Earthlings (by Sayaka Murata)

Well this was indeed like an amped-up version of Life Ceremony. It was more difficult to read due to explicit depictions of childhood abuse - which at least made all the cannibalism and stuff a little easier to deal with. But it also made it a page-turner, hoping the main character would come out okay.

Sayaka Murata is an unflinching writer, that's all I can say. I much prefer the less-abusey versions of her work, but I was compelled to read all the way to the weird and bitter end.  I eagerly await her next offering.