Life Ceremony: Stories; Sayaka Murata
Grove Press - 2022
I became a fan of Sayaka Murata after reading and enjoying the author's darker fiction that, Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings had to offer. Her latest offering, translated from the Japanese to English, features a series of (12) short stories, some only a few pages long others quite a bit longer. Each of the stories seem to feature characters who deviate from the norms of society and, the stories feature topics so odd or far out that at the very least come across as somewhat unsettling.
One story: First Rate Material - features a soon to be married couple who disagrees about what to wear and what kind of furniture to buy. Unlike his soon to be wife who loves wearing sweaters adorned with "human hair", wearables and furniture made from human teeth, bones and fingernails or the decreased, the soon to be groom opposes it. In a stories a middle-aged man is kept in a shed as a pet for a young girl. Hatchling, features a bride-to-be with five different personalities and a need to be liked by all. The title story, Life Ceremony is totally bizarre and one of the longer stories. It focuses on the extinction of the human race with a goal to increase population through insemination. Other stories deal with magical places and cannibalism. If the thought of reading about cannibalism isn't bad enough, there is a focus on the details of taste and texture while feasting.
Maybe because the pieces were so short, in many cases, and varied in topic, I felt like this collection focused more on shock value rather than to try to engage the reader in a meaningful way even if the stories were short. Although the writing style felt familiar, I thought the stories for the most part were quite unsettling, not at all what I was expecting after really enjoying the author's first two full length novels.
Rating - 3/5 stars
NOTE: This eGalley was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review,
Hmm, I loved Convenience Store Woman, but decided to skip Earthlings after reading the reviews. Describing it as unsettling has me thinking this might be more like Earthlings. After seeing "shock value" I think this may be another one for me to skip...
ReplyDeleteConvenience Store Woman was so different. I loved the main character and the writing made you think but wasn't disturbing. Earthlings was intense and involved cannibalism:( I;m pretty sure this one would not be for you based on what you tend to be drawn to.
ReplyDeleteI read and enjoyed - though that doesn't seem quite the right word - both of her books that you mention. She does have a penchant for writing about weird things. This one might just be a little TOO weird for me.
ReplyDeleteYes, Dorothy - The first I LOVED, the second was weird, sick yet I liked it but this one was a bit much and often I didn't get a good feel for "a story" as it was either too brief or way too far out there.
DeleteI'm just not a short story reader; I keep trying, but I just don't love them. I do want to try her other books though.
ReplyDeleteHer first book was excellent. The second was good but, more far out there.
DeleteI get the feeling it could have been a lot better.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think some stories were jsut so short they were over before you really got a sense of what the point was.
ReplyDeleteNot for me I think but I know a lot of people loved The Convenience Store Woman.
ReplyDeleteConvenience Store Woman was excellent - I can see why thing would not appeal to many readers.
DeleteI love most Japanese novels, but some of the contemporary authors can really knock your socks off with their stories and unusual characters.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that as well lately. I LOVE Japanes translated fiction as well.
DeleteI don't think this one is for me and I don't think all authors do great with the short story format. It sounds like this might be the case here. I think if I'm wanting eerie or unsettling short stories I'll stick with Shirley Jackson!
ReplyDeleteI loved Shirley Jackson! Translated fiction is tough sometimes but this author has a good track record. I just did not enjoy this collections as much as I expected to.
ReplyDeleteI guess I found Convenience Store Woman a bit unsettling so it doesn't surprise me with this one. She's an edgy author, right?
ReplyDeleteOh yes! I didn't find Convenience Store Woman at all disturbing but, Earthings had a darker tone and this collection even more so.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading Convenience Store Woman so I'll definitely look out for this book! Thanks for the review, Diane!
ReplyDeleteI thought Convenience Store Woman was so different and such a good read but I'm not quite sure about this one. I'd probably still give a go though!
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