Sammlung von Kurzgeschichten, gut gefallen haben mir - Two's Family - Puzzle - Eating the City - Hatchling (mein Favorit) Auch die Titelgeschichte "Life Ceremony" war irgendwie interessant. Einige der Kurzgeschichten sind auch stark an ihre zwei Bücher Convenience Store Woman oder Earthlings angelehnt (oder andersrum?). Viel über alternative Lebensformen, Gedankenexperimente wie Gesellschaft in Zukunft sich komplett verändern könnte, asexuelle Ehen, Sex, Kannibalismus,... Murata bleibt ihrem Stil und ihren Themen treu. Manches muss man mögen (*hust* Lampen aus Fingernägeln?), ansonsten gefällt mir das immer wiederkehrende Thema der Entfremdung sehr gut.

This was a wild ride. I found the different stories to be greatly differing in quality. While I enjoyed Two's Family, Eating the city and Hatchling, I didn't enjoy A summer night's kiss or A magnificent spread. As disturbing and weird as some of the stories were, I found myself invested in some characters despite the short time one spends with them. New concepts of love and family are established and mostly women-centered at that. Some stories I would rate 1*, others I would rate 5*. So I'm settling for the middle, 2,5*, which I'll round up to 3*.

You live in a society, i go out and eat the stuff growing on the side of the street - we are not the same. I like how Sayaka Murata can criticise society and make it entertaining af. Especially marriage and what it means to be different from the norm, and how that can and will change with time. Also a bit creepy and gory at times! I read earthlings and convenience store woman before reading the short story collection, but this is my favourite so far !