wished he gets what he deserves and I' so glad he did. Hopefully her horrible family will too, specially her mother. Her sister is disgusting as well, but her mother shouldn't be allowed to take care of a hamster. Not only she physically and mentally abuses her child, but the way she dismissed Natsuki when she tried to tell her she's groomed by a pedophile really got to me. I know this is fiction but disgusting monsters of people like this do exist and it made me sick. I'm not sure if that was the right book for me because of how triggered I got, but it's like with deer in the headlights I can't stop now. I also perfectly understand the factory part, I think probably Poland is a bit better than Japan with less formal structures, but I still felt out of place there and left as soon as I got the chance.

[@rightonrightonrighton]

Have to say I liked convenience store woman a lot more. But it is fun to see people reading this on the tube and wonder what point they're at.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Hahaha that is a legit fun hobby

[@eenainwonderland]

I haven’t read this still will watch the video once I read this hahaha. I loooooved Convenience Store Woman tho and found it really relatable especially as an Asian woman, so I’m really excited for this one! It’s also my pastime to read 1 star reviews 😂

[@WillowTalksBooks]

One star reviews are so satisfying lol and I do hope you enjoy this book! But it needs all the trigger warnings!

[@deeplyliterature9569]

Love your videos. I'm not a Patron but I agree these are super fun! Unsolicited advice from a professional video editor and Japanese translator, and of course this is said with love and good intentions as I love your content and hope for it to keep improving, if you wanted to make your jump cuts make more sense and not just do a zero frame or zoom cut that can sometimes feel sudden, you could line up the eyes in one frame to the next to be in the same spot roughly. It's what we do in editing to reduce the randomness feeling and punches up the polish a bit. I realize your framing is much tighter and far to one side but just something to consider if you should ever want to add that in. Also, the first 6 minutes of this video is a very long explanation/review when people clicked on a one-star review video. I've read the book so that part was unnecessary to me. If I were editing this, I'd have cut that out as it changes the point of the video from reactions to a review almost as it was over a third of the content. If you really wanted the info in there, I would have grabbed about the 20-seconds worth where you said, "...this is about breaking out of the machine..." with just enough to tell your story of your interpretation and put it included in your response to the second comment. That way this video makes more sense as you're responding to comments and it's not also a 6-minute review for someone who has already read it. It felt long, and that's meant as constructive, not meant to be mean as I thoroughly enjoy your talks. All editing is subjective, keep doing it if you love it. Please keep making these. It was meant with good intentions though I know sometimes with the written word our tone isn't clear. I hope you are doing well and look forward to future videos.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I genuinely appreciate your advice, thank you! I love editing and have never rectany advice or criticism on it before, so this is very useful. I'll take this on-board in the future!

[@jackseney7906]

I would completely expect such reactions to Murata, and am sure she would as well. She comes across as shy, composed and perfectly "normal" in interviews, letting her writing do most of her talking for her. But I believe she is unbothered by mindless criticism, or even the smarter type, and I can't wait to see where she goes next with her writing 👍

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I'm sure I remember her talking in an interview about how she was a punk and radical writer before Convenience Store Woman, so from that perspective Earthlings was nothing surprising. I like her style in so many ways.

[@jackseney7906]

Here's hoping that earlier stuff gets translated while we're waiting for her next!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

@@jackseney7906 Absolutely!

[@Wolfhailstorm]

Oops okay let me stop and come back once I have read it! I hauled it last month so hope to get to it soon!

