The Earthlings is written by the Japanese author Sayaka Murata.The book starts off as a sweet innocent story between two cousins, and ends on a near dystopian world. It explores dark topics, and looks at how aliens survive in a world where they have to be humans. They call these people Earthlings. Although the story includes controversial topics such as violence, murder, theft, abuse, cannabilism... it's written in a light hearted and at times ridiculously funny way.
THE BEGINNING
Natsuki is 11 and believes she has magical powers. Her cousin Yuu is convinced he is an alien, and a spaceship will take him back to his planet one day. The cousins see each once a year when the extended family meet for a gathering at their grandparents house in the remote mountains. Each year Natsuki and Yuu grows closer as they're both convinced they don't belong to this world.
GROWING UP
As Natsuki grows up, she also found out she's an Alien, and realises she's living in The Factory. People's sole purpose in The Factory is to provide their reproduction organ as tools for procreation purpose. Those who fail to deliver may be eliminated. Her mother and sister constantly tells her how stupid and useless she is, increasing her fear of being eliminated, and never seeing Yuu again. The only person who thought differently was Mr Igasaki, a teacher who gave her extra lessons after class because he said she was special. At times these lessons made her uneasy, and one time she was so petrified that her magical powers kicked in and she had a out of body experience. She floated above to the ceiling looking down at her physical body kneeling down in front of Mr Igasaki. She, eyes shut mouth open, he, holding onto her shoulders rocking them slowly.
After that lesson, Natsuki found her mouth was broken and she couldn't taste anything. She felt she was already being forced to contribute to The Factory, and was worried she'll lose ownership of her body soon. The next time she and Yuu met, she asked him to have sex with her so she wouldn't lose her body to someone else. When the extended family found them, Natsuki was not allowed to attend anymore family meetings. It was 23 years she next saw Yuu.
CONFORMITY
Japan, like many Asian societies still works on conformity. There's a lot of pressure to live your life according to society expectations. Earthlings is about how three people each cope with this problem in their own way.
NATSUKI
Natsuki knew she had magical powers from a young age and this has helped her through many difficult situations when she felt she was to be consumed and brainwashed by The Factory. When she grew up, she still struggled to conform to The Factory expectations, to get married and produce children. Part of her wanted to be brainwashed so she could fit in. Another part, the alien part kept fighting back. In the end, she found herself a fake husband and marriage. That removed some family pressure but she's still stuck in between.
TOMOYA
Tomoya dislikes the sight of the naked female body and cannot tolerate touching one. Getting 'married' to Natsuki and their agreement to a contactless marriage was the perfect solution to get his family off his back. Since meeting Natsuki, and later Yuu, he is convinced he is also an alien, and takes radical steps to dehumanise himself. He thinks he can achieve this by doing the most human taboo things. One day he announces he is going to have sex with his grandfather. Then he remembers his grandfather is in hospital, so that won't work. "I'm going to ask my brother", he says. "I'm going to tell my brother why I want to have sex with him, and hopefully he will agree."
YUU
Yuu, on the other hand, takes a more passive approach to the problem he has with conformity. As a child, his mother always told him what to do. At work, he took orders from his boss. Even when he was younger, Natsuki took the initiative for them to have sex, and pledge themselves to each other. When his mother died and he lost his job, there was no one to give him orders. There was no signpost in his life anymore and he was lost. He returned to live in his grandparents house, where he didn't have to think or worry about society. Life was simple.
THE END
That was until Natsuki and Tomoya come to visit Yuu in the mountains. The three develop a unique relationship, training themselves to live as aliens in an Earthling world, away from The Factory, away from society expectations and rules.
CULTURE DIFFERENCES
Japanese culture plays a big part in the story. Why do people, think, feel and do certain things in a certain way. I think the more closer you are to Japanese culture the more you will resonate with the story. If you've read the book, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts and whether your culture plays any part in your thoughts.