Reviews

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

evebromero11's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Keiko was a really interesting character. I found her odd as I read her thoughts, but I also felt protective of her. She strives to be accepted as normal, a trait that is very human of her. She constantly deals with judgement despite feeling it is underserved. 
I enjoyed her story, and I really disliked Shiraha. He was a narcissist, happy to exploit Keiko. 

sjohnson's review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced

4.0

slammed thru it in just a few days. i expected furukura to be more sullen i guess, but she's  happy! just autistic! someone recommended this as a loner kinda sad vibe, but no! she's good with her life everyone else just needs to fuck off! :)

howfardoesthisgo's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

jellylegumes's review against another edition

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funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

riss_'s review against another edition

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reflective fast-paced

4.0

chitinouscruciform's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5, translation was awkward

grdsbrg's review against another edition

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3.0

“The normal world has no room for exceptions and always quietly eliminates foreign objects.”

I thoroughly enjoyed some parts of this book, especially since it made me nostalgic for the awfully bizzare environment that a convenience store is. As the book itself mentions - a convenience store is a world of sound. And it made me miss being able to pop in at any time of the day, hear the annoying jingle of the automatic door and buy cheap food for a quick breakfast.

I also enjoyed the commentary on contemporary society and our day model of an “ordinary person”. This topic hit close home, especially, since I don’t want to get married or have kids. I have no interest in dating either and that’s seen as something outside of the norm for most people.

The style of writing was obviously very Japanese and I still struggle to understand if I enjoy Japanese literature or not. I feel like sometimes I get distracted by trying to reverse translations and thinking of the ways it might have been written in the original language - which annoys me to no end (maybe I should just start reading Japanese novels in Japanese).

I do have to say that I enjoyed the first half of the book much more than the latter part. I was glad the book wasn’t much longer than it was, really. Was struggling to see why other reviewers found the novel funny and felt like the author could’ve gone so much further with social commentary. But overall it was a good and easy read.

thevivifriend's review against another edition

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5.0

Loved it! Such a lovable character, no labels are used but I did perceive her as autistic and asexual and it does an amazing job at explaining social expectations and conformity.

ainu89's review against another edition

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reflective

4.75

ellesoo's review against another edition

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literally finished this at 12:10 am