[@lindzeroo222]

Loved this book. Loved your review of it. Loved your review of reviews. 😆 But it struck me as funny that you said Convenience Store Woman is in your top 3 favorite books of all time, and yet you don’t remember the protagonist’s name. 😂 Then again, Keiko would probably say that her name matters little in comparison to her title of a store worker. Right? 😅 So iss okay. 👍

[@patriciaokiyi9134]

Il first start with the positive points: I liked the feel of the book, and its quirky depiction of a young girl who felt she didn’t fit in to the world around her… Now on the negative: Whilst I really tried to enter the mind of the author and get a real understanding of the book and the characters I have today that this book (especially the ending) is ridiculous. I understand trauma and how it can distance people from reality and make them feel separated from society. I thought this book would take the terrible experience of the characters and the their altered interpretation of reality and delve into what it meant for them as individuals going from traumatised children into their adult lives (in what ever shape or form that took). Instead I feel like it just plopped a bunch of taboos in for shock value and had no where to go with it. The end was TERRIBLE and the most ridiculous of all!!!! Bringing cannibalism in to the mix in such an unrealistic way, void of human emotion or feeling was just crazy to me. It felt like the author wanted to quickly finish the book in an over the top way. This book had potential to go into many different avenues but sadly lost its way.

[@fairydream6300]

Completely agreed! I really "enjoyed" (If you can say that anbout a book like this) the first part, as there was a very intellingent set up for a real and crude representation of abuse, with the child being so unaware of her abused state and it getting exposed but by but slowly and shockingly. Then it got to the SA episode, and I felt dirty reading it and it made be feel almost physically sick. It was a but too much for my taste but I was aware it was meant to be like that, so again, kudos to the author for beung so brave writing a topic like that the way it was written. After that certain things become a bit too unrealistic but I was too glad the MC gets her revenge that I didn't even care about realism. The way the MC becomes broken and the way she talks about it made a lot of sense too and at that point I was really impressed by the symbols and set up of the story... the second part was really a mess though! I get it the characters are broken and are a mess, but I was expecting so much more! Even wanting to keep the breaking of that last taboo, the reaching of that point felt unearned...the last chapter was so rushed and the husband character and Yuu just turned so flat and empty, one flip flopping all over the place, the other falling for their cause so suddenly, all of it increasingly unrealistically. I just felt confused and disappointed at the end, not sure what I had just read or if I was missing something. I gave it 3 stars as the first part was impressive, it just felt like this book could have been so much more...

[@marinellamaccagni6951]

I love convenience store woman and I'm also going to adore earthlings.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I love your confidence and I hope you do, too!

[@chrishenderson1262]

I've had this book on my "to read" list for a long time now, having watched your original review of it a while back, and I just devoured it over the weekend. The content was equally disturbing and engrossing. Very hard to put down, and I could have finished it in a day if I didn't have to force myself to do other things around that house that needed to get done. At the end I had a similar "wtf did I just read?" type of moment. I definitely think the presentation is not for everyone, and I'm sure that's where most of the 1-star reviews come from. I agree with you, that those people either are naive to the satirical nature of the book and intentional absurdity (and/or its purpose), or they are just too delicate to manage such content without having to go online to criticize it. A couple things I'll add about themes. The most overarching messages that stood out to me were in relation to survival and coping mechanisms. This is extremely obvious in the chapters about the abuse from the teacher and Natsuki's psyche's way of dealing with what she did to stop it. But this extended through the end of the book with the subject of cannibalism. They were snowed in at the Akishina house and it's defensible that they would have resorted to what they did, having run out of food. However, my final interpretation is that the book is as much of a criticism on "the Factory" as it is on overly rebellious expressions against the norm. For example, with that final chapter. Any sympathy for the situation they were in and the means they needed to take for survival was lost in the manner and glee with which they approached it, engorging themselves beyond the necessary. I too was left with the interpretation that they had become as monstrous as the members of the Factory, each in their own way.

[@ICharlyl]

I actually hated this book. Loved the first episode, the second one shocked me but hooked me, the third one was interesting, but the last episodes were horrible, I truly couldnt understand how the characters turned how they did and found everything at the end ridiculous and shocking just for the sake of it, i understood the commentary behind it, but i couldnt belive the journey of the characters to reach that level of stupidity, mostly Yuu. I truly didnt enjoy this ride from the middle point onward.

