Reviews

There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura

zzzkelly's review against another edition

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funny mysterious relaxing
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

kiwisandher's review against another edition

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5.0

Compelling little vignettes that ruminate on all the ways a work/life balance can exist. Adore the main character, I was rooting for her hard!

mcdavidson's review against another edition

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

3.5

erin_devine_17's review against another edition

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

3.5

cassandrat's review against another edition

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

3.75

I enjoyed reading this book about earning a living after burnout, and I would do it again. I could see myself picking it up and re-reading sections. The main character's musings on the different jobs and the first and third jobs themselves were delightful. The job at the chip company and for the surveillance company both were funny and relatable. They both nailed the funny insights and mundane work issues that I was looking for.

The second and fourth job were too unbelievable regarding what was going on. They had a magical realism or a dramatic flavor that I wasn't looking for from this book.

The fifth and final job was fine, but not as entertaining to me.

The end was dissatisfying. I didn't get a feeling of character growth, and maybe that is the point. I felt most of the insights, the few that there were, happened along the way but amounted to nothing.

All said and done, I want to read more cozy literature like this.

annecelines's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

psashankh's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

hardcore_lenore's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.0

Can't help but feel like much of the nuance was lost in cultural and literal translation, yet the human element was too compelling to quit.

elliotjohnson's review against another edition

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

3.0