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hedsek's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Quite an intriguing read but I wish it took some more time with the second half of the book. It was interesting and disturbing to see Keiko and Shiraha interact, but the writing style was kinda bland (easy to read tho).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Incel rhetoricrobinks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I really enjoyed this short novel. As someone who used to live in Japan (and is currently visiting!), so many of the little snippets of convenience store happenings were super nostalgic. I also enjoyed the larger commentary on conformity and what is deemed “normal.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Pregnancy
Minor: Chronic illness, Rape, and Sexual content
elderwoodreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
To put it lightly this translation was rough. I think this could have has the potential to be rated higher if the translation had been done better. Be prepared to be taken out of the story several times by weird translation choices. Overall though a very nice character study and story about belonging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
juliacarlini's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Minor: Stalking
hanhantap's review against another edition
reflective
fast-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Sexual content
glitterdeww's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75
I need new vocabulary to accurately describe the immense treat that is Convenience Store Woman. “Mundane yet strange,” feels far too broad. The vibes of this story feel like a symphony of everyday sounds, a cognitively intimate awareness of other humans, and the comfort of allowing oneself to be a small piece of a well-functioning machine.
Murata’s acclaimed short novel follows Keiko Furukura, a middle aged woman in Japan that has worked at a convenience store for 18 years. She is described as unusual, some type of social outcast. Through her point of view, the reader gains access to her uncomfortable yet astute inner workings. The additional characters serve as everything from pained yet caring family, to hateful and emotionally blind fellow outcasts.
As the societal criticism of Keiko’s life choices is further explored, I was left with only frustration for her sake. Keiko has found routine, peace, and connectedness through her work. If the general tasks she did to take up her time were done in service to a church or nunnery, no one would bat an eye. This story does well to lay out hypocrisy and prejudice in a lovely and succinct manner.
Also, the back of my book contained Murata’s essay that first appeared in Literally Hub on June 14th, 2018. I was rolling, omg. It's just as fantastic and well worth the read.
Murata’s acclaimed short novel follows Keiko Furukura, a middle aged woman in Japan that has worked at a convenience store for 18 years. She is described as unusual, some type of social outcast. Through her point of view, the reader gains access to her uncomfortable yet astute inner workings. The additional characters serve as everything from pained yet caring family, to hateful and emotionally blind fellow outcasts.
As the societal criticism of Keiko’s life choices is further explored, I was left with only frustration for her sake. Keiko has found routine, peace, and connectedness through her work. If the general tasks she did to take up her time were done in service to a church or nunnery, no one would bat an eye. This story does well to lay out hypocrisy and prejudice in a lovely and succinct manner.
Also, the back of my book contained Murata’s essay that first appeared in Literally Hub on June 14th, 2018. I was rolling, omg. It's just as fantastic and well worth the read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual content, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
dalaia's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual content, Stalking, and Pregnancy
amiegold's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A glimpse into the mind of a convenience store clerk and her view of herself and where she fit into society. It wasn't clearly labelled, but from the beginning I had the idea that she was an autistic woman in her 30's who felt most at home in her menial job: convenience store worker. The book goes on to explore social expectations, motivations and interactions and how our everyday joys and sorrows might look to someone on the spectrum. Eye opening, funny and a quick read, I feel like this book is worth taking a few hours to find some empathy with people with Autistic tendencies.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content
toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition
challenging
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a short and weird - in a good way - little book about a woman named Keiko Furukara who spends 18 years working in a convenience store. I don't deem myself to have the authority to diagnose a character with anything, but from the text, it is pretty apparent that she is neurodivergent. She is constantly looked down on and lectured by people around her about being in her 30s and working a job they do not deem suitable, for not being married or having children. Keiko works at the convenience store because it is what makes sense to her, it seems to give her a genuine happiness and control over the chaos of life, and I enjoyed reading about her as a character. She was very interesting and honestly sweet, and I think that there are probably a lot of people who see part of themselves in this character.
My only criticism is that I wish there had been more of a plot, and that it had been a little longer. I feel like there is so much more that could've been explored with this character, but it ended prematurely. Other than that, I really liked it and I'm glad I read it.
Also this cover is really cute.
My only criticism is that I wish there had been more of a plot, and that it had been a little longer. I feel like there is so much more that could've been explored with this character, but it ended prematurely. Other than that, I really liked it and I'm glad I read it.
Also this cover is really cute.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Fatphobia
Moderate: Sexual content and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Rape, and Sexual assault
ninawilson's review against another edition
reflective
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Sexual content and Stalking