[@myprofilepictureisafish]

I got this book thinking it would be rather fun, then after buying it I looked it up for some extra info and when I saw that it had trigger warnings for child abuse, sex abuse, gore and horror ect I was INCREDIBLY shocked I have zero other horror books so I’m honestly kind of scared to read it 😭

[@Gingabread-bw6xj]

What’s wrong with reading things that scare you? Honestly the child abuse and sex abuse stuff was a lot harder to get through because of how real it seems. So a lot of the first half of the book is about coping mechanisms and alienation. There a purpose of it in the story, it’s not just there to be transgressive. The horror stuff is more absurd than actually scary. It’s so disgusting and the characters are working with an almost cartoon logic that it becomes funny. For some reason it reminded me of The Re-Animator in that regard. So the book does get worse, but in a different way and with different taboos. I don’t really like gore or viscera in horror media, so it’s not like I’m desensitized to it and I think a lot of people are blowing it out proportion because the gore is in relation to cannibalism. I’d say give it a shot if you already haven’t. Take breaks, skip sections or just prepare yourself by reading a synopsis first or don’t finish the book. Nothing wrong with deciding it’s not for you and putting it down.

[@samhartje723]

It kind of triggers me when people don’t like any kind of conflict in their stories. It really shouldn’t bother me as nearly as much as it does.

[@einkreadingclub6979]

yo i am going to read this book JUST to watch this video afterwards... see u in a couple of weeks

[@WillowTalksBooks]

That feels like a threat...

[@einkreadingclub6979]

@@WillowTalksBooks we'll see 🙈

[@mikkareads]

I feel like the German covers evoke the completely wrong idea; for the longest time, I thought they were likely mawkish feelgood-literature, so I was not very interested in them. I've since heard enough about them to see the error of my ways and want to read them.

[@user-yg6ft1iu1i]

Well said.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Thanks!

[@stephaniem2743]

I also really appreciated this book even though it was disturbing and difficult. One thing I was wondering, is Natsuki schizophrenic? I think so, but the other two may have just been along for the ride (shared delusions).

[@oliverharris60]

I felt like maybe she dissociated due to trauma to the point of psychosis? Definitely an interesting book!

[@cindilabbe6070]

Lol. I liked the book but my review was just ‘wtf’.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Oh same! But then I had to really put my thinking cap on to do some "analysis" which isn't easy with such a shocking novel.

[@cindilabbe6070]

@@WillowTalksBooks That’s why you are the reviewer:-) I usually don’t leave reviews, though I do love talking about books with my friends. I really saw Earthlings as Convenience Store Woman PLUS. Similar themes taken to more extreme lengths. And so I especially like thinking of them as a kind of duo.

[@juliea4857]

🤣LOL…Many people don’t get satire, or irony, or black comedy. I loved the book. Have to reread it. (The English-language cover is really weird…Maybe people think it’ll be a book about fuzzy-wuzzy cuddle-toys.) I agree with much of your analysis. I also think it’s about the nature of individual (child) abuse, sexual oppression/repression/abuse…Great satire…perhaps also a parody of SciFi of a certain kind? Btw, I read some positive reviews of Convenience Store Woman that I think completely missed the point. One person went on a on about how great Japanese convenience stores are. ROFLMAO!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I'm also ready to reread this book. And you're right, there are themes and topics that I didn't cover here that Murata is also touching on in powerful ways. It's one hell of a novel!

[@ExtremeEnthusiast704]

I can't help but these people are soft and can't take any media that is uncomfortable to them. Its insulting to me.

[@BenRogersWPG]

Watching this scared, because I think I gave it 2-3 stars

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Uh oh, get your head on the block! Nah, I did say in the video that I do empathise with people who gave it a low score but I wanted to give myself space to argue with those scores all the same

[@SurrealGal]

It was a fabulous read but the ending was stupid. I don't think she could figure out what to do so she went with goofy crap like Manazuru.