Earthlings

From the acclaimed author Sayaka Murata, 'Earthlings' delves into the unsettling world of Natsuki, a young girl who believes she is an alien from the planet Poppit. Plagued by a traumatic childhood incident and feeling increasingly disconnected from the 'factory' of human society, Natsuki finds solace only in her equally peculiar cousin, Yuu, and a stuffed toy hedgehog, Pii, who speaks to her. As she navigates the confusing and often cruel expectations of her family and school, Natsuki clings to her conviction that she is merely an observer, biding her time until her true family arrives to reclaim her. Years later, Natsuki marries Tomohiro, a man who shares her belief in being an alien, forming a unique, unconventional bond centered around their shared identity. However, when societal pressures and the suffocating demands of the 'factory' become too much to bear, Natsuki, Tomohiro, and eventually Yuu, retreat to a remote mountain cabin. There, they attempt to create their own isolated haven, pushing the boundaries of human existence and morality to their most extreme and disturbing conclusions. Murata masterfully crafts a darkly satirical and deeply unsettling narrative that forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about conformity, sanity, and what it truly means to be human in a world obsessed with normalcy.