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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 rhetoricemmieanna's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I thought the premise of this book was extremely interesting. It raises a lot of questions surrounding anonymity, societal expectations, the idea of ‘normaitivity’, purpose and happiness. Her peers’ obsession with stagnation and propriety was very telling and I am so happy that she figured out in the end that she is completely fine living her life in a way that makes sense to her, not other people.
Keiko is so unusual and it was refreshing to be inside her mind. Seeing how analytically she thinks was a great insight into how some neurodiverse people process the world. Despite that it is never explicitly discussed, I feel that Convenience Store Woman could be considered authentic representation of neurodiversity and would recommend this book as a diverse narrative.
Keiko is so unusual and it was refreshing to be inside her mind. Seeing how analytically she thinks was a great insight into how some neurodiverse people process the world. Despite that it is never explicitly discussed, I feel that Convenience Store Woman could be considered authentic representation of neurodiversity and would recommend this book as a diverse narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Stalking, and Pregnancy
necroplasm's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.5
literally have never had a piece of media make me go from 😊 to 😰 as fast as this book did the second shiraha was introduced . fr one of the most repulsive men i have ever read about (probably because he's s little too real) and i was honestly so happy the book ended the way it did. u go keiko, keep livin ur best convenience store life
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Pregnancy
Minor: Child abuse, Infidelity, and Stalking
venus_rose's review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
kaziaroo's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
[minor/vague spoilers ahead but it's not a plot-heavy book]
I have mixed feelings about this as although I enjoyed it, I really wish it had gone in a direction where Keiko could have found labels for her differences (such as autism, or even just neurodivergence, and aromanticism/asexuality), other than seeing herself as a creature made to work in a convenience store. She then could possibly have found others like herself and potential support for her future (there was never really a resolution to her concerns about what happens when her body can't keep up with convenience store life anymore). I guess it's just not the route the author wanted to go down but I feel like it could have said more about the lack of representation and acceptance for people with these differences, rather than focussing on societal expectations – it seems the author wanted to straddle the line between a story about capitalism and shallow societal norms, and one about the life of an undiagnosed neurodivergent and aro-ace adult who has never met anyone like herself (and as an aside, Keiko definitely wants this, as shown by her disappointment in how the store manager suddenly became "a human male" after he started recognising her as a "normal" person). As someone for whom these latter issues are very important already, I don't know how much these would have come across to a reader who is not familiar with them. I worry that people might read it and just think that Keiko is weird and that's that – at least Eleanor Oliphant had a "rational" reason for her difference whereas Keiko just concludes that she isn't human, which isn't great representation for neurodivergent and aro-ace people. So maybe it's best that she wasn't given those labels! Neurodivergent people are too often wielded as quirky and convenient tools for pointing out how weird society is, for better or for worse. On the plus side, Keiko is very self aware and comfortable with her differences, and it's only the attitude of the people around her that make her doubt herself. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it gave me lots to think about (as demonstrated by this rambling review) but it also left me feeling a bit disappointed/uncomfortable.
I have mixed feelings about this as although I enjoyed it, I really wish it had gone in a direction where Keiko could have found labels for her differences (such as autism, or even just neurodivergence, and aromanticism/asexuality), other than seeing herself as a creature made to work in a convenience store. She then could possibly have found others like herself and potential support for her future (there was never really a resolution to her concerns about what happens when her body can't keep up with convenience store life anymore). I guess it's just not the route the author wanted to go down but I feel like it could have said more about the lack of representation and acceptance for people with these differences, rather than focussing on societal expectations – it seems the author wanted to straddle the line between a story about capitalism and shallow societal norms, and one about the life of an undiagnosed neurodivergent and aro-ace adult who has never met anyone like herself (and as an aside, Keiko definitely wants this, as shown by her disappointment in how the store manager suddenly became "a human male" after he started recognising her as a "normal" person). As someone for whom these latter issues are very important already, I don't know how much these would have come across to a reader who is not familiar with them. I worry that people might read it and just think that Keiko is weird and that's that – at least Eleanor Oliphant had a "rational" reason for her difference whereas Keiko just concludes that she isn't human, which isn't great representation for neurodivergent and aro-ace people. So maybe it's best that she wasn't given those labels! Neurodivergent people are too often wielded as quirky and convenient tools for pointing out how weird society is, for better or for worse. On the plus side, Keiko is very self aware and comfortable with her differences, and it's only the attitude of the people around her that make her doubt herself. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it gave me lots to think about (as demonstrated by this rambling review) but it also left me feeling a bit disappointed/uncomfortable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Eating disorder, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Chronic illness, Infidelity, and Stalking
The main character is persistently treated as "wrong" and in need of a cure because she displays autistic traits and is aro/ace.robinsong's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, Stalking, and Alcohol
ntvenessa's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Add this to the list of reasons why you should read translated fiction more often. This is a fantastic novella exploring the value of ultimately deciding your own pathway, especially when it directly defies the seeming dichotomy of society's plans for us: marriage and career. Supposedly having one or the other, or both, certifies a person as normal. But there are aspirations beyond this that are individual to the person, and of which society struggles to understand. For such a short read, Murata manages to contrast responses to outsiders who reject the pillars of marriage and career. It is thought provoking without being pretentious.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Stalking
Minor: Infidelity and Rape
ellaaj's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship