Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

Lähikaupan nainen by Sayaka Murata

235 reviews

rnbhargava's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense 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

This is about the psychology of a woman who’s worked at a convenience store inside a Metro/Subway station for much too long. It leaves quite an impression given it’s only 163 pages, not counting the short afterword essay by the author. You see the character struggle with things and expectations from childhood to adulthood. It’s fascinating and also kind of tragic. Well worth a read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Stalking, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism

This short book is largely about a character that feels perpetually maladjusted and has used long term part-time work in a convenience store as a coping mechanism. It’s fascinating and tragic. Well worth a read.

extraaardvark's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Stalking

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).

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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 rhetoric

robinks'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.”

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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

emmieanna'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. 

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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

martyrbat's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, and Sexism

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

kaneebli's review against another edition

reflective medium-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? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Acephobia/Arophobia

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death, Rape, Violence, Stalking, and Pregnancy

okaychanly's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

Before I get into it, I just want to say that I hope that the translation of this book isn't the reason why I wasn't a huge fan. I've seen some comments online that the translation wasn't great so hopefully that isn't the root cause. Moving on though, I read this book at a time in my life where I was (and still am) questioning my purpose and ambitions. So I was hopeful that this book would be as inspiring as many online reviews claimed. Unfortunately, it missed the mark on several occasions for me such as with the "humor." I admire the protagonist for standing firm in the way she wants to live her life, and it's implied that she may be autistic. But

the whole subplot where that random man was staying RENT FREE in her apartment? BOTH UNEMPLOYED AND DISRESPECTFUL TOWARDS HER? No to mention her family and "friends" (really just former classmates) are just so unsupportive.

I wanted to throw the book. There are elements of a good, inspiring story about the joys of the mundane, but so many of the supporting characters and just plot in general were unlikable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Stalking

Minor: Animal death, Rape, and Sexual harassment

irammy's review against another edition

funny hopeful fast-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? Yes

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky little book. Keiko Furukura may be different, but she learns to accept her own instincts and purpose in life despite the pressure from society to confirm. It's an interesting commentary on the strangeness of what society considers normal and unwillingness to accept people who are happily different. It also gave me a newfound respect for konbini workers! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal death and Stalking

therestlessbookflea07's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Another unhinged read by Sayaka Murata. Good read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting

Moderate: Emotional abuse

Minor: Stalking